The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-03
PACIFIC LAND FRAUD CASES.
THE PERPETRATORS BEING DILL
GENTLY PROSECUTED.
Charges Circulated ny the Democrats That
the Cases Are Not Being vigorously
Pressed shown BY the Record TO
He Utterly without Foundation.

WASHINGTON Oct. 2.-Charges are being
made and freely circulated by the oppo-
nents Of the Administration that the in
vestigation OF the land frauds by the In
terror Department Is not being seriously
and diligently conducted; that criminal
prosecutions connected with the investi-
CATION are not being pressed with such
vigor az to manifest a determination to
bring the guilty parties to speedy justice,
and that an air Of secrecy pervades the
Department, making 1t difficult to obtain
information as to the progress and present
status OF the work.
These charges are utterly without founda-
ton in fact The investigation has been
conducted under the direction Of the Secre-
tary OF the Interior with the utmost posi-
BILE speed consistent with thoroughness;
the prosecutions, where indictments have
been found, have been and are being vigor-
ously pressed, and at no time has there been
any attempt to deprive the public Of the
fullest information as tc the progress or
status Of such prosecutions. or as TO any
matter In connection Herewith.
While only about eighteen months have
elapsed since the investigation was begun
the practical results thus far attained are
pOtH duu ihCy
may be summed up as follows
The indictment, in February, 1908, IN
the District Of Columbia, OF Frederick A.
Hyde. John A. Benson, and Henry P. Dimond
Of San Francisco, CAL, and Joost
n, Schneider Of Tucson; AriS, for con- n,
large quantities OF its public lands, and
the indictment, in December, 1902. in the
District Of Columbia, Of said John A. Ben
son for bribery OF public officials in con-
neotion with such conspiracy.
were Immediately arrested, one lJohn A.
Benson) in New York, two Frederick A.
and the fourth (Joost H. Schneider) in the
District Of Columbia. The last named Is
now held under heavy bail for his appear
instituted in California and New York to
secure the removal Of the defendants ar
rested in those States to the District Of
Columbia for trial These proceedings
have resulted in decisions sustaining the
defendants Hyde and Dimond removed
to the District Of Columbia for trial. They
have appealed to the Supreme Court, and
1t is the purpose OF the Government to
secure hearing Of the appeals at the earliest
heavy bail to answer the decision Of the
Supreme Court when finally rendered.
Upon the indictment for bribery, John A.
Benson has also been held for removal to
the District Of Columbia for trial. and he
has appealed TO the Supreme Court. On
the conspiracy indictment removal pro-
ceedings are still pending against said
Benson in New York.
As an immediate and very important re-
suit OF the investigation. this gigantic COM
bination and conspiracy has been broken
up and its power for evil doing in the future
utterly destroyed. As further and ultimate
results, the fraudulent selections will all
be cancelled and the lands covered thereby
restored to the public domain.
In the State Of Oregon more than dozen
persons other have been indicted for con-
spiracy to defraud the United States OF its
public lands, for forgery and for other crimi-
nal acts. In these prosecutions Charles Cum
ninghan, Asa Rayburn, Dallas O'Harra,
Glen H. Sailing and Shelley Jones have
pleaded guilty, and sentence has been i'm
posed upon all except O'Harra and Jones.
The other cases are set for trial at the No
VEN Der term, 1904, Of the Federal Court at
Portland, Ore, and convictions in all Of
them are confidently expected.
The investigation is still being carried
on and further indictments are expected as
soon as the cases can be prepared for proper
presentation to grand juries. Insofar as in
dictrr ents have not as yet been found it
should be apparent to everyone that secrecy
must necessarily be maintained, otherwise
all efforts to accomplish beneficial results
would be futile.