Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-07-29
WlTTEMEYER ON TRIAL.
The Land Swindler Of Grand Forks
Stands Trial for His Operations.

The Land SWndler OF Grand Forks
Stands Trial for His Operations.
The Grand Forks Press has the fol
lowing details Of the Wittemeyer hear
ing:s Chris Witterneye the land man
who has been operating ID the vicinity
'Eof Emerald and Arvilla with much
success, was bound over to the district
court on two charges, his bail being
fixed at $4,000.
Wittemeyer had a hearing this
morning at 10 O'Clock before Judge
EChurch, on complaint sworn out by
EJacob Holweher of Emerado, charging
Ehim with obtaining money under false
pretenses. Wfttemeyer is charged
with securing $50 from Hol-
weber. On this charge he was bound
over to the district court, with bail
fixed at $4,000.
1 This afternoon another warrant,
charging Wittemeyer with securing
money under false pretenses, was
sworn out by John Rau and Jacob
Weiss. 1t Is claimed that he secured
$500 from these two men. Wittemey-
er was brought before Judge Church
at o'clock this afternoon, waived ex-
animation, and was bound over to the
district court with bail fixed at $1,000.
When brought into the courtroom
this morning, Wittemeyer did rot
seem as confident as he has been dur
ing the few days Of his confinement.
He was cheerful and ! ad but little to
say. He made NO attempt to prove
his assertions that he could show he
was acting in good faith with his
victims
Henry Wittemeyer, a brother OF the
accused. arrived in the city this morn
ing. After looking up his brothers
affairs, he concluded that the best
thing for him to do was to plead gull
ty to the charges. Henry Wittemeyer
lives at Medina, N. D. He stated that
his brother could neither write or read
the English language. Considering
this, Chris was very successful in his
dealings.
This morning 1t was learned that
,Wdttemeyer had operated in the yicint.
ty of Fargo and Bismarck, and had
secured some money from number
OF farmers. 1t is said that he worked
the same dodge on them as has been
practicing on the Emerald farmers.
It is now certain that he has been in
the fake land business for the past six
months. and that he cleaned up a
good sized amount of money, much
more than has been supposed.
+ AS yet Wftemeyer does not know
whether he can furnish the necessary
SO 900, but 1t is not probable that he
can as he has no funds himself, and
his brother will not help him.
+ Wittemeyer's operations have GOV.
cred a period of six months, and 1t is
thought that within that time he has
cleaned UP about $4,000 all told. His
operations have been confined to the
state OF North Dakota, and in nearly
all cases he has promised to locate
his victims on choice pieces of land
in the western part of the state. To
the farmers near Emerald he claimed
to represent the Hackney Land Co.
of st. Paul, and also the N p. Railway
Co. He said that he had the handling
of many pieces OF land along the line
of the N. p, and also in Burleigh and
Mclean counties, and other places.
/ In the charge against him, entered
by Jacob Weiss and John Ran, it II
stated that he claimed to represent
the Hackney Land Co. He promised
to locate the, victims on a half section
of land in Burleigh county, the farm
ers to pay him 81 per acre. He col
lected $500 from the two, and tn,
rest of the money was to be forthcom
ing later. -,,. ..-.
Wittemeyers operations were, re
vealed when he brought a party o
, fifteen farmers through Fargo on thei
way to the promised land. At Farg
Wittemeyer left the farmers, afte
arousing their suspicion. After
search of week he was located, an
later returned to this city.