Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-11
BROUGHT FROM nENM }! ARn l. !.!L
THE MAN WHO IS CHARGED WITH
 WHOLESALE SWlNDLING.

W. +. Benson Talks of His Alleged Illegal
 Arrest by Danish OfficiaIs-Twenty-four
 Indictments Awaiting Him His Re-
 turn to San Francisco.
 NEW YORK, Feb. 11.-W. F. Benson, whose name is unp.easantly associated with the enor- nous redwood timber land swindle in Cali sornia. arrived on the new North German Lloyd steamer Lahn, from Bremen, yester- day, in the custody of United States Marshal J. c. Franks, of San Francisco The famous swindle with which Benson is said to have been connected is reputed to have cost the government about $o,O0OO00 And for his alleged participation in the steal, Benson no" staggers under the weight of twenty-four n- dictmentS.
 It will be remembered that Benson was the attorney and prime mover in the alleged frauds By means of bribery and fraudulent surveys, it is alleged the so called land i'm provement company secnred the title to vast territories of land in the southern and central parts of the golden state. Benson made the following statement to the reporters
 ''I went to Europe on business, and my ap- prehension was an outrage. On Nov. ) 1 ar rived at Copenhagen. where I was arrested with my brother, T, A. Benson, by an Eng fish detective on suspicion of being dyna- miter. Mind you, l left California with the full consent of my bondsnen and the district attorney. Several indictments found against me in August wore quashed after l left On Dec. 1 I received telegrams from San Fran cisco stating that the grand jury had reported and that ] was wanted l was preparing to return when the arrest was made, six days later. My baggage was searched, and both my brother and myself were subjected to many indgnities demanded to be toly I,ofn the officer kept us closeted for seven days After thirteen days my brother was allowed to go, and 1 stated to United States Minister Anderson that I would voluntarily return, offering at the same time to cable the secre- tary of state to that effect. l was held how ever, until Marshal Franks arrived. Tn minister told me that was wanted in Amer ica for attempting to defraud the govern ment, and we proceeded to Bremen, took the steamer, and here are. 1 say again my ar rest was all outrage, as l am under S17,OOO bond, which have not been forfeited"
 Mr. Benson did not care to answer any questions without consulting his lawyer Marshal Franks, who wore a slOuch hat, Buffalo Bill moustache and imperial, and an immense diamond, would say nothing except that he and Benson were to start for San Francisco tonight. Con. Connor and Mr. Follis of San Francisco, are Benson's bonds men, and they are understood to be in com munication with him.
 \ Californian who was with the party said: "Benson formerly q surveyor in the employ of the government. lie resigned his place. however, and soon after his resignation a party of contractors organized a company, and began to operate i'll the redwood timber lands At the time the government was offer ing bounty lands to settlers this combination employed numbers of men to take out land grants and then purchased the titles from them. Benson acted as the legal adviser of the company, but in reality was the chief mover ill it."
 There is no extradition treaty between this country and Denmark for any crime except forgery, and the Danish authorities turned Benson over as a. matter of courtesy. They even offered to place him on American soil but it was thought best to send an American officer after him. The officer and prisoner started on Feb. 1, but were detained several days at Southampton. Benson remarked that he had lost fifty pounds since his arrest, and wished to have it understood that he was an American citizen. Benson's brother, J. A. Benson returned to this country as soon as he was discharged from custody. He is now in San Francisco.