Potter was afterward convicted jointly with Willard N. Jones, for complicity in the Siletz Indian Reservation frauds.
The three claims belonging to Mrs. Watson and myself were sold to Geo. B. McLeod, treasurer of the A. B. Hammond Lumber Company, the sale price being $5 per acre.
A few weeks after closing with Mays, he again requested me to call at his office, which I did, and he informed me of having received a letter from Edwin Hobson, a timber speculator of Eugene, which stated in effect that he had purchased the southeast quarter of Section 2, in Township 24 South, Range 1 East, known as the "Robert Simpson" claim, and that he had noticed the same land had been included in a deed given by Simpson to Mrs. Watson, and from her transferred to Thaddeus S. Potter, the presumption being, upon the part of Hobson, that Mays was, in fact, the real owner of the tract. Mays inquired what I knew about the matter, to which I replied that I was entirely in the dark on the subject, although I agreed to ascertain the facts without delay.
Calling upon McKinley for an explanation, he informed me that the claim had been deeded to Edwin Hobson, with the understanding that the document was not to be recorded until later on, but while he was East, Hobson had become alarmed upon learning that a deed to the same quarter section had been recorded, showing the claim to be in the name of Emma L. Watson. He made haste, therefore, to place the deed on record, and immediately communicated with Mays in the hope of learning the true status of the matter.
The latest information, as related by McKinley. put a new phase on the situation, as it was clearly evident to me that affairs were becoming more complicated all the time, as it was also apparent, unless a stop was put to the whole proceeding, and matters straightened out without delay, that I was very likely to become involved in serious trouble. My first thought, therefore, was to force McKinley to tell the whole truth and reveal everything, so that I might be enabled to determine on some action to avoid further complications.
Summoning McKinley to my room at the hotel, I gave him to understand that I must know exactly how everything stood, and that, if he expected me to help him out of the difficulty, it would be necessary for him to give me all the particulars with relation to this Hobson transaction, as well as that connected with his action in disposing of my claims to Clyde D. Lloyd for $1500. This McKinley agreed to do, the story given me at the time being, in substance as follows:
"Lloyd." said McKinley, "agreed to settle with me in the sum of one-half the net profits derived from the sale of the Marion county lands, it being understood betwen us that I was to be consulted in advance of any sale being made. This understanding was being violated, insomuch as Clyde D. Lloyd attempted to negotiate a sale without my knowledge and consent, and which action, upon his part, convinced me that all was not right, more particularly after my asking him for an explanation, which he refused to give. I then planned to get the drop on Lloyd, and in pursuance of this purpose, I took him to Salem, where I secured his appointment as a notary public. My next move was to inform Lloyd of a certain scheme whereby it would be posible for both of us to make a little easy money, and which, I informed him, could be accomplished by filling in a bogus deed to a claim in 24-1, and which deed he could certify to and acknowledge as notary public, after which, we could dispose of the claim to one Edwin Hobson, of Eugene, Oregon.
"My plan looked good to Clyde Lloyd, and he readily assented to go in with me on the deal, so I made out the papers in the presence of Lloyd, using the name of Robert Simpson, after which Lloyd acknowledged the signature and affixed his notarial seal to the document. We then called on Marie Ware, who was not supposed to know anything about the transaction, so far as Clyde Lloyd was informed, and the latter, in handing over the papers, advised Miss Ware that he had just acknowledged the signature of Mr. Simpson to the deed,
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