Ruick, N. M.

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte shares with President Roosevelt his thoughts about what to do with United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick. He sends a copy of the telegram he sent to Ruick, and notes the reasoning for his approach. The remaining question is that of the special counsel for the trial. Bonaparte will contact Francis J. Heney and provides several alternatives if Heney is unavailable. He asks Roosevelt for further suggestions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-25

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Frank Robert Gooding to Theodore Roosevelt

Idaho Governor Gooding informs President Roosevelt that there is an attempt to have Senator William Edgar Borah’s trial postponed, which would interfere with Borah’s involvement in the case against George A. Pettibone. Through Roosevelt, Gooding appeals to the Department of Justice that the local authorities not postpone it, as its resolution is a matter of public interest and necessary for the proper conduct of the Pettibone trial.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-21

Creator(s)

Gooding, Frank Robert, 1859-1928

Letter from Frank Robert Gooding to Theodore Roosevelt

Idaho Governor Gooding laments to President Roosevelt that most people associated with the prosecution of the alleged murderers of Governor of Idaho Frank Steuenberg have been indicted and accused of connection with the alleged timber land frauds in the state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-15

Creator(s)

Gooding, Frank Robert, 1859-1928

Telegram from Frank Robert Gooding to Theodore Roosevelt

Idaho Governor Gooding informs President Roosevelt that he knows United States Attorney N. M. Ruick has begun his return to Washington, D.C. and that it is important for President Roosevelt to keep secret Gooding’s letter from everyone except Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-15

Creator(s)

Gooding, Frank Robert, 1859-1928

Letter from William Edgar Borah to Jonathan Bourne

William Edgar Borah elaborates to Jonathan Bourne on his legal situation. He expects that he has been indicted for keeping the books of the Barber Lumber Company, for which he worked as a lawyer, from the federal government in a case relating to their violation of laws regulating the sale of public lands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-13

Creator(s)

Borah, William Edgar, 1865-1940

Lyttleton Price to Calvin Cobb

Judge Price explains his role in the dismissal of Norman M. Ruick from his position as United States Attorney for Idaho and notes the disappearance of several legal documents related to Ruick.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-12

Creator(s)

Price, Lyttleton

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on the trial in Idaho related to the murder of former Governor Steunenberg. After consulting with Calvin Cobb, owner of the Idaho Statesman, Bonaparte has directed United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick not to investigate any allegations regarding Steunenberg’s possible involvement in timber fraud. Any such involvement would be under the statute of limitations, and investigation of such would only help the defense case for those accused of Steunenberg’s murder. Bonaparte notes that if any reasonable evidence arose that Ruick was helping the defense, he would recommend Ruick’s immediate dismissal. He asks that if Roosevelt would like to speak with him for any reason, he should let him know. Otherwise he will stay in Baltimore and do work that he brought with him relating to the whiskey controversy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-29

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Note from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt directs Attorney General Bonaparte to telegraph the clerk of the United States Court in Idaho and ask for the decision of the court from the previous Saturday, which saw a ruling on a plea in abatement in the land fraud cases. Roosevelt says that if the verdict is what he understands it to be, then District Attorney N. M. Ruick and Marshal Ruel Rounds should be removed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Moody

