The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-14

methods pursued by these parties arc alleged to
have been s,ibstan;ial, as follows:
Forged entry papers Of h.titious ,cn.r!rn
| tract of land within the limits OF forest re-
serve prior to the creation .! such reserve.
| would be transmitted to the local land office.
| Within a month thereafter. probably. final
f! proof notices said entry world issue. sild
| after the period Of publication required. forged
rIofs asgsd to ays n "xsr%te eef15s
local land office. where. everything on Tire face
farwared Sr D rsrg,sr and reeivsr to the
General Land Office at Washington. whore. no
approved and patent on the ettry Issued
Thereafter. forged deeds alleged 20 haze been
e,ommissioner or Notary Public. conveying
the land TO one of the PARTIES to the con,
thereafter the land Would be transferred bv
one of said parties TO some other person. or else
made basis for 4 lieu selection under the act
of June T. 1887.
Suits have been brought in number OF in
Stances in the Federal courts to yacate patents
| and to restore 10 the public domain the lands
acquired by these alleged fictitious sntrymsn.
Of these ,orseres and y, e., snTsirssieT and II Es
saye 1s nero ID q ie MANI MONTH. and
occupied almost the entire time of one OF the
who has received Invaluable cooperation from,
the United States Attorney from Oregon il
go far toward putting an end in that section to
the fraudulent PRACTICES that seem 20 haN-
to public lands.
CONVICTIONS
Information has also been received from the
Department of Justice OF the conviction. by the
Federal court in the Northern District Of Cali
fornia of three persons Tor suborna ion of per-
Jury in connection, with the entry of land I'M
der the timber and stone act
OF their kind for fifteen years in that section.
and 1t is believed they will have wholesome
transactions Of this character. Al any rate. it
is the purpose of the department to pursue
out to them. all persons shown to have com
,ni,ted frauds against the Government by IN
lawfully ACQUIRING any portion of the public
Nearly yenr ago information reached thu
frauds of II serious nature had been and we're
being psrpftraated asansf the Government I'M,
land act Of June 4. 1897; by a combination Of
farmatie enu and ind ind frauds We're q 80
grave 81 character that at once directed Il
vestisaiion was eommenced last January. and
has been conducted BY those having charge Of
possible expedition consistent with thorough
ness. The Investigation has proceeded step by
been aaietiy followed 10 rs seurse with shs
in charge of thu inquiry that the guilty parties
will he unprecedented and speedily brought 10
It has been nv determination from the be-
ginning that the matter should be probed 10
entail character OF some of the men involved
and the inquiry has been conducted through
out along these lines. The work Is near.
an early date be- in shape for DEFINITE and ap-.
propriate action against tho onender,
While several hundred thousand acres II pub
lie lands are involved In tho illegal transactions
brought 10 Hight. The number OF acres to which
patents have been obtained by the perpetrators
Of the frauds Is comparatively email. IL Us
proper to say, also that some Of the statements
appeared in newspapers. both in the East and
In the West. are more or less exaggerated and
others are mere uIrmises. The statements
widely circulated to the effect that five Tnifeii
States Senator'S and large number Of Repre-
sentatives were implicated, and that the lands
1 Involved would reach In value SIS. 10000 or,
SO OO.GD. without foundation in fact. IT
mate in this department. The details and re-
suits of the Investigation known only TO "
few and sensational stories based upon sta te-
merits which have heretofore appeared IN the
Press .nI st be received with due allowance:
AT the proper time full statement Will be-
made covering the results s.of the entire In
We stigation and the whole matter Will be given
10 the public: but for obvious reasons 1t is not
deemed expedent that detailed statement OF
the facts should be given at the present tinc
The vori. Of the investigation has been con-
Quoted by Arthur Il. Pugt. assistant attorne?
Ia this department. and William ! Burns OF
the secret Service IL the Treasury Department..
Mr. Burns was called into the case last May:
and since that time has had entire charge 81
the Secret Service features 81 the work. Will:
Mr. Pugh has attended to its legal phases
am highly gratifed with the efficient services
rendered by these officers In this matter.
OKLAHOMA STATEHOOD.
In regard to Oklahoma. Mr. Hitchcock