Weekly: Rampart, Alaska, Saturday, December 3, IS04.
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No. 23
INVESTIGATION
FARCICAL
Day’s Favorable Report on Wickersham
No Surprise—Day Refused to Take
Important Evidence at Rampart—
' I 'HE report that Assistant attorney
* general Day has recommended the
reappointment of Judge Wickersham,
causes no surprise to those who know
of the methods employed to prevent
Judge Day receiving evidence of facts
detrimental to such reappointment.
Judge Day did not, as it was supposed
he would, make a through and impar
tial investigation of the judiciary in the
Third division. It was given out that
he would visit all Yukon points for the
purpose of giving the people a chance
to inform him of their grievances. The
residents of Rampart precinct anxious
ly awaited Day’s arrival, thinking they
would have a chance to personally in
terview hirr. ’1 hey were sad’y disap
pointed, lor Judge Day politely gave
them the cold shoulder.
Day Refuses Evidence
At 4 o’clock on the morning of Jnly,
26, 1904, the N. C. Co. steamer Susie
arrived at Rampart from Dawson, and
remained here just thirty minutes. The
passengers being all in bed, and there
seeming to be no one for Rampart, it
was thought that Judge Day was not
aboard. Ten minutes before the Susie
left, Judge Day appeared on the deck,
walked across the gang-plank, saunter
ed up to the sidewalk, and stopped in
front of the N. C. store. Two of the
leading residents immediately address
ed the judge, informing him that his ar
rival was not unexpected, and that our
people were prepared to give him some
important facts relative to the matters
under investigation. Judge Day re
plied; “I am very sorry, but I cannot
hear them. I have not time to stop at
Rampart, as I am going direct to Fair
banks.” On being asked if he would
return, Judge Day said, “No, I am pc
iig from Fairbanks to Nome, and will
not return to Rampart,” with this he
returned on board, and the Susie'im
mediately started down-river to Tanar.a
rt which place transfer ij ma e for
Fail banks.
f
Henchman Joins Party
A few days before the arrival of the
Susie, two of Rampart’s citizens, who
were very much interested in the reap
pointment of Judge Wickersham, left
in small boats for Tanana, and remain
ed there until Day, s arrival. One of
them, who was a Wickersham hench
man, fore nan and manipulator of the
last Federal grand-jury held at Ram
part, accompanied Judge Day’s parly
from Tanana to Fairbanks. The fact
that Rampart is one of the oldest, and
the most expensive court center on the
Yukon, should have been sufficient rea
son for Judge Day devoting a few hours
at this point. His position as first as
sistant attorney-general certainly qual
i ied him to know the fact that there
1, id been two special, and one regular
t rm of the District court held at Ratn
} .rt by Judge Wickersham. Common
1 asvn should therefore have led him to
l> lieve that the residents of Rampart
could impart some inf ormation concern -
ing the judiciary of thi.: division.
investigation a Farce
Why did Judge Day 1 e use to receive
such information when he was notified
personally that the pe j le were ready
and anxious to inform on th ise matters;
It was supposed that Day had unlimit
ed time in which to make his investiga
tions, and a few houis spent at this
point would not have uiseommode 1 him
in the least. One day s^ent at Rampari
would have, no doubt, changed Judge
Day’s opinion, as to the qualifications
of Judge Wickersham for reappoint
ment.. The people of this precinct
know that so far as Yukon river point ,
are concerned, Judge Day’s investiga
tion in the Third division was simply a
Continued on fourth page
MENACE
y ——■■■■
Admij a l Togo Fearful That Baltic Sea
Squadron Will Seize Formosa For
N aval Base— Dewey Refuses to Act
(SPECIAL TO FORUM)
SHANGHAI, December, 1.—Japan is
arousee to her danger on sea. Ad
miral Togo is fearful that Admiral
Rojebvenski will seize Formosa as a
base for naval operations, in which ev
ent tl e Japanese fleet will be greatly
imperilled.
WASHINGTON, December l.-The
goveri ment has decided to stop the ad*
vertis ng of guessing contests in the
news] apers by prohibiting the trans
mittal through the mails of any paper
printing them.
RUSSIANS
CHEEFOO, December 1. —General
assault on Port Arthur still on. Russ
ians adroit situation serious if Japanese -
capture Metier Hill.
ST. PETERSBURG. December 1.
Reporl^d that many Japanese are leav
ing Mukden to assist tbe army to. take
Port Arthur.
TRENTON, December 1. —Inventor
Edison »s involved in litigation which
affects a number of manufacturing con
cerns controlled by him.
TOKIO, December 1.—Japanese an
nounce they will take Port Arthur in
three weekr. The beseigers are get
ting nearer the brseiged fortress.
TOKIO, December 1.—Russians are
unabloto force Japanese' from position
on Sfcakhe river.
WASHINGTON, December 1.—Ad
Dewey refuses to act as an arbitrator
in the North sea incident.
ROME, December 1.—Italian assem
bly oj ened here yesterday.
V. O. Green arrived from the Hootla
nana last night. Green is whip-sawing
lumbe r and has 3000feet cut already.
Mail did not . ..e Tanana on the 1st.
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