President Roosevelt calls Attorney General Moody’s attention to the situation in Idaho relating to the trial of Charles H. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood. Roosevelt emphasizes that justice must be done, and the men must be judged related to the particular facts of the case of the assassination of ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg, regardless of the sort of labor agitation they were involved with elsewhere. Roosevelt also does not wish for there to be errors in their favor, however, and asks Moody to look into agitation on their behalf by labor unions, who are unwilling to consider the possible guilt of Moyer or Haywood. Roosevelt highlights some writings of Eugene V. Debs and Thomas W. Rowe which seem to amount “to an incitement to anarchy and chaos.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte writes to President Roosevelt about several matters he did not have time to speak with him about today. First, he has “serious objections” to Senator William Edgar Borah’s suggestion of a temporary judicial appointment. Until Bonaparte knows more about the situation, he will have “grave misgivings” about Judge Frank Sigel Dietrich and Judge Edward Whitson. However, Bonaparte does believe that N. M. Ruick will not cause a scandal as long as he does not know or suspect that he will lose his position. Second, Bonaparte spoke with Alford Warriner Cooley about Roosevelt’s desire to appoint Samuel L. Williams, a black man, as district attorney in Chicago, per Booker T. Washington’s recommendation. Edwin Walter Sims, the U.S. Attorney in Chicago, reported favorably about Williams to Bonaparte, and he recommends the nomination. Finally, Timothy L. Woodruff spoke with Bonaparte about Wyoming Senator Frank W. Mondell’s draft of a bill that would amend the coal-land-laws. Bonaparte entertains “very grave doubts” about giving amnesty to large corporations that break the law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-27

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on the progress of the Idaho land fraud cases. He forwards Roosevelt his telegram to Assistant Attorney General Marsden C. Burch demanding that N. M. Ruick take no part in the case. Bonaparte updates Roosevelt on other matters and suggests the two schedule a meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-28

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Telegram from Charles J. Bonaparte to Marsden C. Burch

The Department of Justice is embarrassed that Idaho District Attorney N. M. Ruick took part in the timber fraud case, particularly in the jury selection, against William Edgar Borah. Attorney General Bonaparte orders Assistant Attorney General Burch to ensure that Ruick does not participate in the case further.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-27

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte reviews “several matter of importance and delicacy” with President Roosevelt, including Special Assistant Attorney General Ormsby McHarg’s handling of the New Mexico situation, Senator William Edgar Borah’s trial, and the progress of the Republican Convention. He shares how the press attacks him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-15

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt that he told United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick that Senator William Edgar Borah must be tried immediately. He discusses conditions related to the case. During his travels, he ran into “some hungry reporters whom I tried to fill up with a little chaff.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-10

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte returns a speech with minor suggestions to President Roosevelt, and discusses his strategy in finding a case in which the government could convict and sentence the head of an industrial trust. In North Carolina, Roosevelt could not have altered the dispute between Federal and State authorities in the railroad rate case. Bonaparte passes along some clippings related to the case against Senator William Edgar Borah of Idaho. Bonaparte relates the progress in vetting William B. Sheppard for a judgeship in Florida. In New Mexico, Bonaparte says he has examined the charges against New Mexico District Attorney William H. H. Llewellyn, and believes he must be removed from office. Bonaparte will be in Oyster Bay on Friday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-05

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte submits a detailed analysis of the case against Idaho Senator William Edgar Borah to President Roosevelt. Bonaparte believes, ultimately, that a postponement in the case against Borah will be necessary. Bonaparte has received reports of charges against Florida judge William B. Sheppard. In North Carolina, Bonaparte believes the situation between the legislature, the railroad, and the Federal government has been resolved, but in future would prefer to let local authorities do their own negotiating.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-01

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte expresses his concern to President Roosevelt about how the Department of Justice gave the prosecution orders in the Moyer and Haywood case without his knowledge. He is trying to bring about order to the department, be he has been out with bronchitis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-23

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from William Edgar Borah to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Borah expresses concern about his role in the prosecution of Charles H. Moyer and Big Bill Haywood, in light of the indictment that has been brought against him in Idaho regarding land fraud. Borah protests his innocence of the latter, but suggests that if the evidence of the case is sufficient to warrant indictment, he will withdraw from the Moyer-Haywood case and face action against him as early as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-24

Creator(s)

Borah, William Edgar, 1865-1940

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte expresses his doubts to President Roosevelt about the effectiveness of District Attorney N. M. Ruick in the Moyer and Haywood case. He does not want the government to be involved in another scandal such as what took place in Brownsville or with the Santa Fe Railroad. Bonaparte also congratulates the president on his letter to the editor to the New York Tribune, aimed at the apologists of Moyer and Haywood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-24

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921