The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-21
LAND FRAUDS TN NEB.
United States Grand Jury at Omaha
Is Probing an Alleged Monu-
mental Scandal. .
Filings by Hundreds Of Soldiers
Widows in Behalf of the
States Cattle Barons.


Omaha, Neb, Nov. 21.-Nebraska is on
the eve of the greatest scandal the west
has ever known-a scandal so widespread
ing and far-reaching that thousands of
people from twenty or more states are
concerned in it's different ramifications.
The conspiracy extends to officers and
representatives of the United States, and
takes in business and professional men
in many cities and states but the suffer-
ers will be comparatively innocent peo-
pie. The United States grand jury, In
session at Omaha, has had the matter
laid before it, and is now probing the
scandal. Thousands of widows and of
union soldiers will probably be indicted
for perjury and many of the best-knoWn
business men and politicians OF the west
may be called upon to plead to the charge
of conspiracy to defraud the United
States.
1t Is the old story of the cattle baron
Of the west and his efforts to keep out
the small cattle raiser and the settler
who comes west with the purpose OF
demonstrating a farm for himself But q
new tack has been taken this time. In
stead of the usual way Of running long
line Of wire fence across the government
domain, they have hit upon the plan OF
inducing the widows Of union soldlers 70
take up homesteads and to sell their
claims to the cattle raisers.
1t sounded all right, but when 1t was
taken into consideration that IN oroer 70
make a filing on public lands 1t oecan1e
necessary to make oath that such lands
| were for the exclusive use or the appii-
cant, it became necessary for the appil-
cant to commit perjury in order to make
| the filing.
Widows Before the Jury.
Soldiers widows were selected to take
nm the claims because of the clause In
the United States laws which permits them
to make the necessary entries without llV'
ing on the property.
fore the grand jury to tell what they
know of the matter. And also the land
agents. cattle men, and others are pells
summoned to appear before the san1e
tribunal CONSERVATION Is spreading
among the conspira tors and thelr VIZ
| Tins. and when the indictments are re-
turned by the grand jury, 1t is expecteo
that the list will include thousands "
neoDle who have never before seen the Ill
side of a court of Justice.
The magnitude Of these frauds can
| scarcely be estimated. On NOV IT, 19V-'
forty three widows mace cntr 49, a. e e,e
Rushyille, Neb., land office. There are
Ave land offices in Nebraska Wherc
nntrics may be made. While every one
of these entries is not illegal, yet inc
vast ma ;crity Of them are. Inc 1rd'tus
have been gong on for eighteen n1oltHs
and it is said that during the f1rst h1teeh
DAYS OF November alone fully 500 fraudu-
lsot entries were made in this state: The
| total number of acres taken up IA th,s
wav will probably exceed the l,OO0,00O
mark.
Colonel John S. Mosby, agent of the
lard DEPARTMENT, was called to Wasnllg
ton seve1a! weeks ago to confer WIN TIE
president and with Secretary Hltcncock
cfqfn6
the tire that he went to answer charses
made against him regarding his zeal IN
removing the illegal fences which. nave
been erected on government LANDS. Col
one: NIosby had been quietly securing
evidence on this subject for year, at the
same time that he was removing fences.
All of his information was laid before
the depa, t1nent and part Of it Immediate
lv bore fruit. w. r. Lesser, agent OF Inc
department in Nebraska. was called 10
Washington and suspended from ofnce
Dcnding q thorough Investigation OF the
matter W. S. Summers, the United
States attorney for Nebraska, was issued
orders to prosecute with full vigor.
One Of tho ''syndicates" is said to have
agents seeking out war widows who
will accent their offers and make entry on
a Nebraspa homestead, which they agree
to lease 10 the syndicate and at the END
of five years, when the final proofs are
Their r.odus operandi is the same In all
cases.
Iowa has proved a fruitful field for the
agents. Illinois has also furnished a
large quota, while Missouri, Indiana,
Ohio Michigan Pennsylvania and New
York have each sent large numbers of
the widows of their soldiers to take up
homesteaGs Of Uncle Sans free lands.
Penalties Are Heavy.
The penalty attached to the fraud Is Sc
we're. There is the regular statute against
perjury, which is punishable by a term ii,
the penitentiary in addition to which the
land entries may be Cancelled and no fur
Their claim be allowed the person attempt
ing the fraud. That will lie with the court
to decide. But to those who conspired to
secure the fraudulent entries the law may
not be so lenient. A charge Of conspiracy
to defraud the United States government
is a serious oftonse.
1t may be difficult to prove who these
conspirators are, although it is easily dis
coverable who profited by the entries. The
cattlemen and sheepmen Of the western
ranges are the people who will secure
benefits from such frauds and it will be the
efforts of the grand jury to connect them
with the transactions.
Omaha is filled with cattle men, agents
and others, some called to testify before
the federal grand jury, while others are
here to exert their ''pull' and if possible
get out of the mess into which their greed
has gotten them.