277 



Q. If he was a man of responsibility why didn't you make him pay 

 or the logs instead of selling them at auction? 



A. Mr. Butler made this proposition — he came there and — 



Q. (Interrupting.) No, no, that is going off; if he was a man of 

 ■esponsibility why didn't you make claim against him and make him 

 >ay the value of the logs instead of having his brother-in-law sell 

 hem at auction and closing it up that way? 



A. That is a hard question to answer, unless you allow me to say — 



Q. (Interrupting) I want to know why that course was taken instead 

 >f the other ? 



A. Will you let^me tell about the sale of the logs ? 



Q. No, sir; I will not now, but I want you to answer my question. 



A. In the first place it would be pretty hard doing anything, with a 

 nan who came to you and said: "You don't suppose I want you to 

 mbmit a proposition to the forest commission ? I want them to say 

 low much I am to pay and I am ready to pay it; I don't want any 

 awsuit at all." .. , 



Q. If you knew so why didn't you say it before the forest commis- 

 lion the same as any other case ? 



A. I will as soon as they hold a meeting. 



Q. Why did you hurry up selling them ? 



A. Because sleighing is going fast and the logs would be laying 

 here; the logs are not to be sold except at a set value to start with; 

 hey are not to be sold at haphazard by any means; I have taken all 

 hose, precautions. 



Q. How have you taken precautions ? 



A. The State will continue to own them if they don't start them 

 ibove sixty cents a log. 



Q. Sixty cents a log ? 



A. Tes, sir; that is a good price up there. 



Q. Why is that a good price when you have been charging a dollar 

 ,nd twenty-five cents ? 



A. That's the man that cuts the logs; we are not dealing with Mr. 

 Jutler but we are taking the logs and selling them to the public. 



Q. Why don't you make Butler pay the one dollar and twenty-five 

 lents? ' 



A, Well, 'aint we going to; he is liable for this trespass in the sum 

 if twenty-five dollars a tree, under the penalty of the law; it don't 

 •elieve him a particle to take'these logs and sell them. 



Q. Have you any idea that if these logs are sold at sixty cents he 

 rill be sued for twenty-five dollars a tree for smart money, and with 



