Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-11-04
LAND OFFICE
INDICTMENTS
Three More Persons Connected With
Oregon Land Frauds Are Held by
the Grand Jury.
THE GOVERNMENT WAS WORKED
No Attention Whatever Paid to Stat
utes Governing Taking Up Of
Public Domain.

Hitchcock today received telegram
from Portland. Ore, announcing the
Indictment of three more persons in
connection with public land frauds in
that state. The telegram gave the
names of the persons indicted as En-.
ma l.. Wabon, Guy Hun and Norman
Williams. The woman is charged
with conspiracy in connection with
proceedings against Miss Ware, com.
missioner of the United States dis.
trict court for Oregon, who already
Is under indictment, and Williams is
charged with forgery in connection
with the Nesbitt case. The proceed
ings against Huff is for forgery in an
independent case.
So far most OF the prosecutions
have been directed against those en-.
gagged In fraudulent proceedings un.
der the timber and stone acts. and il
now appears that many very fragrant
irregularities have been discovered in
that connection. lnnumerable instanc.
es of the invasion of public land reg
ions by people in large companies
have been reported TO the department
from day to day for the past year
and more. In many instances people
have gone TO Pacific coast states from
farther east TO enter lands under the
stone law. The arrival of car loads
at time have been reported. and
many of the members of these par
ties were women. In one or two cases
during the vacation period of last
summer entire car loads of female
school teachers, hailing from the mid
die western states. made tours to the
coast and all entered lands. In other
instances. entire families of four or
five people each have come in from
the outside and have made entry of
lands. So far as known, no evidence
of fraud has been discovered in these
specific cases, but officials of the de-
partment contend that in view Of the
fact that over $40o is required to com
plete acquisition OF title under the
timber and stone law, some of these
entries are at least suspicious. In
other cases entries have been made
in names of purely fictitious persons
Connivance of officials Is necessary
in proceedings of this character and
this line OF cases render them most
easily of discovery and prosecution.
II also appears that frauds extend
eastward from the coast states into
Idaho. Montana and Nevada.
The grand jury returned additional
indictments today against Miss Ma
rie l.. Ware, former United States
commissioner at Eugene, Ore, Hor
ace G. Mckinley, and S. A. ID. Putter.
timber land operators. charging them
with conspiracy To defraud the gov.
ernment Of public lands. The charge
against Miss Emma l.. Watson. in.
dicted today. is that of being jointly
concerned with Miss Ware, McKin.
ley and Putter in an alleged plot to
defraud. She is indicted as a con.
spirator, and the evidence considered
by the grand jury is to the effect that
II was she who appeared in the role of
the purchaser and bought and paid
tor, In the sum OF 81 each, six home
steads pretended TO have been taken
up and proved upon by Robert Simp-
son. James +. Warwick and four 9TH
ers, whose alleged fictitious names
have figured in connection with the
investigation of these cases. Accord
ing to the government theory, Mrs.
Emma l.. Watson is a party TO the
conspiracy through whom the ring
came in possession Of the six home.
steads. A warrant will be issued for
her arrest tomorrow
Washington, Oct. 2S.-Secretary
Hitchcock today said that the inves.
tigation which he had been making
into the land frauds on the Pacific
coast had been practically completed
and he hoped to be able to present
his report on them 10 the department
OF justice by the close OF the present
week
The report will not at present be
, made public" he said, ''as that would
defeat the ends of Justice" He also
: refused 10 discuss the contents of the
! document, but confirmed generally the
! current rumor that there have been
extensive efforts to defraud the pub
: lie He said, however. that, bad as
the condition Is, II had been grossly
exaggerated. 1T is absurd he said
r "to say that the frauds amount "a
t Sl5,000.00 or sls0o0. 900, or anything
, like that sum. a million acres would
7 be large estimate of the fraudulent
~ entered lands. and the government
| price for the lands ranges from sl,25
d. To $3.50 per acre.
r The secretary also said that while
1 the investigation would doubtless in
2 yOlye some Of the officials OF the gov
D ernment. he had not intimated that
. members Of the United States senate
4 are involved in the scandal. Senators
e Mitchell and Fulton of Oregon had q
/. conference with the secretary today
/. relative 10 The land frauds. and as
!. sured him OF their hearty cooperation
/. in all efforts toward the discovery an(
!. punishment ot the irregularities. They
!. said they had united In recommend
ing Receiver Thompson OF the La
grande office, who has cen indicted
for bribery. and had done so because
4 of their confidence in him. the maj
| being farmer and former member
4 of the legislature. They said tha
h while they would suspend judgment
o pending his trial, they would do moth
J. ing 10 shield him.
9 The secretary talked with the sen
a ators as to advisability Of amendin;
o the timber and stone act and home
n stead laws TO prevent frauds such a.
) those which are being perpetrated