The San Francisco call., 1903-12-19
Continued from Page 1, Column 5.

ct alleged offenders until the principals
in the case had been apprehended-
The Government attorneys, Arthur
B. Pugh- who has been the special at
torney for the Interior Department on
the land frauds. and Oliver Pagin, as
sistant attorney Of the Department Of
Justice who has also been employed on
the case, stated, in asking for a large
bah bond for Benson, that he had been
guilty Of bribery during his present
visit to Washington since last Monday
and in the Interior Department itself,
notwithstanding he was fully aware
that his connection with the alleged
frauds was fully known by the depart
ment
AUTHORITIES MAKE HASTE
The statement was made later that
Secretary Hitchcock was so incensed
at the fiagrancy Of this alleged ohense
that he told the officers TO have Ben
son arrested at once, although it had
not been planned to apprehend him at
present Another assertion Of the Gov
ernment officers is that Benson came
TO Washington in answer to decoy let
ters, and with the intention of bribing
people in the Land Office, who were in
reality acting for the secret service.
The warrant on which Benson was
arrested charged that on March Is last
he unlawfully gave "a sum Of money,
to wit: $500 to one WoodfOrd D. Harlan,
who was then and there an officer Of
the said United States, to wit: chief
Of the special service division Of the
General Land Office of the United
States, with intent to induce the said
Woodford D. Harlan to do an act in
violation of his lawful duty as an Off
Ger, that is 10 say, reveal to him, the
said John A. Benson, the contents Of
the reports Of certain subordinates in
the office Of him. the said Woodford d.
Harlan. concerning an investigation of
the conduct Of the said John A Benson
and his associates in making fraudulent
selections and entries of public hnds
Of the said United States, in lieu Of
lands owned by them within the limits
Of forest reserves heretofore estab-
lished under the laws Of the United
States in the States of California and
Oregon. and in committing trespass on
the said public lands"
BRIBERY AMONG CHARGES.
The information on which the war
rant was issued stated in brief that Mr..
Harlan. in his capacity as chief of the
special service division of the General
Land Office had charge of the investi-
cation of the land frauds. sending out
special agents in suspected cases of
fraud and receiving the reports of such
agents on the cases, and that Benson
h.,z 4 -. IL H. l..
turn for being allowed to examine the
reports Of the special agents on his
own case. The specific offense alleged
is that Benson unlawfully gave money
to an officer of the United States, act
ing in behalf of the United States in
an official function, with intent to in
duce him to do an act in violation OF
his lawful duty. contrary to section
5451 of the Revised Statutes.
Attorneys Pugh and Pagin were yes
terday sworn in as assistant United
States attorneys for the purpose of
prosecuting the case.
Benson is said to have been taken
entirely by surprise in his arrest, al
though he has known that the Govern
ment has been investigating the al
legged land frauds. He had no lawyer
in Washington, and when he was taken
Immediately before United States Com
missioner Taylor a delay of an hour
or more occurred while a lawyer was
sought for him. Benson made a for
NAL plea Of not guilty, and then his
attorney asked that he be released on
bail. The accused offered bail in $4,000
cash, while the Government attorneys
demanded bond in the sum of $4,000,
Attorney Pagin for the Government
saying:
DECLARATION OF ATTORNEY.
This man was at the head Of a great
land fraud conspiracy extending over
several Western States. He has bribed
officers of the United States in the West