Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-04
DEADWOOD DOINGS.
Serious Charges Against the Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court-Additi6nal
Particulars of the Great Storm-NIlnne-
sotians in Luck.
Correspondence of the Globe. !

sotians in Luck.
Correspondence of the Globe.
DEADwooD: D. T., May 26.-The duty of
correspondent is not always pleasant
one, as is exemplifed in the present instance,
when am called upon to notice the latest
sensatian of the day, and one that seriously
affects an able judge who until recently en-
joyed the utmost respect of all classes of
people. Granville G. Bennett, associate JUS
tice of the Territorial supreme court, pre-
siding judge of the United States district
court and of the court for Lawrence county
is at present under cloud. Af1davits al
leging his corruption have been prepared
and forwarded to Washington, together with
petition for his removal. His many friends
have circulated counter petitions, praying
for rigid Investigation, and as such will
doubtless be the immediate result 1 refrain
from expressing any opinion, and conine
myself to narration of both sides of the
story, which, through the courtesy of several
interested parties, have easily obtained.
The community was startled, last fall, by
the appearance of special agent Chase of the
department of Justice, in answer to a petit
ton for an examination into certain charges
then preferred against Judge Bennett. The
investigation was thorough, and resulted in
complete exoneration of the accused.
Subsequent rulings Of the Judge, notably in
the case of the Roderick Dhu vs. Ross min
ing case, aroused the suspicious of certain
miners and lawyers, and scheme was con-
cocted by Gen. Cunningham, principal
owner OF the Dhu, man named Casey, who
owns large interest on ''the belt,'' Judge
Murphy, cross between miner and a
LAWYER, and w. Il. Clagett, an ex-member of
Congress from Montana, and present
prominent member Of the Deadwood bar, by
which to entrap the Judge if he was inclined
to be at all ''crooked.'' Their first plan
was to stock certain quartz miners to the
extent of ten millions of dollars, place
them on the San Francisco board
and enter into heavy speculations The
project was presented to Judge Bennett and
by him pronounced capital, but 80 enthu-
siastic was he, and so eager to 'push things, %
that Cunningham, Clagett, ct al, deemed it
expedient to change their tactics. They,
that is Cunningham, Clagett, Casey, Muir
ply and one, Grant, owned several rich hill
claims, of which fact Bennett inadyer-
tently( J learned, and to make the bait still
more tempting, a pan Of dirt was heavily
'!salted'' and given to the judge, who, al
though novice, washed out prospect worth
$2.35. Almost any tenderfoot would have
"blt and it is not wonderful that the Judge
desired a slice of the rich ground. He CON
ferred with the owners. and the latter finally
agreed to purchase Grants one-fifth for the
benefit of the judge, which was subsequently
done-the Bennett interest being decided to
and held by Casey who entered into writ
ten agreement to deed the property to Ben
nett on demand. These hill claims
which are known as the pro
perty Of the Excelsior mining
company, are adjacent to. and to an extent
overlap the Reno quartz mine, and a good
deal OF squatting has resulted. Clagett'e
play, of course, was to carry the matter into
court and compromise the judge by causing
him to arbitrate in dispute wherein he was
an interested party, and for this purpose was
preparing an application for an injunction
restraining the Reno boys from working the
ground, when Bennett became cognizant OF
the purpose, and quietly retained Judge
Mclaughlin, member of the bar, as his
confidential adviser and agent to thwart the
move, IT possible, OF to at least defer it un-
I'll Bennett, who was contemplating an
Eastern trip, should depart, and Judge
Barnes, of the Fargo district, should arrive.
During all of this time Bennett was in ig
norance that Clagett, who has ever been
exceedingly hostile to the Judge
was aware of the fact that he (Bennett) held
an interest in the Excelsior ground land whe1
closely pressed by fear that Clagett would
spring his motion unawares, he quietly ap
preached that attorney and divulged the cir
cumstance, Clagett, of course, expressed
great surprise and inquired what legal re-
dress he could secure if needed, as it would
De highly improper for the judge to enter.
tain notion in case in which he was Der.
sonally interested. Bennett replied thai
Judge Barnes would be here in few DAYS
and could act in the matter. On the follow.
ing Monday Bennett departed for Yankton
rday or two sooner than expected by or an
nounced to the bar. Thereupon affidayits
were prepared and by Clagett carried tc
Washington. The documents, copies of which
| have seen, are very voluminious and
set forth, in addition to the above, remarks
and conversations, that, if true. show a
state of Judicial corruption difficult to
parallel. For instance, the accused is re-
ported to have said "this is nv wear for
making money, and am going to make it. .
Again, when informed that the Reno bows
might apply for an injunction against the
Ezcelslors, he said, according to the aft
davlts, S we'll, it will do them no good, for
they won't get it." Atlantis lay stress upon
the facts that Mclaughlin, retained by Ben
nett as against the Reno men, is the regu-
larry retained counsel for the Reno com
pany; and Benefits desire to keep his CON
nect1on with the mining company sub rosa,
experimenting remark upon the subject
with the declaration that if he entertained a
motion and the fact leaked out that he was
interested, sit would knock me higher than
a kite
Another affidavit alleges that on the night
previous to his departure, Bennett called
upon Loring b. GaFy, member of the bar,
at present sitting as referee in the very i'm
portant Aurora VS.. Hidden Treasure case,
drew Gaffy's attention to the vital point in
the case and expressed positive opinion
thereon, thereby seeking to influence the de-
cision of the referee in the matter.
Such are the outlines of the complaint as
submitted to President Hayes. On the
other hand, the many friends of the Judge
declare mistaken confidence in his judicial
integrity: pronounce the efforts to
GUST him base conspiracy con
ceived and carried out by a
coterle of sharks, who, having failed in cor
ruptlng the judge. now seek to- unsea chin
IN favor of some more pliable tool. Peti-
tons have been circulated all over the hills,
and have been signed by thousands, asking
for thorough investigation, and expressing
great confidence in the ability aud incor-
ruptlble character of the acccsed. These will
be forwarded to Washington at once and
presented to the President by delegate Kid
der.
Judge Bennett, although yet in the prime
OF life, has enjoyed extensive practice