Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-19
John A. Benson Of San Francisco
Charged by Interior Department
With Being the Leader
SPECIFIC CHARGE IS BRIBERY.
Alleged He Gave Money to Woodford
D. Harlan TO Violate His
Official Oath.


son, wealthy San Francisco real es-
tate operator charged by the interior
department with being the head Of the
alleged land frauds extending over u
dozen western states and territories to
which Secy Hitchcock referred vigor-
ously and at length in his annual re-
port, was arrested here today at the
Willard hotel by Secret Service officer
Burns just as Benson was preparing
TO leave the city for New York.
THE CHARGE.
The charge on which the arrest was
made was bribery, 1t being alleged in
the affidavit OF Mr.. Burns and in the
warrant that Benson paid $500 to
Woodiord ID, Harlan, formerly chief
OF the special service division of the
general lasd office and now clerk n
that office, on March 10 Of this year,
Tor the purpose of Extracting from HIM
information regarding the investiga-
tion or his operations at that time be-
Ing made by United States Commits
sioner Arson S. Taylor, and as soon
as Benson had been apprehended by
Officer Burns he was taken before
Commissioner Taylor. lie wished to
have the preliminary hearing of his
case postponed, and the date for such
nearing was fixed at Wednesday, Dec.
30. lie gave bail for his appearance
on that date, when the government at
torneys will ask to have him held for
the grand jury.
AN OFFICERS STATEMENT.
The statemest was made by an OH
Ger OF the government tonight that the
information obtained regarding the al
legged conspiracy indicates a number Of
persons at present employed In the in
terror department at Washington and
elsewhere, Numerous arrests are ex-
pected to follow that Of Benson in short
order and that some employees who
may not be arrested will be dismissed
from the service, 1t is said that Secy.
Hitchcock and the special attorneys in
the case have considered 1t absolutely
necessary to the successful working OF
the case that no action be taken with
reference to any Of the other all-red
Offenders until the principals in the
case have been apprehesded.
The government attorneys Arthur
b. Pugh, who has been special attor-
land frauds, and Oliver Pagin, assistant
attorney Of the department Of Justice.
who has also been employed on the
case. state in asking for a large bail
bond for Benson, that he had been gull
" OF bribery during his present visit to
Washington since last Monday, and IN
the interior department itself, notWith-
standing he was fully aware that his
connection with the alleged frauds was
fully known by the department.
HITCHCOCK INCENSED.
The statement was made later that
Secy. Hitchcock was so incensed at the
flagrancy Of this alleged offense that
he told the officers to have Benson ar
rested at once, although it had not been
planned to apprehend him at present.
Another assertion of the government
officers is that Benson came to Wash
ington In answer to deCoy letters and
with the intention of bribing people in
the land office who were in reality act
Ing for the secret service.
GAVE MONEY TO HARLAN.
The warrant on which Benson was
arrested charged that on March 10 last
he unlawfully gave "a sum of money
TO wit, $500 to one Woodford ID. 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 in
tent to induce the said Woodford ID.
Harlan to do an act I'm violation Of his
lawful duty as such officer, that Is 70
say reveal to him. the said John 4.
Benson, the contents OF the reports of
certain of the subordinates I'm the office
Of him, the said Woodford ID. Harlan.
concerning an investigation of the con-
duct of the said John A. Benson and his
associates In making fraudulent selec-
tons and entries of public lands of the
said United States In lieu of lands
owned by them within the limits OF
forest reserves heretofore established
under the laws of the United States in
the states OF California and oregon, and
IN committing trespass on the said pub
lie lands"
PAID TO SEE REPORTS.
The information on which the warrant
was issued stated I'm brief that Mr.. Har-
lam In his capacity as chief of the spe-
cial service division OF the general land
office, had charge OF the Investigation
of the land frauds, sending out special
agents In suspected cases, and that
Benson had paid the sum Of $500 in re-
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, acting in
behalf of the United States in an official
function, with intent to induce him to
do an act I'm violation Of his lawful
duty, contrary 10 section b451 OF thu