The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
DEFENSE GIVEN
BIG SURPRISE
Government Adopts a New
Line in the Prosecution
of the Land Fraud Cases

PORTLAND, Nov. 2s.-To-day devel-
oped a surprise in the trial of the land
fraud cases. There was brought into
the case the name of George A. Howe
TO whom was decided seven of the al
legged bogus homestead titles. Further
documentary evidence brought to light
that Howe had in turn decided to Hor-
ace G. Mckinley a tract of land in
section 10 south, range l east District
Attorney Hall announced to the court
thar the Government would prove that
Howe is in reality one of the conspira-
tors under another name.
When court opened to-day the Gov
ernment recalled George r. ogden,
clerk in the General Land Office, who
identified the report submitted by c. Z.
Loomis. with reference TO the home
stead Of Thomas Wilkin
Then came the reading of the report
in regard to Frank Wolgamot, detail
ing how he had erected a house Of
Sx2O feet, with a woodshed how he
cleared five acres of land and beauti-
fed the premises with a small garden.
The evidence then reverted to the let
ter written by United States Senator
Mitchell and accompanying some affi-
davits OF Puter and Mrs. Watson to
the General Land Office. Ogden identi-
fed these. CrCss-eXamination develop
ed no new features and the witness was
dismissed.
A. S. Dresser, Register of the Oregon
City land Office, produced the original
patents issued in the cases of Matte
s. Lowell, William Mclaughlin, A. o.
Austin, J. r. Foster. James Wakefield,
Christie E. Langham and James A
Taylor and a certified copy Of a deed
to George A. Howe from William Nc
Laughlin.
Upon the objection of the defense
Hall stated that he wished to show by
the introduction Of the deeds from the
seven homesteaders whose patents had
just been offered in evidence that the
claims had all been transferred to
Howe, who was fictitious person.
BY this testimony" said Hall, Il
will show these conspirators under an
other name"
The court admitted the evidence The
prosecution then introduced a deed
from George A. Howe to Horace G.
Mckinley, which was witnessed ~by
Dan w. Tarpley and transferred part
OF the land acquired under the preced-
ing transaction.
J. H. Booth of Roseburg, Receiver of
the Roseburg Land Office, was next
called. He identified papers submitted
by the prosecution as an application
of George A Howe for selection of lieu
land from base in township IL south of
range :. These papers were also iden-
tilted by Special Inspector A. r. Green
and H. J. Coleman and George r.
Ogden, land office clerks.
Miss Ella Wyman, the proprietor of
a small hotel on Dearborn avenue in
Chicago, testified that Puter and Mrs.
Watson came to her hotel March 30
and asked for rooms 81 asked them
for references" continued the witness.
and they said they had just reached
the city and could not give any. They
gave their names as Mr. and Mrs. Pot
ter and he said he was in the mining
business
Evidence describing the manner of
apprehension and arrest of Puter and
Mrs. Watson by the United States
secret service was introduced and court
adjourned until tomorrow
PORTLAND, Nov. 2s.-william A.
Richards, Commissioner of the General
Land Office, arrived here to-day to tes-
tify in the land frauds case of the Gov
ernment against S. A. d. Puter. Horace
G. Mckinley and others. Richards de-
clined to be interviewed upon the pur-
pose of his visit here. 1t is expected
he viii go on the witness stand to-
morrow.