Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-03-15
ALLEGED LAND PBAUD CASES.

As soon during this present week az
the United States court for the 81 judicial
district was organized fourteen cases
a.ainst sundry and divers parties Tor
perjury in alleged land fraud cases were
dismissed by the United States attorney
Times have changed since MeSsrs. Grover
Cleveland and Garland lett oilire. Times
have changed considerably, and persecn-
ton for political reasons, for political gum
and advantage for personal hatred, ana
for Matchmaking purposes viii 500"
cease. A change has come over the SPIN
of the dreams OF some of our federal Oil
Gals. In This connection it is proper t.
remark that out OF about 700 alleged land
fraud indictments found SO far during
the glorious alleged reform administration
of Grover Cleveland right here Ill
New Mexico in about half dozen cases
| the defendants we're scared INTO pleading
guilty, but were let OFT with nominal
fines, and in two cases only have verdi t.
of guilty upon trial been obtained. One
of these cases is the one OF Terrence
Mullen, who was convicted in reality tor
endeavoring to steal the body OF the mar
! tvred Lincoln in 1866, and the othe
case is the one OF Morris WohlgemuJh,
who took an appeal to the territorial
supreme court. his case was not reached
during the recent term Of the court, bui
will come up next January, and from the
examination of the record there seems nc
doubt that the judgment will be re-
versed and a new trial ordered, in "hlrl
also, without doubt, the defendant vii
be acquitted.
At the last term of the district court II
this, the LIST, district there was one trla
had in case connected with alleged lane
fraud matters, and the defendant, Mr.
Jose B. Ortiz was acquitted. The othe
cases on the docket were dismissed. Ii
this district therefore, out Of about 80,
alleged land fraud cases not single con
fiction was attained by the government
Iurlng the past three years and hall
From the very first inception OF these case
We have told the people of New Mexic
that they we're simply brough
for political purposes, for politics
ends and persecution, and to max
ees for the several court officials. In
record has fully sustained the position "
have taken. Even with and agains
packed and partisan iuries and sometime
p extre nely partisan aud bad judges .tprof
2 ably stronger term might be used i
that Connection, right has triumphed, an
Q ne result, after long and holly contes
c I'd fight in which the federal officials Ia
!. ,verv advantage, and used it too, hs
!, been to vindicate the position taken
lis and has shown up fully the falslt
hollowness and political bias of the alleg'
Il and fraud charges and land fraud indit
It nents and prosecutions, brought by Il
II hundreds against honorable and hone
is citizens and competent and honest c
, led raj officials. The verdicts OF n
,e guilty and the numerous dismissals
ID such cases 5, ow painly and uneqnlvoc
ID ly that tie prosecutions were instltut
&c for political and nArsera' .fcr'tne go(
lame of the people OF New Mexico d
nand this, that these six hundred al
!. odd cases of clear persecution be look,
II into by the Hon. w. II. H. Miller, Il
), attorney general of the United States, ar
|, that the federal officials engaged therei
!. be speedily removed. The cause OF fai
l. ness and justice and the good name
4 the people of New Mexico, who ha,
e zen held up for political and partisa
{ purposes ms land thieves and perjurer
: not to speak of the injury and expens
e inflicted without cause, except that the
o were Republicans, on hundreds OF privat
7 citizens, demand this action on the "a,
Of the government. We hope that thes
matters will be speedily and fully invest
gated and exact Justice metad out.