265 



of Loon lake; I said to him as he was going up there he might find 

 out about it, and if it was any trouble I would pay him for it. 



Q. What trespasses have you settled in behalf of the commission 

 that you can recall ? 



A. I settled a large part of the trespasses from Essex county, sub- 

 ject to the approval of the forest commission, under orders; I think 

 Mr. Sherman, of over $4,000, was settled with. 



Q. What other cases have you settled ? 



A. I can't tell exactly; the Adirondack railroad was settled with at 

 the end of a suit, and I brought the funds here of $5,000; I settled 

 a few on the Herkimer county boarder. 



Q. When did you settle those in Herkimer county ? 



A. About four or four and a half years ago. 



Q. Do you call to mind any other cases you have settled ? 



A. No, sir; I don't know that I do; I have settled a good many, but 

 as to which ones I couldn't tell without looking them up. 



Q. Do you know a man by the name of Ed. Talbot, who lives in 

 Essex county ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Cj. How long have you known him ? 



A. For five years; about that. 



Q. Have you ever seen him in the office of the forest commission ? 



A. I think so. 



Q. How many times have you ever seen him there ? 



A. Well, three or four times, I should think. 



Q. Did you ever see him there on an occasion when Mr. Lynch was 

 there ? 



A. I can't say I did, but I presume I did; I heard Mr. Lynch say 

 that, and I presume it is so; I have no reason to dispute it. 



Q. What business had he at the forest commission office ? 



A. He was a man that had a good deal of news about him and he 

 used to tell us of the forest being cut down and destroyed in its early 

 days (five or six years ago) for a time; he brought a good deal of 

 news here about timber thieves up there five years ago, when the 

 commission was first organized. 



Q. Was he" ever employed by the forest commission ? 



A. I don't think so. 



Q. In whose employment was he over there ? 



A. He was in his own employ. • 



Q. What was he doing over there ? 



A. It was his home; he was sergeant-at-arms; Olmsteadville is his 

 home. 



