New-York tribune., 1891-03-07
THE FOREST INVESTIGATION.
B. L. TURNER TEsTIFIES THAT HE GOT GER,
TAIN LAND BY WARDEN GORMAN'S AID.
ASSERTING THAT THE WARDEN WAS TO MAKE
50 900 BY THE TRANSACTIoN-AILEGED IR-
REGULARITIEs MENTIoNED-sTATE
AGENT MILLERS CHARGE
AND TURNER'S REPLY.

AND TURNER'S REPLY.
Albany March 6.-The Assembly committee inqulr
ING into the Forest Commission resumed its invesea-
zion this morning. b. L. Turner, Of Pattsburg. tes-
tifed that he claimed certain tract OF land near Patts
burr and was told by Warden German that the latter
would aid him In getting ii witness would pay
81 900 for It. lie found purchasers for it. and
al 600 was paid to the state for due the
tract. Mr. German got $1,000 for his work and wit
ness retained $50 for his labor in searching the
title etc Then another deal of like nature was at
,emped but this was TO be bigger scale. 50 that
each could get Ss 900 or $4,000 out OF IT, This fell
tb-orgh because they could get proof OF occupancy
of the lands. Witness's part In this transaction was
merely as a participant in business transaction
warden German told him re could make matters all
right with Commissioner BasseIn. The Controller
refused 10 have any transactions with witness, 50 lie
had 10 make his deals" with the Forest Commission.
The witness said he knew OF settlements with
Parsons, one for so, for logs worth Sl2oo anu
another for S25. for logs worth $500. THESE Tres
masses were on lands in Franklin Comfy. The
witness testified that several settlements had been
made with Stchney, and had never been reported
W. W. and G.. W. Hartwen had cut quantity Of
logs worth 75 cents The stump and settlement
had been made for - cents standard. some l'-Vo
or l 800 standard logs had been cut. He produced
receipt from Stickney for a settlement which hai
not been reported. He had complained against Hart
well for another trcspass, but no action had been
taken upon his complaint He knew OF several
cases where the state had been tricked into making
surveys for private persons. The witness was amply
provided with afadavits and other documents.
Mr.. Anbal became much excited, and said he
objected to such statements as the witness had made
from a man who was under indictment Tor larceny
from the State lands
The chairman said that Mr.. Anibal had no right
to make such statement
Mr.. AHibal replied that he meant to prove this.
Mr.. Turner said he would defy Anbal TO do so.
Within five minutes he could bring proof that tn
Indictment had been dismissed, the alleged trespdss
had been disproved.
Mr. Davie, a member Of the committee. asked wit
ness IL the tansacon alluded to in his testimony
with Warden German. whereby he and German were
to share $1,000. was actually completed and hr.
Turner said it was not.
Mr. Anibal then cross-Cxamined the witness. lie
asked him first whether he ever settled with the Con
trollcr for logs cut state lands Mr.. Turner an
swered that he had but that since then the controller
had cancelled the title to the land. He did not kno"
at what these settlements were made They We're at
various rates and he could not bring each one to nina
He remembered one settlement that he had made with
| state Agent Wales Parsons fOr $l5O the check ioi
which he produced. He had found charged on the
Controllers books since his first examination, that
this settlement had been set down at T51 30. Tn
! settlement made in 1585 Mr.. Turner then t'~t
| fled as 10 other settlements with Van buIch AI4Ie4
! another state agent.
Mr.. Anlba then put in evidence letter from Deputy
Controller Benedict to Secretary Fox of the Forest Com
mission. under date Of April :, 1856. This quoted let
ter from state Agent Van Buren, Miller. to The effect ina
| Turner's jobbers had cut log on lot l47. an Ola
military tract. TuVner having claimed the lot.
The fact is" says Milcrs letter. lie had a largo
gang of men at work cutting thereon at the time, with
Instructions 10 cut II al of soon as s-ihlc.
Miller characterized Turner "a the most trcprs'blc
unscrupulois defiant man ! ever knew" Mr. Bcnedic'
ended his letter with the statement that Benton
Turner had the most troublesome and unscrupu
ous deprefatOr OF the state lands IN the Northern
AdirOudaCkS.'
Mr. Turner said he would prove that this letter was
inSgated by forgcr liar and thief Tine witness Wa
called to order by the committee
| Mr.. Anibal ASKED Turner hOm whom he had obtained
the afdaItS of occupancy for the redemption OF The
southeast quarter OF Township "a, McCOmh's pur a>e
The witness !, fused to this question. He said
he would produce the aiidavts, and the committee
could for themselves.
Mr. Anbal then questioned him al length a. u The
sus inStigated against him for trc~pHss, ana Wthce'
answeted dc Sied questions a. tO the suits. He alsC
testified that Warden German told him that Van ur"r
Miller had cOllCctc money for trcSpas from Toby and
EOvce. and CRANES and O'Nel, but mad not turned It
I'm T. the Forest Commission.
| in answer 10 questions bv Mr.. Adams Turner said
he had been indicted f0 cutting Logs on lot 80. ~
old military tract in Franklin County but he had Lear
nothing further about H. The lot had rad residence
on Il for twenty years, and he had permission from tf
owner 10 lumber il. The witness then OHc,cd IN cvl
dence a letter from the Controllers Office, 10 the eec
that the State did not own lot 2j5