Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-03
WESTERN LAND FRAUDS
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK TELLS OF
THE PROSECUTIONS.
Numerous Indictments Returned-Ap-
peal to U. S. Supreme Court
Awaiting Decision.

Secretary Hitchcock of the Interior De-
partment has entered a vigorous denial of
the oft-repeated charges that the prosecu-
lions of the persons convicted In the lana
fraud cases in Oregon are not being pushed.
In an exhaustive statement of the depart
ment's action in these cases the Secretary
takes occasion to say that the investiga-
ton has been conducted with all possible
speed consistent with thoroughness, and
that where indictments have been found
the prosecutions have been pressed with
vigor. In his statement the Secretary re-
lateS:
1.-The fraudulent operations have been
carried on chiefly In the states of California
and Oregon, but have not been confined to
those states. In many instances the con-
spirators have reached out into other
sta es- Their schemes were broadly and
them has been one OF great difficulty.
Indictments Here.
while only about eighteen months have
elapsed since the investigation was COM
menced the practical results thus far at
tanned are both gratifying. and encourage
ing. They may be summed up as follows
1.-THE Indictment in February, 1903, in the
District of Columbia, OF Frederick A. Hyde.
John A. Benson and Henry P. Dimond of
San Francisco, Cal. and Joost H. Schneider
of Tucson. Ariz., under section $40 Of the
Revised Statutes. for conspiracy to defraud
the United States of large quantities of Its
public lands. and the indictment, in De-
cember. 1902. in the District of Columbia.
of John A. Benson for bribery of public
officials in connection with such conSpfr
acy. The leading spirits in this conspiracy
are Hyde and Benson. and their scheme to
defraud the government was of gigantic
proportions. 1t involved an attempt to Sc
cure titles to hundreds of thousands of
acres of the public lands of the United
States. in the various public lands states
and in the territories of Arizona and New
Mexico. under the provisions of the act of
Congress approved June 4. 1897, in ex
change for state school lands lying within
the limits of United States forest reserves
established in the states of California and
Oregon.
Defendants Arrested.
THE defendants In these indictments
were Immediately arrested-one, John A.
Benson in the state of New York; two
Frederick A. Hyde and Henry P. Dimond
Ill the state of California, and the fourth
Joost H. Schneider. in the District of Co.
lumbia The last named is now held under
heavy bail for his appearance for trial.
Proceedings under section 1914 of the Re-
Yised Statutes were at once instituted in the
states of California and New York to Sc
cure the removal of the defendants arrest
ed In those states to the District of CO.
lumbia for trial. These proceedings have
been diligently prosecuted. and in Califor-
MIA have resulted in decisions by both the
United States district and circuit courts of
the northern district of California sustain
ing the conspiracy indictment and ordering
the defendants Hyde and Dimond removed
to the District of Columbia for trial. They
have appealed to the Supreme Court of the
United States, and 1t is the purpose of the
government to secure in that court an ad-
no RAJ md
hearing of the appeals at the earliest pos
sible date. The defendants are under
heavy bail to answer the decision of the
Supreme Court when finally rendered.
Upon the indictment for bribery John A.
Benson has also been he'd for removal to
the District of Columbia for trial, and he
has appealed to the Supreme Court Upon
the conspiracy Indictment removal proceed
ings are still pending against said Benson
in New York, with the expectation that
they will be concluded at early date,
with like favorable results
Indictments in Oregon.
The statement then refers to indictments
found in the state of Oregon against Horace
G. Mckinley. Stephen A. d. Puter, Marie
L. Ware, Emma l.. Watson. Guy HUFF.
Maude Witt, H. Walgamot. Harry c. Barr,
Dan w. Tarpley Charles Cunningham, Asa
Rayburn. Dallas O'Hara. Glen H. Sailing,
Shelly Jones, Mark Shackieford Kate
James and Henry Medium. Continuing
the statement says:
I'm these prosecutions Charles Cunning
ham, Asa Rayburn, Dallas O'Hara, Glen II.
Sailing and Shelly Jones have pleaded
guilty. and sentence has been imposed upon
all except O'Hara and Jones. The other
cases were set for trial at the May term,
1904 of the federal court at Portland Ore.
but owing to the fact that one of the prin-
cipal witnesses for the government had abb
seconded, the cases had to be continued,
and are now set for trial at the November
term, 1904, Of the court. The absconding
witness has been arrested, and is now
under bail for his appearance at the No
vember term.
THE investigation is still being carried
on, and further indictments are expected
as soon as the cases can be prepared for
proDer DPeSentatf To grand iUrieS