Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-28
ROBBED THE FILES.
William Jameson to BE Tried Soon
for a Bold Affair.

The case OF William Jameson is to b.
called in the United States District Cour
here within a few days. probably next week
There are five indictments against him. II
some Of the cases he is jointly indicted will
one Littlejohn. Jameson is a lawyer a
Port Townsend, state of Washington, anc
is charged with being the principal in g
plot to cheat the government out of prop
erty worth 10000 by stealing the deed:
to five large tracts Of land in Washington
The story is as follows:
James 7. Elder of Whatcom Island Wash
tngton. decided this tract to the government
He had three relatives. In deciding the land
ne requested that II be opened to settle
ment by meritorious emigrants from the
east.
The relatives threatened to have Elder
declared insane unless he recovered the
property. He requested the return of the
deeds. but did not receive them. Then
as the story goes. the relatives entered
into a scheme with William Jameson tC
abstract the papers from the land Office
In Washington and substitute for them
forged documents. This would enable Ell
der to plead that the deeds conveying his
land to the government were forgeries
which. upon examination. they would prove
to be. Jameson came to Washington four
or five years ago. He appeared at the land
Office. and stating that he was interested
in several wsll-known land cases. he was
given every opportunity to examine the
Just as he was leaving that night he said
cordially to Clerk Weld: by the way,
was any one here inquiring about old man
Elders case? i heard good deal Of 1t out
west" The clerk replied no and went
to the shelf to take down the tin box con-
tanning the records. AS soon as Jameson
saw where the tin box was kept he pleas
antly said: "Oh. don't pull them down
now; lis late and I'm too tired to look at
them tonight. In fact. I don't think they
Will help me on my case
Next day Jameson visited the land ONCE
and. II Is charged, distracted the five FL
der deeds from the box. He went imme-
diately to New York, II is further alleged.
to a lithographing shop in Church street
and had the i've original deeds copied, even
to the Endorsement. With the plates he
went to a printer. whose address ex-Chief
Drummond will not give. and caused deeds
exactly like the original to be made.
The theft was discovered and reported to
Chief Drummond of the secret service.
Jameson was arrested. but discharged. as
no law could be found to cover the case. He
was rearrested and admitted to bail in
$500
The cases have been delayed because Of
the pressure Of business and the difficulty
IN getting evidence till now. The district
attorney believes that he has a good case.
Several of the general land office officials
will be put on the stand.
Judge Lamoreux. commissioner IF the
general land Office knew nothing directly
OF the matter in question because 1t &C.
CURED long before his entrance into the
office
Mr. William o. Conway. law examiner of
the general land Office, in speaking OF the
case with a Star man, said:
"A man named Jameson presented himself
to a New York photographer and wanted
fac-similes OF certain papers which he had.
The photographer thought this suspicious
request and notified the detective corps.
Chief Drummond of the secret service called
the attention of the land office TO the mat
ter. He was asked to retain possession of
the papers. they could not have been
honestly obtained The land office got all
the information possible about the case
and brought IL TO the attention of the At
torney General. In turn IL was committed
to the district attorney In this city. Jameson
was indicted and skipped After some
trouble he was arrested on extradition pa
pers in Canada and was brought 20 this
city"