570 



practice had sprung up between the Comptroller's office and the forest 

 commission that they might go in and appear on the part of the State 

 to keep things regular, and Mr. Knevals says on one occasion he went 

 in, availed himself of this courtesy, the power df this law, and yet, with 

 this knowledge from Lynch and from Garmon, no notice was taken of 

 this fraudulent vacation of the Comptroller's deed and the suit was 

 discontinued, and the State lost a tract of land and lost its damages. 

 About these there is no dispute; no answer has" been attempted upon 

 part of the commissioners to this transaction. 



- Again, Lynch made a complaint in regard to the trespass in cutting 

 1,003 logs on some State lands which had been bought in by 

 Thomson and some man over there by the name of Ed Talbott — 

 you may know something about it — Ed Talbott went to Lynch and says, 

 "Haven't you made a mistake about reporting that trespass; you had 

 better correct that mistake or you will lose your place." Lynch went 

 and looked it over, a little while afterwards he was on official business, 

 at the office here, and prophet Ed Talbott appears on the scene and 

 offers him money if he will correct this report. The suggestion may 

 come to the mind of some of the committee, how did Ed Talbott 

 come to be in the commission office at the same time Lynch was there, 

 following him around, offering him money. He was no stranger 

 at that office, and on that same day or occasion Basselin found 

 fault with Lynch for negligence, and he says that he became 

 aware of that negligence through <the report of feline, whom he 

 sent from his own village over to Minerva to spy out upon 

 Lynch, who was evidently and certainly doing his duty reporting' 

 all the trespasses that occurred there and insisting that his reports 

 were correct against threats and offers of money, and having repri- 

 manded him for that, lets him run, and in about two weeks Lynch is 

 fired in disgrace. Talbott prophesied truly. I think that Thomson, 

 and a certain class over there, were favored and because Lynch 

 would not stand in to extend the favors and neglect his duty he was 

 turned out and Lynch, feeling the indignity and smarting under it 

 claimed that he should be reinstated, that he should be made right, 

 that he should be given some employment. None came and about six 

 months afterwards Lynch wrote two letters, very excellent letters, 

 one addressed to Commissioner Cox and the other to Warden Garmon, 

 they were read here and I believe some of the commission didnotper- 

 ceive any sarcasm in it, they thought the man was mad but I notice 

 they felt the sting of these letters as they were read here, and 

 after Lynch was out of office over there in Minerva trespasses 

 continued, notwithstanding the terror of Warden Garmon and his force 



