Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-05
GILBERT NJ. LAWS AnRAioSEp.
An Old Soldier Shows Up Hts Record
in the McCook Land Oficc,

in the McCook Land ONCE,
SurroS, Neb Oct 9,--To tho Editor OF
The BEE: On the Sd day of July, 1894,
was at the McCook land ofice and entered
the southeast quarter of section 2s-6.52 as a
soldiers homestead. In December, 1884,
went up to the land described to make set
Element But on arriving at McCook l was
informed by friend that said land had been
entered by one Mrs. NJ McGill. made my
way TO the land office and called up said
land. Hon. Mr.. Laws, the register, in
formed me that the land in question had
been entered by ono Mrs. NJ. McGill. l told
Mr.. Laws that there must be some mis-
take, that l entered said land on
the Sd day of July, 1854, and had
the receipt therefor. He told me
didn't, and after some words he ordered
mo out of the land Office, aud said he could
do nothing for me aud that | would have to
wait till Mr.. Babcock came from New Or
leans.
In March, 1855, 1 went 10 the McCook land
office, and again called up the laud above de-
scribed. MIR. Laws aud Mr. Babcock were
both IN the Office. They told me never had
made an entry of said land After some
talk produced the receipt of entry. Mr..
Babcocli turned to the safe, got the duplicate
charge papers, also paying me back my entry
fee and said there had been u mistake, ond
they could do nothing for me
left the land Office feeling
badly. 1 went to the land in
question and found that the party
who had entered the above described land
had not made settlement l went back to
the land Office and told MIR. Laws the above
fact, and that wished TO enter q contest.
He told me he would not accept q contest
on said land. l employed an attorney, made
out the papers, presented them at the land
Office, and told him If he would not accept
them we would send them to the general
land office. He said he would accept to save
time il we did that and he took the contest
fee and pigeon-hoed the papers. l never
got hearing in the case till August, 1887,
and then only by sending an affi iavt to tho
secretary of the interior, stating all the
above facts, when the secretary ordered a
| hearing in the case.
Question Mr.. Laws, did you not state
| in letter to the secretary of the interior
| that the above described contest papers
| were mislad and you could not tinu themi
Question Did you not write letter,
after entered contest and protest, to Mrs.
| McGil and tell her that she must come and
| live on the land in question: as her proof had
| been rejected by the secretary of the in-
terror and tnat there had been protest and
| contest ficds
| Question 3.--Is it not fact that you held
| those papers until after Mrs. McGill came
| back and lived on the land the required
| length of time to make proof, and you ad-
| vsed her 50 to do, knowing that my protest
| and contest were on flea
Question As iJ not fact that on careful
| inspection of the books of the land Office
| they will show that there was prior entry
| to Mrs. McGill's, and 1t was erased, or had
| been!
Question SIS it not a fact that while
| you were register in the land Office you acted
| in the capacity of advisor and attorney in this
case for Mrs. McGilli
| Question. 6--Is it not fact that you took
said contest and protest papers and destroyed
| thems
Question. us il not fact that the land
Office paid me back my entry fee on the above
| described landl
Question. Sis it not fact that you told
| respectable citizen of McCook, Neb., that
| you regretted not issuing notice on this con-
| test and protest
Question. elf 1T is a fact that you held
these papers in the case above mentioned,
can you explain to the public why you did
sos
Question. 10-Is it not a fact that when
Stewart made said entry he was asked the
question, ''Is this Sinking Water mob you
have got here this mOrning!" and he told YOU
he knew nothing of the Sinking Water busi-
nessf
Question Ills it not a fact that J. W..
Johnson, of Sutton, had some talk with you
about tue Stewart contest matter, and you
told him his statements were not trues
| Question 2.-Is it not fact that II the
records of the general ana McCook land
offices are properly examined they will re-
veal the fact that Stewards statements are
correcti
Question 13-If you are nominated and
| elected TO congress will you handle the
office in the bungling way you did the
| McCook land object II. FL. STEWART.