New-York tribune., 1889-12-25
THE LAND OFFICE SCANDAL
QUESTIONABLE METHODS OF PROCURING A
VALUABLE PATENT.
AN INVESTIGATION WHICH WILL DISCLOSE
GROSS FRAUD OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE ENTRY.
,nr rrrKaR.ru To Lille rarnul

fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TaIBUsEI
Washington Dec. 24.-The investigation now In
progress In the General Land Office In relation to the
fraudulent patent for valuable Iron lands near Duluth
is nearly completed, and the testimony taken shows
either fraud unparalleled in the history of the Office or
nattenton careIessness and incompetency amounting
almost to crminaty. II shows beyond question that
the entry Of this land was examined and approved for
patent by Douglas, the clerk In charge OF such mat
ters, while controversy involving the same land was
pending before the Secretary, and while written
protest and caveat against the patent signed by James
X. Reddngton, representing adverse claimants, was
actually lying before him with the other papers.
II further shown that after the entry had been so
approved II was at the request Of Luther Harrison
attorney for Hartman and Mallett taken out OF lts
regular order and sent To the paenting division OF inc
Office where 1t rushed through to patent in four
days. ahead Of thousands Of other cases entitled to
patent In regular order and ahead OF hundreds OF such
patents actually written out and ready for signature
II further appears that the patent was recorded In
stanty upon its delivery to the parties interested ana
that several conveyances were also recorded WIFI
evident intent to put the record title in the hands OF
ostensibe third parties. During the progress OF the III
vestgaton IL was shown that Msett, although repre-
sented by two Washington attorneys, Harrison anu
Seymour, has been here in person almost constantly
since last March, and although his presence at the III
vesugatlon was demanded by the opposing attorneys
and requested by the Commissioner his attorneys IT,
fused IN nroduce him as a witness to allow MIN 10
be sworn. He has himself, shown by the testi-
mony, carefully avoided the investigation ROOM
The defence set up by Maett and his attorneys is
that they made mistake and that they were seeking
another patent instead OF the in question: ana 10
sustain this assertion they produce telegram III
which 1t is claimed there was mistake IN trahsis
sion. But the employe who under the direcUoh Vi
her superior, handed the case to the patentwrlter @
titled that this telegram was not presented 10 Ine
A. tl.a In
paentwrer and that the telegram had nothing 10 90
with the questionable proceedings. This employo
testified further that the case was advanced upon
list presented by Harrison upon which this case was
especially noted Harrison produced list purportlng
to be the one in question, but upon examination 1t
showed mutllaon, and the empoye above referred 10
and the Recorder of the General Land Office both swore
that neither in size substance was IL the original
list presented to them. -, ,,
The grave question now, aside from the punish
ment Of any OF the offenders within ohcal reach, Is
how the title thus fraudulenty obtained can DC re,
claimed by the Government. patent once signed
and recorded, Is beyond Executive power or control
and can only be cancelled by the General Land once
of the fraud, and after the Commissioner had tee-
graphed to the local offices not TO deliver the patent,
10 returned by Hartman and Mallctt. But they
refused to consent TO It's cancellation except upon
terms: and as they put several conveyances on
record subsequent TO its return, II Is PROBABLY I'M
possible to vacate the fraudulent title without suit by
the United states under direction OF the Attorney
General This, it is believed. Will be one result OF
the investigation What will be done in other arec-
tons remains to be seen. The exposure of TINS
scandal has greatly excited attorneys and Others In
possible there is security for honest claimants or
reputable attorneys, and emphatic demand Is made
for protection In the future by thorough reorganiza
ton OF the personnel and change In the methods Oh