Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-01-18
DENTS Little job.

4
lished to the country his statement
that it was the McGarraham job that
led to the dismissal of Secretary Cox.
III this was true, IL was scandalous; il
untrue, still worse. The results that
we are having complete exposition
of the whole case of Dent aud Fmrney's +
client, the notorious McGarraham, in
whose behalf Grant intericred with
the regular course OF business in the
Interior Department. Tho Portland
Advertiser, the Commercial aud other
papers that have access to the facts.
are now making them public, and
they arc exceedingly damaging to the
enemies of Secretary Cox. Nor do
they leave Gen Grant himself in II
very cnviablc position. Those broth.
ers.in-law of bis ON both sides--Corbin
and Dent--are no help to him in nd
ministering the government If he
would give them snug consulships Eve
thousand miles Of, il would be better
for all concerned His present nui.
sanco is Louis Dent. who has been
hanging around the White House for
the last year or two and getting his
brother-in law into trouble. The VI.
Garraham claim, of which Dcni IS the
most influential agent, Involves q tract
of four Spanish leagues in area, stu
ntrd in Monterey and Fresno counties,
Cnlifornia. about one hundred and
twenty fye miles southeast of San
Frnnrisco, aud now occupied by the
Now fdra Mining Company All that
yves it value is It's quicksilver mines,
III being almost useless for agricullur-
al purposes With its improvements,
il IS worth, perhaps six millions. 1t
was FIRST claimed 10y one Gomez a gov.
ernment clerk 10 Mexico, who is proved
to have forged titles to Mexican
lands. He declared that be got u
grant OF it from Mexico in 1874, but
lost the papers confirming the titles
when the town of Monterey was cap
turcd by Gen, Taylor. Ia 1854 our
land commissioners rejected his claim
on proof that Gomez had never occu-
pied or even seen the land, and dccd.
ed that the title TO the properly was
in the hands Of the United States -
The District Attorney of California,
in 1857, traded or his title in conad.
Grafton of half Of the tract to himself,
and thcs district court, in that year,
awarded the land TO Gnmcz, who i'm.
mcdiatcly sold il to McGairahnm.-
The Now Idra Mining Company cain.
ed il against McGarrnhom. on proof of
actual possession since 1852, by set
tiers to whose rights they have sue.
cccded, and under . law authorizing
mines aud mining companies to pre-.
cmrt lands whrh they have occupied
and improved. This cluim would bc
perfectly valid il the tile to the land
were clearly in the United States. 1t
was on this point that Secretary Cox
was taking testimony, or preparing
to do so, when Dent persuaded the
President TO interfere. The leading
capitalists in the niuing company are
Barron & Co, the great quicksilver
merchants, who, with some foreigners,
own half the stock w. G Ralslon,
cashier Of The Bank ot California, who
owns one eighth; and u. o. Mills, presi.
dent of the same bank, who also owns
one eighth, all men OF Ihc very first
business integrity and intelligence in
California, aud not at all likely Ia
connect their names with or put then
money into an enterprise not we'll
based aud well protected. The decis
ion of the California court in favor OF
Gomez in 1857 is described by Aitor
ncy General Black, in a letter written
| September G, 1869, in these words:
"Tho original claimant is Vincent
p. Gomez His title is believed to bC
u forgery. The Land Commissioner
decided against him. An appeal lC
the District Court was taken by fraud
aud decree of confirmation was en-
tered there BY fraudulent misrcprc
scniatiun, which the Judge Of the court
will correct, III he has not already done
so, by striking it from the record
Some investigation Of the case took
place last term IN the Supreme CuurI
and an opinion was delivered by Mr.
Justice Wayne, which explains pretty
fully, but in very moderate language
the disgusting corruption which hai
characterized nearly every part OF lh,
procceding The decree win be open
ed by The District Court, aud apolloI
decree in favor OF the United States
subslaniialed in ils place hy the sam,
court. Ii that should fail (which 4
not at all likely an appeal win b
taken to the supreme Co1it In NJ
event can the claimant ever get th,
land, II the interests and rights Of tn
government shall be properly defend
cd
There is no reason TO doubt tll
tenth rf fhfa atofor,nng a,d Il Z. .ari