The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-02-08
IN COURT At DENVER
A Land Ofic, Case Which Rings in
Senator Carriers Nam,.
VERY HARSH CHARGES MADE
In a Case Involving So, 800 a Col
crado Defendant Alleges
That Crooked Work
Was Planned.
;nscial plspnt tch TO the slandnrd.

Special bispa tch 10 the standard.
Denver, Feb 7.-Senator 7. III. Car
ter, of Montana, chairman of the re-
publican national campaign in 1892. and
eN-commissioner of the United States
land office, figured unenviably in the
answer 10 a suit which was filed In the
district court yesterday. the plain
statement being made, in affidavit, that
Carter. In company with l. II. Porter.
OF Denver had solicited Thomas Multi
gan of Denver for the sum Of 81, 800 to
work n case which Mulllgan had
through the land office, using part Of
the money to fix" officials Of the land
Office and the special agent who was tn
be sent through Carter's influence to
Investigate the case.
The suit to which this is an answer
was filed by George A. Smith several
days ago and seeks to recover from
Mulligan th sum of s2,250 on notes for
1900 and $3.50. secured 10y a trust deed
ON quarter section Of land. IL Is esti-
mated that there is nothing due on the
notes anyway. Mulligan alleges that
neither Porter nor any counsel em-
ployed by Porter had rendered In any
manner any services to- the defendant.
The answer goes on tn say that in
1892. Mulligan had contest before the
Denver land office over an entry. Null
ligan had filed "a preemption entry on
the quarter section and a man named
Stalter had filed homestead entry.
In October. 1892. the Denver land Of
flee rendered a decision adverse In
MulliGan. and he employed attorneys
In Washington to fight 1t out in the
general land office. He says that on
Dec. IL. 1892. Porter. who had learned
of the adverse decision, came To him
and told him that IL he wanted To win
his case In the land office. II was i'm
portant that he should secure the serv-
Ices OF Thomas H. Carter. that IL he
did not, he would lose the land.
A meeting was arranged at which
Porter introduced Muligan Ia Carter.
telling him that Carter was formerly
commissioner OF the general land office
and OF immense influence. In the con-
versation which followed. Carter rem
resented TO Mulligan that he could
have the case settled at once and oh
tain patent for Mulligan before
March 4. 1893. and Mulligan claims that
Carter, for a consideration of $500.
agreed to obtain the patent before the
time mentioned. In explaining matters
to Mulligan, both Porterand Carter rep
resented that the work would have to
he done before the end Of the Harrison
administration. Mulligan already had
attorneys employed on the case in
Washington, but he had been offered
so, 900 for the land. as soon as "A patent
was obtained. and this influenced him
to make a contract agreeing tn pay $500
in cash and giving two notes. one for
$1,000 and one for $3.50, To be paid when
the patent was received. The claim is
made that Porter and Carter wholly
failed To carry out the agreement and
never rendered any services. the pat :
ent. which was finally issued In Febru-
airy, 1896, being procured solely through
the efforts of attorneys in Washing
ton. Therefore the notes are void.
The complaint concludes: Defend
ant saws that the said I. n. Porter and
the said Thomas II. Carter informed
him that the charges were made 80
high for the reason that the money
would have to go To officials In WASH
ington. ID. c.. who had charge of the
land case involving the defendants .
land and that, to obtain the patent In
so short a time. money In addition To
the great influence of Thomas H. Car
ter would have Ia he used. that the in
strument Of writing for $1,000 was
made for this purpose. Defendant fur
ther saws that he was informed by
Porter and Carter that the said Carter
would go to Washington and would sc-
lect his man among the special agents
of the department Of the general land
office. who would lac sent here To inVes-
tigate this case; that this man could
! be relied ou and that Porter would
have to take care of and handle the
agent. entertain him while In Denver.
and see that he did not fall into wrong
hands. and that this would entail ex-
pense."
D