Daily globe., 1883-07-17
THE PINE FRAUDS.

The GLOBE of Sunday morning con-
tained special telegram from Duluth an
nouncing the arrest there Saturday fore
noon, by Deputy United States Marshal
Bracket, of R. G. Mitchell, editor of the
Duluth Tribune, and recently appointed
receiver of the land Office there, and also
that Mitchell had waived examination and
furnished bail in the sum of $4,000 to
appear for trial upon the charges
against him at the October term of the q.
s. district court, to be held in this city.
The telegram also stated that II. L. Cor
don, of Minneapolis, was to be arrested
upon similar charge as that preferred
against Mitchell, the charge in substance
being that they two, as principals, had
conspired with some twenty-seven other
persons named in the complaint, to de-
fraud the United States out of
4,48O acres of public land in
township 63, range 16, valued at
$4,000. The conspiracy, as alleged in the
complaint, consisted of the hiring of the
twenty-seven men named to each pre-empt
$50 acres in the township named-a rich
pine land region-and to hold the same
until making final proof, and then to con-
vey the land to Gordon, who was in turn to
divide up with Mitchell.
Yesterday morning Marshal Bracket
visited Minneapolis for the purpose of
arresting Mr.. Gordon. The gentleman. who
has been IN poor health for several months
past, was found confined to his bed at his
residence; but the service of the papers
was executed, and Mr.. Gordon, accom-
panied by his physician, came to ST. Paul
IN the afternoon, stopping, however, at
room 16, Merchants hotel, where he was met
by U.S.Assistant District Attorney Congdon
and U. S. Commissioner Spencer, where he
waived examination and gave bonds in So
600 for his appearance at trial. After
this tormality he'd been completed
MIR. Gordon was met by GLORE reporter.
but he excused himself from making any
statement, both for the reason that he was
too Ill and fatigued to talk,and also that he
preferred that the facts should be brought
out in the trial, which, he said, would
result in his complete vindication. To
Minneapolis reporter, who saw Mr.. Cor
don before coming to st. Paul he, made
brief statement as follows:
Il consider this political raid on Mr.. Nit
chell, instigated byW W. Spalding, the pres
| ent receiver, who is pet of Gov Marshall Mr..
| Mitchell has had no interest in any pine land
operations with me- however. As to LOveiov |
| think this mans connection with Spalding pres
ent receiver of the United States land Office at
| Duluth, will be pretty well exposed before he
gets through with this matter. l have no hesi-
| fancy, at the proper time, In explaining all nv
connection and relations with this man
| Lovejoy and his FREUD, w W. Spalding. All
L Will say now Is that if any offense against any
| of the land laws of the United States has been
committed in regard to any township in uues-
ton, LovejOy and Spalding were the originators
and perpetrators of it. Gov. Marshall seems to
consider that he has special mission to perform
! IN regard to the public lands. First, to protect
| the heavy iron companies VINO now are and for
| some time have been gobbling the lands about
| Nermlllion lake by means of paid pre-emptions:
and secondly, to defeat everybody else who at
| tempts 10 Interfere In any manner with the
sacred rights of these companies''
TALK WITH Ex GOVERNOR MARSHALL.
While waiting outside the Merchants on
| Congdon and Deputy Marshal Bracket, a.
| GLOBE reporter encountered ex-Gov. VIM.
R. Marshall, the special agent of the gen
eral land offce,who is credited with the
troubles which are coming upon the pine
| land grabbers. The reporter at once ac-
Governor, will you give the GLOBE the
particulars as to the arrest of Mitchell and
Gordon?"
Gov. M.-"RealIy, have not much to
say about it. All the facts DEVELOPED have
been published or are of public record
| R.-"Yes, but what is the nature of the
charge? Are they accused of direct fraud
or perjury, or is 1t case of conspiracy ?"
M
conspiracy-theh hiring of men to fraudu-
lently take up as pre-emptors a whole
township of pine lands"
R.-"Where are the landsP In the Du-
luth district, suppose"
Gov. M.@"Yes, north of Vermillion
lake, in the Duluth land district"
R.-"Are they valuable pine lands?"
Gov. M.-"Yes,a fine tract, worth not less
than $9O,O00."
R.-"Were there more than the two par
ties in the conspiracy?"
Gov. M.-"Yes, three parties, Mitchell,
Gordon and Lovejoy."
R.-"What Loveioy?"
Gov. M.-''He runs shingle mill at
Thompson, on the Duluth road, about
twenty miles up the st. Louis river from
Duluth"
Gov. M.-"No; he will take his choice
between telling what he knows in court or
being prosecuted with Mitchell and Cor
don. 1 think he'll tell what he knows"
R.-"Then you have a strong case against
Mitchell and Gordon?'
Gov. M.-"Yes; the twelve or more men
they employed to take up the land will have
to testify. The eviaence is overwhelming
enough to convict forty men, it seems to
me. The nature of the evidence-alI the
points in the complaint which Is
in the hands of the deputy marshal or
commissioner"
R.-"Did you go up and examine this
township yourself, Governor?''
Gov. M.-"No, went to Vermilion lake,
but employed an expert named Thompson
to examine the land and look for settlers
Improvements. 1 am authorized by the
department to employ help in such cases.
I couldn't cover the whole field without
assistance
R.-"When will all the facts in the case
be brought out?"
Gov. MI presume the trials will go
over to the October term and no more of
the facts of the case will be brought out
till then, other than those stated in the
complaint