selves. Especially was this the case with those whom I had personally located on claims in Township 14 South, Ranges 3 and 4 East, that were afterwards transferred to Kribs.
These men lost no time in coming to me, and I was frank to inform them of the stand I had taken, and that through me the Government agents had been made familiar with all the facts in connection with the entries, and the subsequent disposition of the claims.
They then asked me for advice as to the best way out of their predicament, and I recommended that they see Burns without delay and make amends by requesting the withdrawal of their former affidavits, with the understanding that they would substitute those which they would be willing to stand by, and which would contain all the facts as they knew them to be.
Some of the more conservative among them took a logical view of the situation, and were quite willing to abide by my recommendations, while the radical and more obstinate element was averse to taking any kind of advice, and seemed disposed to suffer the consequences by standing pat. When it was made plain to them, however, that all their movements had been watched ever since their coming to town, and that the Government detectives had trailed them to Kribs' house, where it had been learned through members of their own party that Kribs had induced them to commit perjury in dictating the answers they should give when they appeared before Burns, and which answers they knew to be false, and that their punishment under felony charges would follow, they began to wince, and 'ere long were willing, to the last man, to go before Burns and follow my suggestions.
The Sweet Home contingent, known as the "Mealey Gang," were also on edge, and skirmishing about for points of vantage, many of them still believing it possible to make good on their original affidavits. Kribs and the Mealey brothers, of course, were straining every nerve to buoy these men up and to hold their confidence, that they might maintain the stand taken.
There were those among them, however, who had talked and advised with their old pal Andy Nicholls, and through him had learned that the Secret Service men were prepared to establish a case against every one in the bunch who had made false affidavit. He had told them of the grilling that had been his portion from Burns up to the time he had made a change of base, and told the truth, after which he had been treated with every kindly consideration. Andy, of course, advised the others to follow his example, and throw themselves upon the mercy of the Government. It was their only salvation, he said, and in his opinion they must act promptly, else they would awaken to a realization of their mistake when it was too late, and they would be forced to take the consequences.
Andy was right, agreed these men. Yes, his head was level, and they must do as he suggested and act at once. But what of their old comrades who were laboring under the impression that to stand pat was their only hope, arid were allowing themselves to be carried away by Kribs and the Mealey boys? That was the question, and the thought made them shudder. They hated to entertain the idea of seeing their pals convicted and carried away to prison cells merely to appease the avariciousness of the agent of a millionaire lumberman and a couple of his boss locators. It would never do, and imbued by this determination, they hunted up their comrades, aid in as forcible terms as they were capable of employing, related to them the circumstances of Andy Nicholls having made a false affidavit, and of his subsequent withdrawal of the same, and the substitution of one containing the facts, in which he had informed the Federal authorities of every phase of the transaction in which they had all been implicated in fraudulently acquiring the claims for the benefit of Kribs. Then they gave notice of their intention to appear before Burns without delay, and invited the others to follow suit, as with this additional evidence at hand, there was no possible chance of escape for them if they held out any longer.
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