Evening star., 1934-10-07

Louisiana Highway Commission war
rants in 1892 amounting to $18,176.88
should not be allowed.
In addition to the three defendants,
the conspiracy indictment mentions
James C. Nelson, Chandler H. Nelson,
Jesse r. Terry and Virgil H. Lanier,
who, the indictments assert, partici-
pated in a conspiracy with the de-
PENDANTS, but who were not indicted.
In 1881, the conspiracy indictment
charges, the three defendants claim
that the Mississippi Valley Co., Inc,
paid as salaries, allowances and COM
mission to Harry B. Nelson $12, ,487. .88;
to John P. Nelson, $7,929.63; to Willis
w. Nelson, $13,320.24; to James c..
Nelson, $12,62988; to Chandler H.
Nelson. $11,74768; to Jesse r. Terry,
SIS ,o84.41, and to Virgil H. Lanier,
15,49o.a4, or a total of $8s,68s.76.
In the same year, 1881, the indict-
ment charges, the company actually
paid as salaries, allowances and
commissions to Harry B. Nelson,
$3,l70.80; to John P. Nelson,
$2,os6.10, and to Willis w. Nelson,
$1,797.75, or a total of $7.o54.65.
James c. Nelson, Chandler H. Mel
son, Jesse r. Terry and Virgil H.
Lanier, the conspiracy indictment
charges, received no allowances or
commissions from the company in
1881.
James C. Nelson is listed by the
indictments as a resident of San An
tonic, Tex; Chandler H. Nelson of
Longwood. Fla; Jesse r. Terry of
Barlow, Fla, and Virgil H. Lanier of
Jacksonville, Fla.
For the years 1882 and 1888, the
Governments conspiracy indictments
charge, similar steps were taken by
the defendants to make 1t appear that
more money was paid out to persons
whose names appeared on the COM
panys books than actually was paid
to these persons.
Filed Individual Returns.
Each of the persons mentioned in
the conspiracy indictment, the Gov
ernment charges, "in order to deceive
the said internal revenue agents and
employees of the United States" caused
to be filed individual income tax re-
turns to show that they had received
salaries, expense allowances and
commissions" which corresponded
with amounts the defendants claimed
they had received from the Missis-
sippi Valley Co., Inc.
The defendants, the Government
charges, well knew that the salaries,
expense allowances and commissions
paid by the said corporation for the
income-taX periods involved, were not
the amounts which they claimed were
paid.
These charges again raise the ques-
ton, if the persons named on the
company's books, and in its corporate
income-tax returns did not receive
the money they are represented to
have been paid, who did?"
The Nelson brothers charge that the
indictments returned against them
are purely political" They add to
their denial the assertion that New
Deal legislation has resulted in al
most conhscation of our private prop
erty and our private rights and privi-
legeS."
Louisianians studying the income
tax indictments charging that the
manufacturers agency Received, in
three years, more than 81 ,049, 900 for
materials which cost it approximately
$646, 900, are prompted to inquire as
to what the brothers meant by priv
ileges.''
Practically exclusive use on State
highways of the type of patented guard
rails and patented asphalt emulsion
for which the Mississippi Valley con-
Germ was agent has led to repeated
charges on the stump and in public
statements that the Louisiana Highway
Commission showed favoritiSm for the
three defendant Nelson brothers.
In addition, the defendant brothers
construction concern, the Nelson Bros.
Contracting Co., received more State
contracts than any other when the
$78, ,00O, 900 road-building program was
in progress.
There were many Louisianans who
believe (and many who hope) that
the indictments returned against the
Nelson brothers merely foreshadow
indictments which are to come.