Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-29
The Soldiers Widows Who
Have Claims in Nebraska
Are Given Assurance
CAPT. cARNEs WRITES A LETTER
Explains the Situation in Regard to
the Nebraska Alleged Land Frauds
and States Iowa Contingent Has OBJ
served Every Requirement of the Law
and Will Be Given a Title.

Special to Times Republican.
Ottuuwa, Nov. 29.-The land FRAUDS
in connection with widows claims IN
Nebraska, which the government has
under investiga ton, have been the
cause of considerable worriment In OF
tumwa, where a large contingent oil
soldiers widows reside who have taken
up claims in the territory in question.
The Ottumwa contingent however
have been assured by Captain George
w. Carnes, who engineered the entire
deal and took several parties OF women
to the western country, including the
Ottumwa party, who has written a let
ter which explains itself and will be OF
interest to many people in the state
who have friends who are interested
and to those soldiers widows who nave
taken up claims in Nebraska Carnes'
letter is as follows:
"Creston, Iowa
"All of this hubbub is without found
alton so far as regards the soldiers
widows declaratory statements, hied
by the Iowa women. OF course, there
has been large amount Of frauds per-
petrated in regard to these filings. In
my opinion, the Illinois delegation who
went out on the same train with us
have been led to believe that they could
file On their homestead claim and sell
out their interest. At least, that is
what these women said, and they also
said they had received part payment;
This was fraudulent and as told our
people at that time it was nothing short
of perjury. Nobody questions the right
of widows of honorably discharged ex-
soldiers who had ninety days or more
service in the war of the rebellion to
file their declaratory statement and
claim of $50 acres of government land
as a homestead, as provided by acts OF
congress under section 2,209 of the re-
yised statutes of the United States. In,
their declaratory statement they are
required to take an oath that they do
not take this land for the sale, transfer
or REIMBURSEMENT, but that they take
it for their own individual use and BEN
eft and neither their agent nor attor-
ney have any interest in the matter
whatever, further than to file their de-
claratory statement. They must swear
that they take 1t for their own benefit
and cultivation and not for the benefit
of any other person. Now, all those Ia
dies made their filings with this under
standing. having had, so am informed
the power of attorney read over to
them carefully, and I do not know OF
any of these women who even want to
sell their claims after they secure the
deed.
Now the land department has held
that in the arid grazing districts the
grazing of stock will be held as suffi-
cient cultivation. These women are all
using their lands now for that purpose
In good faith with the government. The
honorable commission of the general
land office has further held that where
the lands are being cultivated in good
faith the widow of an ex- soldier is ex-'
empt from residence on such land. Now
those women whom I have met and
talked with are acting in good faith
with the government as the law pro-
vides they must do; and all this news
pa per talk of land frauds in Nebraska
has nothing whatever to do with their
case, unless they have been trying to
sell out to some one contrary to law
and in open violation of their oath.
None Of the people whom know any