OCR Text |
Show DAVID ECCLES EXONERATED BY COURT Recently when the cases against David Eccles of this city were dismissed dis-missed in the United States district court In Oregon, District Attorney Mc-Court Mc-Court took occasion to exonerate Mr Eccles in every respect and he stated that the attorney general of the United Unit-ed Statc3 was in accord with him. Mr McCourt read into tho record of the court that he looked upon Mr Eccles Ec-cles as a man of the most Stirling worth and that there could have neon no criminal Intent in the transaction he had in the purchase of timber lands in the state of Oregon. He designated des-ignated Mr. Eccles as a frontier builder build-er who had opened up a great country coun-try In Oregon to settlement. J The district attorney said that, through Mr Eccles' efforts, railroads bad been extended into the unsettled districts of tho northwest and that hundreds of people had been Induced to settle there and build homes for their families and begin the work of reclamation, The attornoys said that Mr. Eccles had done nothing more than was customary cus-tomary a few years ago In the acquiring ac-quiring of timber lands, and that as soon as ho was advised that it was not in accordance with tho provisions of the law, the accused had ceased to purchase lands in that way. Mr, McCourt set forth In his brief talk, as showing u lack of intent at fraud, that Mr Eccles could have acquired ac-quired title to the lands In question for much less money by the use of scrip that was being Issued at that time. It was explained that the government gov-ernment had been amply paid for the timber used by Mr. Eccles and his company. Mr, Eccles is pleased with the vindication vin-dication given him by tho district attorney. at-torney. He says that he never felt that the outcome would be anything different, because he always had acted act-ed in .good faith and had dealt with the people and the government in the acquisition of timber lands open and above hoard. He never tried to conceal con-ceal a single act In all his timber dealings. He gave men in his employ and others an opportunity to file on some of the timber lands and paid them for their trouble, knowing at the time that he could get the lands for less money. Ho desired to help those who were associated with him la the upbuilding of the Oregon country coun-try and he had no thought but that he had a right to do so under the law. |