Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-05-18
SOME LAND FRAUDS In
BISMARCK DISTRICT

BISMARCK DISTRICT
GRAND JURY is NOW MAKING
INVESTIGATIONS or SEVERAL I'll
TRANSACTIONS.
SPECIAL AGENTS OF MINoT AND
BISMARCK DISTRICTS in III
FARGO.
Forum: A sensation is anticipated
when the federal grand jury COM
pletes its investigation of the land
frauds. 1T is reported at the federal
building today that several land trans
actions in the Bismarck district have
been under Investigation and that
prominent citizens are involved.
Deputy U. s. marshals are in the
west today subpoenaing witnesses and
preparations are being made to pre-,
sent the evidence secured by the off,
cials of the landofice at an early date,
Special Agent Dwyer and Receiver r.
3. Fox of the Minot landofice, and
Special Agents Berndt and Cockrum
are in the city waiting to be called, be-
fore the grand jury. Register Jewell
OF the Bismarck office is expected in
the city tonight. "a -. s
That the investigations of the speci,
al agents under the supervision of M.
D. MeEimiry have resulted in the dis
coVery of gigantic frauds involving
thousands of acres of public lands, is
admitted by the aandofice officials
who are in the city, although very lit
tie definite information has been
given out. %'s ..,.,,. p. ~
The only arrest that has been made
In connection with the land frauds
was several weeks ago when Fred
ertck Nurenbenger was formally
charged before a United States com.
missioner at Minot with subordina-
ton OF perjury. Nurenberger was re
leased on $4,000 bail. ACCOMPANIED
by his attorney, ex-Judge Lauder of
,Wahpeton, he arrived in the city last
night and has been a frequent visitor
at the federal building today.
Five witnesses against Nurenberger
IRON Ohio are in the city and It is ex.
pected that several more will arrive
before the grand jury commences in.
vestigation of the case. The witness.
es who are already here are Christie.
pher Gundy and Hannah Gundv of
lontogany, O., C.aS.. ely and Mrs.
hezla Arnold of Bowling Green. O.,
and Jedldiah D. Smith of Haskins "a
The government will attempt ia
snow that Nurenberger has acquired
and attempted to acquire a number Of
claims in Wand county by fraud. A
veteran of the civil war, Nurenberger
mas resided in North Dakota for abo,,t
twenty-five years. Before going into
the land business in Ward county he
resided in Richland county and was
a highly respected citizen.
About five years ago, according to
the complaint against him, he con.
ce1ved the idea of bringing a number
OF his army friends to the state n
take up land which was afterward r.
be sold to him. 81"
1T Is charged that he entered into
contract with the people he persuaded
70 come west. BY the terms of the
contract all expenses of the trim and
land Office fees were to- be maid bv
Nurenberger and in return the claims
We're to be transferred to him after
final proofs had been made. Ate,
the transfer had BEEN made, Nuren.
berger agreed to pay 5000 for each of
the claims in addition to the az.
penses.
Eight claims were made, proved I'D
on and transferred to Nurenberger ar.
cording to contract. Three of the
men who were brought west decided
to keep their claims and there are
now twenty entries pending in the
Minot land Office which it is claimed
Nurenberger expected to have trans.
ferred to him. = -, -.
The witnesses from Ohio who are
now In the city were among those who
flied on claims but never proved up.
The nature of the alleged frauds in
the Bismarck district is being kept a
carefully guarded secret and untilt in
dictments are returned nothing will
be given out for publication.
N. DE IA HERE, coNsoLIDAToR.
81 rs