The Washington times., 1904-01-03
KEEPING CLOSE TAB
ON LAND FRAUD CASES
Judge Burch Sent West by
Department of Justice.
ASSISTED PROSECUTORS
government Endsavoring to Have Al
legged Fraudulent Patents Under
Timber and Stone Act Cancelled.

Inc Department of Justice is keeping
IN the closest possible touch with the
Investigations into the public land
frauds in the Far West. Judge NJ. c..
burch' special assistant attorney OF the
department. who has general charge
OF the litigation relating TO public lands
has just returned from a trip 10 Oregon
and other Coast States. Montana and
other parts of the Northwestern section
OF the country. 1t is ascertafned he
went to look after the progress Of the
investigation which has already resulted
in the indictments of John a. Benson.
While Judge Burch is reticent as TO
his mission in the West, il is understood
he was sent out by the department for
the purpose OF strengthening the hands
OF the officials of the Department of
Justice, who Nill have charge of the
prosecution o. Yiolators of the public
land laws.
The department is evidently disposed
to carry out the policy urged by the
President in his message and make a
thorough cleaning out of the violators
Of the public land laws
Advising Prosecutors.
The general suppositIon is that Ben
sons indictment is but preliminary to
many others and to the u-covering of
criminal operations affecting vide tracts
OF territory and numerous prominent
persons. Under the circumstances. the
Department OF Justice proposes to leave
nothing undone 10 have its officials con-
duct their part of the campaign with
vigor and success.
From what can be learned. Judge
Burch has been through the region
where public land frauds have been
heaviest. advising with district at
torneys and other officials OF the De-
partment of Justice, and encouraging
them to put forward every effort to see
that none Of the guilty escapes. II is
supposed the same policy will be kept
DIP until the public land frauds are dis
posed of. and there is a likelihood that
one or more special representatives of /
the department will be sent to the West
TO aid for some months to come in the
of cases and in such other
ways as may appear advisable.
Cases in Montana.
Judge Burch said he was in Montana.
where he helped argue on the pleas in
abatement of the indictments in the nu-
nerous cases arising out of the alleged
cobham-Catlin frauds. These are the
'ases In which the Government has pro-
cured over a hundred indictments for
of the timber and stone act.
seventeen of these indictments were di-
-ided between Gotham and Catlin. The
rest were against a number of other
individuals II was alleged these per-
ions procured patents to land under the
imber and stone act. and that the pat
nts were then conveyed to Senator
lark.
The Government Is suing In equity to
ave the patents declared Cancelled
Ind an appeal has just been taken from
he decision OF the Federal district
'ourt, which returned decision against
he Government. The indictments. how
,ver. have never been tested. They
we're returned over a year ago. The de-
endants entered pleas in abatement.
tut no argument has been submitted on
hese pleas.
Senator Clark's Connection.
When Judge Burch was in Montana
ie made an argument on the side Of the
Government in the Federal cfrcuff cortr+ /