The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-19

n lieu OF lands owned by them within the
limits of forest reserves heretofore es-
States in the states OF California ana
Oregon. and I'm committing trespass Ou
the said public lands.
Harlan Got $500.
The information on which the warralt
was issued stated iu brief shat AIR. Har-
ldn In his capacity as chief OF the spec
ial. service division of the general land
OF the land frauds. sending out special
F agents ln suspected cases. and that Sem
son had paid the sum OF $500 in return
Tor being allowed TO examine the reports
OF the special agents on mis- own case.
Lne specific offence alleged is that Ben
son unlawfully gave money 20 am officer
of the United States. acting in BEHALF OF
the United States I'm an official function
with intent to induce him to do an act
I'm violation of his lawful duty. contrary
10 Section 5f5l of the revised statutes
Attorneys Pugh and Pauiu were yes
. tcrday sworn i'm ass assistant United
states attorneys for the purpose Of pros
/ ecuting the case against Benson
Taken by Surprise.
Mr. Benson is said % have been taken
7 by surprise. although he has known That
The government has been investigating the
alleged land FRAUDS. Tie had mo- lawyer n
Washington, and when he was taken im-
medlately after his arrest before uite4
states Commissioner Taylor delay of
one hour or more occurred while "a lawyer
was sought for him. Mr. Benson made
q formal plea Of not guilty. and his ate
roruey asked that ne be released ON bail
The accused offered ball I'm SZu.' ln cdel
while the government attorneys demand
ed bond in the sum of $4,000. Attorney
Pagln for the government. saying,
This man was az the head of great
land fraud conspiracy extending over sew
, eral western states. He has 5rloen OF
ficers of the United States in the west
and I'm the District since ne came %
this city a few DAYS ago. he has continued
/ his bribery. And. what is more. boo am
/ other case. some years ago, when De Wa5
out on bonds. he left the country and
went TO foreign country and remained
away for several years.
A heated argument followed this dec
laratiOn. counsel for the defense assert
ing Dc was improper. Finally Ccnml5slQ on
or Taylor fixed the bond at 5000. and Mr.
/ Benson was released TO appear Dec. %
/ place. The accused declines 90 make any
l statement further than 70 say he'would
/ appear when wanted
Worked Many Schemes.
I Mr.. Benson is the senior member Of the
/ real estate firm of Benson a. Hyde Of
! defrauded the government out of at least
] 10000 acres Of land by various schemes
I since the passage OF the forest feseff &
act in 1897. That act provides that ne
/ government for a forest reserve shall be
I allowed TO select boz place OF 10 0lner DuD-
F. lie land. Tt is alleged that Benson Qa-
E rained advance Information as 10 the llld
I that would be wanted 5y the goernmenL
+ for forest reserves and that Ly means Of
I fraudulent entries or bE purchase I'M
J meuse tracts of such lands were obtained
and afterwards exchanged for Nalua Die
public lands The information alleges that
{ frauds were .perpeuated as 20 lands Do
/ Washington. oregon. California, Non
tana Idaho. Nevada. Utah. wyoming,
/ Colorado North Dakota. South Dakota.
/ Nebraska. Kansas Minnesota, Arizona
and New Mexico The Investigation into
I frauds under the forest reserve act, 1T ls
\ said. was begun by Secretary Hitchcock
[ about year ago, and has been pursued
Z steadily ever since then. Commissions
I Richards Of the general land office SAID
I tonight that on assuming office ne rr
duced WOodford Harlan from chief OK
the special service division OF the genera
land office to clerkship because he was
dissatisfied with his work and his method
of conducting his office.