The Wood Contractor Who Left Newport Holding the Sack

Ninian Jackson, who has been a wood-cutting contractor in this vicinity for several years, has shook the dust of Newport from his feet and departed for greener fields. Mr. Jackson neglected to settle a few accounts that he had contracted in this vicinity while operating as a contractor. The accounts will probably total about $3,000, or perhaps more as soon as all reports are received.

Mr. Jackson has been operating near Newport, and has been doing fairly well at the business. Most of his creditors assert that he had been doing very well — at their expense. The recent forest fires hurt Mr. Jackson, or his creditors, to a considerable extent, so Mr. Jackson decided he had better remove to a lower altitude, the air being a little too rare for him along the Pend Oreille.

Mr. Jackson appeared to like Tweedie a little better than he did Newport, or else the Newport merchants were a little too wise for him, as his fine work was done at the former place. Reports from Tweedie state that Mr. Jackson neglected to settle a small merchandise account at that place amounting to about — other merchants in that locality, as well as in Newport, have claims against the departed citizen that will aggregate fully $3,000.

During the past wood cutting season Mr. Jackson surreptitiously gathered about 100 cords of wood belonging to H. M. Lund, of this city. He sold the wood and took the proceeds and used them for his own purposes. Mr. Lund discovered the trick and threatened to prosecute Mr. Jackson. That gentleman did not desire to go over the road, so had his wife plead with Mr. Lund for mercy. Her tears had their effect on Mr. Lund, and he allowed the matter to drop after Mr. Jackson had returned about 11 cords of wood.

A report has been received that Mr. Jackson had been captured at Spirit Lake, and that he was in jail at that point, but the report was unfounded. Jackson has gone further than that. His intimate friends think that he has returned to Canada — a good place for him.

Jackson's downfall appears to have been consummated by his expensive personal habits, and the fact that his family was extremely extravagant. They were personally very popular with the younger set, but kept up a pace that their income did not warrant.

Jackson sold some machinery to parties during the summer and they in turn sold the stuff to a third party. The property was mortgaged and the losing parties are now threatening to get after the fugitive on a criminal charge.