The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-12-25
is CHARGED With
GREAT LAND FRAUD;
John q. Benson Wealthy Cali
fornian and Real Estate
Operator Arrested.
WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE
Was a Victim Of the Recent lnvestiga
tons by Secretary Hitchcock
Charge Against Benson Bribing
of Land Office Checks.

Washington, Dec. 21.-John A. BE.
son, a wealthy San Francisco real es
tate operator, charged by the interio
department with being the head of al
legged land frauds extending over a doz
en- western states and territories, II
which Secretary Hitchcock referred
vigorously and at length in his annua
report, was arrested by Secret Servic,
Officer Burns just as he was preparin.
to leave the city for New York.
HI charge On which the arrest wa.
made was bribery, it being alleged il
the affidavit of Mr.. Burns and in thu
Warrant that Benson had paid $50 t.
Woodford ID. Harlan, formerly chief o.
the special service division Of the gen
eral land office, INC a clerk in that of.
flee on March IS of this year, for the
purpose of extracting from him infor.
nation regarding the investigation OF
his operations at that time being made
at the land office.
Mr.. Benson asked to have a prelim-
mary hearing of his case ~prostponed
and the date for such hearing was
fixed for December 80. He gave bal.
Tor his appearance on that date.
The statement was made by an Of
1icer of the government that the infor-
nation obtained regarding the alleged
conspiracy duplicates a number of per-
sons at present employed in the inte-
rior department at Washington anG
elsewhere.
Many Arrests Will Follow.
Numerous ARRESTS arc axnaciaa 70 "a,
low that of Renson in sbot.t ordar ~
some en,nloyns Who nav nnt We oa a.0
ed win he dismissed FROM the sar,>ioa
If is said that Sacrafarv Hitchcnnl,
o,a ~ .,,oa;nI oa,.nt ~
have considered it absolutely necessary
to the successful working out of the
case that no action be taken With ref
erenCe to any of the other alleged of
tenders until the principals in the case
had been apprehended.
The government ATTORNEYS, Arthu" b.
Hugh, WHO has been the special attor-
ney for the interior department in the
land frauds. and Oliver Pagin. assist
ant attorney of the department Of
Justice, who has also been ennloved in
the case. stated. in asking for = large
bail bond for Benson. that he had been
guilty of bribery during his present vis-
il to washington since last ond
aid in the interior deDartnent itself
Notwithstanding tbot he was fnIIy
thot bis ro,nac+icn win mo ~
legged frauds was fuIlv known Nv the
denartnent h statenant was made
Iato~ that Sac1.ats,T Hitcbnonl 80 80
incens 10 a. tb Let9i a.l'on ~ ~ Ms 80
Iened offaneo +ha+ La tnld tba nficars
to have Eonsnn a,,.ostad ar orca ~
thorght II bad ra+ hoor ,,a,no - ~
annrehend bin2 ~ nra.ont ro-Lon os
sartion ~ i W. o. antner -
49, eonso ~ W., ~ -
answer to decnv lettars md" md ,Iit1 the
;n,on 80 81 ~ ~ !. ~
nfscn " nlip'is psopit ~ tiie 'aHu
~ ~ 80 III real's "eti"s iol
''e 'So.N' SIiNtCe'
was NOT Expecting Arrest.
MI. Benson is said to have been tax
en- entirely by surprise in his arrest,
although he has known that the 0 V
eminent mas been investigating the al
land frauds. He had no lawyer
IN washington, II Wheh ne was tax
~1nmeul2lcly aIter ms arrest before
United States Commissioners Iaylor a
oeluy OIL an nouf or more occurred
While q lawyer was sought for him.
Mr. Beh&on made a formal plea Of not
guilty., ana theN MS attorney asked
that ne DC creased on pau: Ihe ac-
cused offered bail in 1900 in cash,
handed p0hd IN the sum OF $4,000,
EaSin, Tor the government,
sas ms
inns man WIS attne ilead o great
lahd lraua conspiracy extending over
several WESTERN states, ne mas orlped
olllceis 81 me Snlted states IN the
Mest ana ~ 'he Dlstflct. since ne came
20 this Sl'S d lev DAYS ago ne mas
ms ptloeFy' Ana what IS
more IN ahotheI case some years ago
wien ne vas out On zones ne lett the
anu Went 10 d lorelsn country
aiia Leiiialheu aMas icr seveIal years.
~ ieuIilcllt loIloMea thls Gee
$500; soult2sl iol II license as
: /! ~ Hco ,li'iopSi. r1ll@liy COM
~ oon"Na 49, hAeu nc oohu at
%o'UoO, ~ u ioeit ao Mas recessed 10
ppsa DeGer'lugi ou, Wneh d pFelilh-
i""iS EsatiIs Wil az plaNe;
r'a""s "iae'y G%~shoeo'