The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-22
THE WOMAN in THE CASE
PART SHE Is SAID TO HAVE PLAYED
IN OREGON LAND FRAUDS.
Procedure Under Which Government
Lands Were Entered and Sold
Extensive SwindIe.

Portland (Ore.) Letter in New York Post.
1t was a woman holding a government
Office who made possible a large part OF
the land frauds in Oregon, which have be-
come a scandal Of national dimensions, and,
in connection with similar frauds in other
parts of the Northwest, have been under
investigation by Secretary Hitchcock for
number of months and have resulted in
indictments by the federal grand jury. The
woman is Miss Marie Ware, until recently
United States commissioner at Eugene, a
position filed by her father with honor,
and, on his death, given to his daughter
as an inheritance.
Miss Ware apparently did the bidding Of
two men. Horace Mckinley and S. A. D.
Puter, who have been jointly indicted with
her. The only hope OF escape for the
three. the prosecution contends. is that
Miss Ware may win the trial jury over by
an appeal to their sympathies. This does
not appear probable.
The manner OF operating OF the specula-
tors. for such they acknowledge themselves.
was very simple. The federal grand jury
found they had used the names of six fcti-
tious persons. The names were used not
only in making application for. but in final
timber land. All efforts to establish the
identity Of the six persons were unavailing,
and expert on handwriting testified that
the several signatures were in the hand
writing of Miss Ware The fictitious names
were Robert Simpson, James K. Warwick.
Robert @. Tupman, Frank II. Herne, Sam
uel l.. Carson and William II. Watkins. In
their filings all gave their residence as
Cottage Grove. town near Eugene. the
headquarters of Miss Ware, who was then
serving as United States commissioner.
Men who had lived in the town for years
and numerous other witnesses were called,
who made affidavit that no such persons
ever had lived in that section.
The amount of land obtained by Mckinley
and Puter, with the assistance Of Miss
Ware, can only be estimated, but will no
doubt reach thousands of acres Once they
could have filing made. transfer to them,
selves or a fellow-conspirator followed
easily, and negotiations with spectators
were at once entered into. So far as the
latter was concerned the filing appeared
regular.
Mckinley and Puter came to Oregon
about two years ago as timber land specu-
lators from Wisconsin. AT that time they
were working with third man, and 1t Is
to him they ascribe their present plight
Several large purchases were made, and in
| turn sold TO Eastern companies. McKin-
| ley, who is a prepossessing man of about
twenty-eight years of age made Eugene his
headquarters and became well acquainted
| with Miss Ware Puter remained with him,
| Dut the tnlrd man became dissatisfied with
| his award in the profits arising from a sale
of timber land bought outright, and was
soon outside Of the ring. He. it is alleged,
| his associates and threatened unless his
| terms in the timber land were met to ex-
| pose them Whether he has received the
| share he demanded is not known, but
| through some source revelations were made
| to the United States district attorney
| which resulted in the indictments returned
last week. The cases will come up for
1 q q m mid Id 10 nff hi0
THE ALLEGED CONSPIRATORS
Miss Ware is a small, red-haired, light
complexioned woman and not bad looking.
She dresses in good taste. When asked if
she is not worried over the outcome of the
| trial she tosses her head shrugs her shoul-
ders and replies: "Oh, no." That she is
completely under the influence of Mckinley
there is no doubt, and ii is from his air of
bravado she is taking her cue She does
not appear to be in love with him. Her
part in the alleged transactions was solely
! actuated by a motive of gain.
| Puter. like Miss Ware, Is the tool of Nc.
| kinley. He was mainly a go-between. His
guilt or innocence hinges upon that of his
| chief.
Another woman is also alleged to have
Sontriouted to the success of the scheme
| whereabouts are unknown. Her part was
| TO receive the deeds of the property 1t is
| supposed that she sold the lands thus ac-
| quired, dividing the spoils with the con-
spirators. Miss Watson dropped out OF
| sight as soon as there was an intimation OF
trouble; but officers are now working. or
| cleW Which promises success in finding her
In the great stir over the frauds, the
| names of Oregon officials of low and high
degree have been banded about, but the
grand jury implicated only one. Receiver
| Asa b. Thomson, of the La Grande land of.
| flee, was indicted for soliciting bribes from
persons desiring decisions at his hands
no nj no inst n hfrraf fc 11I a.
! perennial war between the cattle and sheer
owners in his section. Both desire the
same grazing grounds, and while the loca
| officials are not supreme In this matter
their recommendation weighs with the
secretary of the interior. One of the larg
est sheep owners in Umatilla county is the
| complaining witness against Thomson. He
| alleges that the receiver for a consideration
| offered to use his influence to have the al
lotments made in favor of his side. Thorn
son asserts that he is the victim of politica
venom. and asks Secretary Hitchcock, wht
promptly suspended him, to take no fina
action until he is heard in court
The names of Senators Mitchell and Full
ton were carelessly used in the matter be-
cause they indorsed Thomson, but any
charge duplicating them in any way is un-
founded. This is on the authority of the
secretary of the interior and the various
special inspectors who have worked up the
matter thoroughly.
OTHER CROOKEDNESS.
These special inspectors have caused the
dismissal Of several registers and receivers
and a number of clerks for practices in
connection with the gobbling up of timber
lands in all parts Of the State In the inter
est of large syndicates. None, it is
claimed, was guilty of anything criminal
but their actions cost them their offcia.
heads. Probably the most notable case
was at Lakeview. There clerk was found
to be making maps and doing other work
although after office hours-and pocketins
the proceeds. He was dismissed, and sue
cessors were soon afterwards appointed te
his superiors. 1t was held that they knew
of the practices of the clerk. and did no,
exercise due diligence in stopping them ani
thus safeguarding the interests OF the gov,
ernment.
One other case closes the land frauds IL
Oregon, SO far the grand jury is concerned
Norman williams, of Whatcom, Wash.
was held tor forging the name OF Mis-.
Alma Nesbitt to a homestead relinquish
ment at The Dalles, and thereby comins
into the possession of a valuable piece Of
land
PART PLAYED BY FOREST RESERVES
The creation OF forest reserves has hat
much to do with tho almost phenomena
demand for Oregon lands during the pas
few years. They are ever a valuable asset
and considered doubly SO If included within
a reserve. Then the man making q film,
can make a selection elsewhere in lieu o
| the tract he has relinuufShed. q a mis-