Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-10-21

TITS - Az OUTRAGE
cipally by comparisons fn the govern
ment land office These members OF
the ring We therefore made a second
airy issue of. pending the execution of a
plan 20 catch Lindsay and Van Hlse
In such way they could find no loop
hole for escape.
Developments up 10 this time had
revealed not less than 20 active mem
bers or the land league. As might be
expected. they all we're Ga close touch
With ono another. and with the ring
leader. and IL became apparent that
IN order TO capture al aud effectually
smash the ring some plan would have
20 be devised whereby the federal au-
thorities could move against them all
simultaneously. Stm placing most
Importance on making sound cases
against Lindsay and Van Hise.
called 90 my assistance T. NJ. Sted-
man. a secret service operative OF
much ability
Assume the ro'c OF a lumbcrmen
looking for site 20 operate n MILL"
were my instructions. "ro 20 shannon
county and open negotiations with
Lindsay personally for tract OF tim
Der land. holding the deal open til
We are really TO ac-"
Stedman followed instructions inn
pliciuy. Attired as sawmm maa
or much means. he began negotiations
with Lindsay for shannon county
lands. Lindsay took tho bait and Of
fered 10 sell him nne tract OF 2j-
! 600 acres at 80 cents al acre. These
! negotiations were conducted person
ally. Lindsay claimed 10 OWE the
land, assuring good title. aud repre-
senting himself as The owner OF taou-
sands OF acres OF other land in c!aer-
ent counties in Missouri Stodman
left Lindsay without closing the deal,
and went 70 Vinton. Ia. his supposed
home, 10 which place he told Lindsay
he had been called by important bust
ness. From Vinton he wrote asking for
, descriptions Of other tracts. The pur-
pose OF opening such correspondence
was 10 get Lindsay on record IN writ
j ing. Again the arch conspirator swai-
lowed the bait. sending 70 Stedman in
his own handwriting descriptions OF
various tracts he thought might be
suitable for his correspondents sup
posed purpose.
While in the cas- working on the
Pittsburg angle OF the case wrote
from Erie. Pa, 10 Orlando Van Hise
in Cleveland, representing myself as
James Hall. a sawmlll owner, looking
for a new business base. Van Hise's
advertisement OF timber lands had at
tracted my attention, wrote. Van
Hise answered that he could sell me
$4,000 acres OF desirable timber in ono
tract. and suggested that l come 10
Cleveland 10 talk The matter over with
him. SO 10 Cleveland I went imme-
diately. Wearing the rough suit OF
! lumberman, and with my trousers
{ tucked into the tops OF my boots. /
registered at the Weddell house under
still another name.
While the land ringsters up to this
time had no reason to believe they
were being watched. they had acquired
the trait OF suspicion and alertness
common to all criminals. great and
small. l could afford to take no
chances OF having my identity discov-
cred by Van Hise and therefore at
every turn covered my tracks as well
! as ] knew how. In line with this pol-
icy. even took a roundabout course
20 Van Hise's once in superior street
l introduced myself as the Erie party
who had written to him.
I'm glad 10 meet you. Mr.. Hall"
said Van Hise. erusively. After the
customary small talk that precedes
getting down 10 business he said:
80 you are looking for timber lands.
Well, / believe I can furnish what
you want"
Have you much land OF this kindY-
I asked.
Plenty Of t."
AT what price?@
That depends on the land. N You
are prepared 10 take large tract. I
caa probably make you price of so
cents an acre for land that will suit
ycur purpose"
- What arrangements can YOU make