The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-19
Thinks Giving Information
Would Peril Case.
SURPRISE IN DEPARTMENT
Plan Is to Try Westerner Here Where
HIS influence Is Less Than in
California.

Secretary Hitchcock. when seen this
morning. refused e discuss the Benson
arrest or give any information, on the
ground that facts given at this time
might in1ure the case against Benson
by helping him to prepare his defense
Mr.. Hitchcock did say that the land
frauds are nothing like as extensive as
they have been reported and said the
total amount involved would not come
near the estimate OF $4,000. 600. which
has been made by some of those who
have been watching the investigation
When Mr.. Hitchcock was asked why
the arrest Of Benson had been delayed
so long he seemed grieved that it should
be asked. and replied: You have no
right to ask that question Absolutely
no other information was volunteered
The connection Of Woodford d. Har-
Arrest a Sensation.
Ian with the case in connection with
the mention of his name in the war
rant as the man who accepted the al
legged bribc from Benson. was a great
surprise to the employees of the Land
Office, who had always entertained the
greatest respect for him. AR Harlan
has been at work during the investi-
cation. and was at his desk yesterday
denied this morning. on the ground
that the Land Office had nothing to do
with the investigation. and an inter-
view might conflict with the plans OF
the Secretary OF the Interior.
Commissioner Richards. of the Gen
eral Land once. said the arrest was
as much of a surprise 70 him as it was
TO the public. and he knew nothing be-
yond what was in the papers. The in
Al
from the Office of the Secretary, and
the commissioner has had nothing to
do with it.
A sensation which promises to be the
first of several more. was caused yester-
day when John A. Benson. a wealthy
San Francisco real estate operator. was
arrested for bribery as he was leaving
the New willard Hotel. for New York
The arrest was made by John A Burns.
Secret Service officer. who was made
deputy marshal for tho purpose.
II was predicted in The Times few
days ago that arrests for fraud in the
land cases would shortly be made and
that the disclosures would involve a
number Of employees OF the General Land
Office. These employees were accused OF
accepting brides for giving advance no.
tice TO spectators of what lands -ere
shortly to be made forest reserves. b =
sons arrest was on the charge that &
March IS. 1908. he gave Woodford d.
Harlan. formerly chief of the inspection
division OF the General Land Office. $500
for the information described in The
Times
Benson was taken before United States
Commissioners Taylor. and after a long
delay was released on s.. 600 bail. He
will have preliminary hearing on De
f.ar ALL H. l.,
been special agent for the Interior De-
partment in making the Investigations.
and Oliver Z. Pagin. assistant attorney
IN the Department Of Justice. argued
that bail should be placed at $4,000.
They said that in-cnother case some
years ago. when Benson was out on
bonds. he left the country and did not
come back for several years Judge Cole.
who represented Benson. declared bail
should not be more than 5000. but the
commissioner thought otherwise.
Hitchcock Is Indignant.
II is said the reason Benson was ar
rested so suddenly was because Secre-
tary Hitchcock was violently indignant
at his attempt TO bribe a man in the
General Land Office yesterday morning.
although Benson knew that he was
under investigation. Another reason
given was that II was thought by ar
resting him in Washington trouble
some questions OF jurisdiction would be
avoided. The Government officials also
think they have a better chance Of
convicting him here than they would
have IN the far Western States where
Benson is power. Attorneys Pugh and
Pagfn were sworn in as assistant United
States attorneys for the purpose Of
prosecuting the case.
So closely has the Interior Depart
ment kept all information about the
Investigations that the arrest of Ben
son yesterday IS taken as an indica-
ton the work OF Attorneys Pugh and
Pagin. and Secret Service Officer Burns.
who was especially detailed for the