Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-19
LAND FRAUDS.

Arrest of Ten Persons Charged With the
Fraudulent Entry of CIaims-Perjrry
Charged-How the Land Ring Has Man
ipulated the Entries.
Tuesday last Hon. Vim. R. Marshall, spe-
cial United States timber agent, United
States Commissioner Spencer, Assistant
United States District Attorney Congdon
and Deputy United States Marshal
Bracket, quietly left the city. The party
returned yesterday increased by ten pris-
oners in custody of Marshal Bracket,
charged with perjury in affidavits made in
the matter of proving up presumption
claims upon the Mile Laos reservation.
The parties in arrest are John Clement,
Ormand J. Bragg, Clarence Larrabee, AL
bert w. Campbell, Andrew Ryan, Maurice
Dugan, Chas. Duboy, Thomas Norman
Chas. eyre and John H Rowe.
1t is claimed that these parties were act
ing as agents of the lumber firm of John
Martin & Co., of Minneapolis, in their en-
tries, the land in question being covered
with valuable pine timber, and
that their afIidavits setting forth compli-
ance with the law, as to time of occupan-
cy, etc., were false. The proving took
place in the land Office at Taylorsss Falls,
Col. John Owens, register. The prelimin-
airy hearing will take place before U. S.
Commissioner Spencer this morning.
The arrests above noted are only an in
stallment of those that will occur in the
future. 1t has long been matter of pub
lie notoriety, and some months ago was
reported officially to the general land Office
fho4 L. 90 AZ
gantic character were being perpetrated
upon the government in the entry of pine
lands in the state of Minnesota and in the
Bayfield, land district in Wisconsin,
The abuse has been one of long stand
ing. 1t was referred to in the last annual
report of Carl Schurz, when secretary of
the interior, and futile attempt was made
shortly afterwards to put stop to it.
There were influences, however, which
operating from Washington through Min
nesota statesmen checked the inquiry and
prosecution, and added to this was the
lack of fund at the disposal of the gener-
al land office which could be applied to
the prosecution of the offenders against
the law.
The modaS operdndi of the pine land
ring is no new thing in this vicinity.
While w. D. Washburn was surveyor gen.
eral it was an easy matter for him and
those associated with him to ascertain just
when the survey of particularly desirable
pine lands would be completed, when en-
tries and pre-emptions could be made by
the agents of the ring, thus securing the
most desirable tracts. Since Washburn's
administration there has been less of this
class of lands surveyed, and the principal
portion opened to entry has been drawn
from the Indian reservations The land
department. thinking to place check upon
fraudulent entries, conceived the happy (?)
idea of exposing all pine lands for sale at
public auction. This proved an inspira-
ton indeed. It's results have more than
realized the expectations of--the pine land
ring. By bidding extravaganza prices for
the lands they were able to freeze out gem
uine purchasers, when they defaulted in
payment, whereupon the lands were placed
on sale at the land offices at the govern
ment price of $1.25 an acre and promptly
gobbled up by the sharks.
In order to make the entries or pre-emp-
tons valid in law it was necessary that one
person should be found to enter or pre-
empt each quarter section of land
somewhat difficult matter to do in ali cases
but this was overcome by the entry of
large tracts in the name OF fictitious per-
sons. 1t is stated on apparently good gu
thority that there have been several hEn-
dred of these fictitious entries made by the
several numbering firms in this vicinity and
they are now engaged in proving their
claims. This affords the officers of the
government the opportunity of detecting
the frauds, as it is necessary to produce a
person before a court or duly accredited
officer of a court-the clerk, for instance
to swear that they were the bona fde pre-
empters of the tracts designated. With
the resources at the command of the gov
eminent detection is certain, as is evidenc-
ed by the arrests made above.
The arrests made thus far comprise only
the agents or tools of the real parties in
interest. 1t is stated that most of the lum-
bering firms in Minnesota and western
Wisconsin are implicated in these frauds.
and it is the determination of the general
land Office that all shall be held to rigid
accountability. 1t looks, however, as if it
was repetition of the old expedient of
locking the stable door after the horses are
stolen, as in many instances the land has
been largely denuded of its pine.