New-York tribune., 1897-07-29

honest surveys under each contract, put most
OF the work was performed in the office ana not
in the neld When the Interior Department
made its investigation Ahe rinS became alarmed
and burned its records and papers Benson neu ,
20 Europe. He was soon captured IN De,iii.a, ss,,
Said Vas semi TO California In 1889 10 bring
the cases to trial. but as he said IN ms e,ter W
the Land Office charging coliusioh oss"ee,s
members OF the rims ana Officers :"
the government the weakest instead
OF the strongest cases were ,rien. ana
the result was as he. had predicted-the Govern
ment lost Sibbald reported TO the Lana oHlce
that the District-Attorney at the beginning VI
the trial had said: I'VE don't want to try these s
cases very sharp we do not want 70 convict
anybody" and rendered his resignation "h'c"
was not accepted at that time. . omoo
Subsequently in a report to the Land Ofnce
Special Agent Sibbald said: "Of the proceeds
~ the contracts. amounting to S9S6.0O0 con-
troed by the Benson ring am satisned that
a proper investigation will show that not less
than Si50.000 was paid out OF the treasury "
its agents and representatives on false ana
fraudulent powers of attorney. The Statute OF
Limitation now protects the forgers from crlm.
inal prosecution but believe the Governnneht
has it's remedy by civil suits to recover the
money from the men who used the bogus pow
ers of attorney at least In the cases referred 10
In this report
As the interior Department did not act upon
Special Agent Sibbald's recommendations, ne re.
signed Benson's attorneys hoping TO prevent
further warfare against the ring. made overtures
10 Mr.. Sibbad, and finally engaged him 10 act
as attorney in getting the Land once 10 approve
the accounts for two or three legitimate surveys
Mr.. Sibbad was successful. but as MS contrac'
with George c. HaZleton, Bensons representa-
tive was not in writing. IL was repudlateu anu
the fees were not paid. Sibbald was again CON
ducting a lively warfare on the ring until lev
weeks ago when he died. thus putting an emo 10
Benson's uneasness. for he had once rerharheu
that Sibbald's withdrawal from the case wouio
be worth more than Sloooo 10 him'
SOME SUSPICIOUS CLAIMS PAID.
After the Interior Department unearthed these
frauds Benson and his confederates not only
asked immunity from punishment, but requested
payment for the fraudulent surveys rejected ny
the General Land Office upon proof tnat they
were fictitious and fraudulent, which which surveys
amounted 10 from S2J0O0O TO S4'W,OV", accord
to 10 dieferent estimates 1t is learned at the
Land ONCE that some of these suspicious ciailns
though 1t is difficult 10 determine nov In nianS
were clearly Bensons, were setted py llie Iieoe N
land Administration upon the approval OF ac-
counts by Commissioner Lamoreaux III,
To save himself from further prosecutloh clNH
and criminal while the suits against s MN nm 1anS
still pending Benson appeared before the Lanu
Once in previous Administration ana sus
sested a compromise. He PROMISED 10 naae M 7 ,,ie
lands surveyed again honestly ana at nis C wv.
exnense The Land Office agreed to tnls' pu'
$ror, new evidence in possession or ConHs-
sioner Hermann, it is clear that Benson uiu IN, nU'
keep his promise. However. Commissioner H. M
mann has entered into another such com oI
.n he savs. "The Government would rather
have it's lands surveyed than prosecute sulIeS
ors and If they will survey them ior ho'hi's'
hadn't we better let them do IL! .u,
Nevertheless the General Land Once % Is sun
conducting an investigation in the he!d, n; 49, 49,,
Collier the special agent VINO protesaeu 1, "n, nnnl
Commissioner Lamoreaux approVtu . bi ,ronbie
tracts and who was dismissed Tor ms troupie'
has been reinstated by Commissioner hermann, M
Moreover. he has been instructed u isSu s5ne nh
old work and bring together an .ne e,rvevs
tainable in relation to these frauduent suiNe!s.
He Is now supervising the surveys wncn Pensoi, s ~
has been making under his compronsse' nt,ar anu -
anv more crookedness is uneartned the Nia..e
viii no called to the attention Of the Departiieh
Of Justice for action. ,,o .ho, tho Cow
Commissioner Hermann believes ina, tne uos @ :
ornment has chance Of having It's lands SUI :
,.a'ad nronorlv without any more expense; or III
otber words that it may get honest surveys lo
the money that it paid out upon laIse repi Iii
,ations hut If il has not that cnahce nv III
tr,ng tho Henson ring to account for the past