Evening star., 1903-12-19
BRIBERY THE CHARGE
John A. Benson of San Fran
cisco Arrested Here
ON HITCHCOCK'S ORDER
ALLEGED THAT HE PAID $500 TO
A DIVISION CHIEF.
Defendant Released on $4,000 Bail
Pending Eearing-A Wealthy
Real Estate Operator.

John A. Benson a wealthy San Fran
cisco real estate operator, charged by the
Interior Department with being the head
of the alleged land frauds extending over
a dozen western states and territories. TO
which Secretary Hitchcock referred vigor-
ously and at length in his recent annua.
report, was arrested yesterday at the New
Willard by Secret Service officer John A.
Burns just as he was preparing to leave
the city for New York.
The charge on which the arrest was made
was bribery. it being alleged in the affi-
davit of Officer Burns and in the warrant
that Benson had paid $500 to Woodford
D. Harlan. formerly chief of the ST ecial
service division of the general land Office
and now a clerk in that office. on March Is
of this year. for the purpose of extracting
from him information regarding the in
vestigation of his operations at that time
being made by the land Office
Before Commissioner Taylor.
The warrant was issued by United States
Commissioner Taylor, and as soon as Ben
son had been apprehended by officer Burns
he was taken before Commissioner Taylor.
He wished to have preliminary hearing
of his case postponed. and the date for
such hearing was fixed for December 80.
He gave bail for his appearance on that
date when the government attorneys will
ask to have him held for the grand jury.
The statement was made by an officer or
the government that the information OBJ
tanned regarding the alleged conspiracy i'm
plicates a number of persons at present
employed in the Interior Department in
this city and elsewhere.
Numerous arrests are expected to follow
henson some
employees who may not be arrested vii be
dismissed from the service.
1t is said that Secretary Hitchcock and
the special attorneys in the case have con-
sidered it absolutely necessary to the sue
cessful working out of the case that no ac-
ton be taken with reference to any of the
other alleged offenders until the principals
in the case had been apprehended.
The government attorneys. Mr.. Arthur
B. Pugh. who has been the special attorney
for the Interior Department on the land
frauds. and Mr.. Oliver e. Pagin. assistant
attorney of the Department of Justice, who
has also been employed on the cases, stated
in asking for large bail 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 that he was fully
aware that his connection with the alleged
frauds was fully known by the department
The statement was made later that Sec
retary Hitchcock was SO tncensed at the
fagrancy Of this alleged offense that he
told the officers to have Benson arrested at
once although 1t had not been planned to
apprehend him at present.
Another assertion of the government off
GERS is that Benson came to Washington
In answer to decoy letters. and with the in
tention of brfbing people in the land office
who were In reality acting for the secret
service.
Charge Against Benson.
The warrant on which Benson was ar
tod Nl,o,
lawfully 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 such officer.
Inat Is 70 say. TO reveal to him. the said
John A Benson. the contents of the reports
or certain of the subordinates in the office
Of him. the said Woodford D. Harlan. con.
cerning an investigation of the conduct of
,he sald John A. Benson and his associates.
In making fraudulent selections and en-
tries OF public lands of the said T-p;tad
States In lieu of lands owned nv thew
within the limits of forest reserves tbereto-
Iore estsniished under the laws of the said
United States In the states of California.
ana oregon. and in committing tracnoss
upon the said public lands
ihe information on which the warrant
In his capacity as chief of the special ser1'
Ice division of the general land office had
charge or the investigation of the land
frauds, sending out special agents in sus-
pec.eo cases OF fraud and receiving the re-
ports OF such agents On the cases and that
Benson had paid to him the sum of s.asD In
return Tor being allowed to examine the re
ports OF the special agents in his own case
Inc Specihc ofense alleged is that I,en
son unlaWfully gave money to an officer of
tne United States acting in behalf of tho
United states in an official function. with
Intent to induce him to do an act in viola :
uon OF his lawful DUTY. contrary to section
biol OF the Revised Statues Attornavs
Pugh and Pagin were yesterday sworn IN a @
assistant United States ATTORNEYS for the
purpose OF prosecuting the case against
Benson. '
Taken by Surprise.
Mr Benson Is said to have been taken an
tireiy by surprise in his arrest, although he
has known that the government has been
investigating the alleged land frauds. He
hda no lawyer in Washington, and when
ne was taken Immediately after his arrest
peiore United States Commissioner Tav,or
delay of an hour or more occurred ,rhiI
Q lawyer was sought for him. Mr. Renson
mace a formal plea of not guilty. and tben
nus, ms attorney asked that he be released on
Moaii M Inc accused offered bail in 81 Ol0 in
cash. while the government attnrno1s ooo a. IN
Inanued bond in the sum of $4,000. ATTORNEY
asih Tor the government saying:
rms man was at the head OF n ,ra.t =
lahd fraud conspiracy extending over sexl
erai or the western states. He has brihed
oHcers OF the United States In the ue.t
and In the District. Since he came tn tLis
city, "a few days ago, he has continued bis
bribery. And what is more. In another "a "a
some years ago. when he was out on bonds
ne left the country and went to a foreign
country and remained away for several
years" " ''
"A heated argument followed this decIara-
uon. counsel for the defense ASSERTING tt
was improper. Finally Commissioner Tav-
Ior nxed the bond at 5000. and Mr.. BENSON
was released to appear December ~ when
d preliminary hearing will take place The
accused declined to make any statement
wanted. appear "hen
Mr. BENSON is the senior member Of tho
reai estate firm OF Benson S HYDE of San
francisco. The forest reserve act In 1907
provides that the owner CT land which ,s
wanted by the government for n forest ra.
serve shall be allowed to select In nIace y,
II other public land pave Vi
III Is alleged that Benson obtained aa-
vance Information as to land that wouId ba
wanted by the government for forest re-
serves and that by means of fraudulent on
tries or by purchase irufpepoa r,,,.,. = q