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

With the history OF the tree OF
death in Arcadia valley I'm their minds
the persons upon whom such notices
were served did not look upon them
as Jcsts or idle threats. Seventeen
corpses had dangled from the limbs Of
this tree in mute testimony OF the sim
oerity OF purpose OF the land leaguors:
and the receipt OF such a notice after
tho leaguers had tcen brought TO bay
was not a pleasant incident The
government maintained surveillance
over the criminals and their suspected
allies. however. and prevented che exc.
cuucn OF any threats. The notice
sent 20 Smith found 90 be in the hand
writing OF Robert Lindsay.
It was in high political places that the
most telling Gght was made by the
loaguers TO escape the penalty or their
crimes. To explain this nght I must
revert for moment Co Che national
political situation % that year Gran,
had completed his globe-circiins tour
and was being urged FOR a third prCsl.
Dental term. Among the SOC delegates
90 the Chicago convention that stood by
him to the last we're James Lindsay and
Carroll r.. Peck Grant was defeated Tor
nomination boy the unexpected launch
ing OF the name OF James A. Garfield
around whom the arti-Grant forces raj
lied. The schism in the party preceding
the convention was widenod by the
nomination and election Of Garfield. and
the bitterness OF feeling was nowhere
more intense than in Missouri.
q
Grant faction OF that state. being an Of
ficer in large political organization
with such stauch republicans as Chauu-
cey /. Filley and others OF equal prom
inence. His father was Grants per
Eonal friend and political beneficiary.
and the relations between the former
president and the Lindsay family were
very warm, as indicated by James Lind
says appointment 10 one responsible
position after he had proved a defaulter
an previous one.
United States Attorney Bliss. upou
whom fell the chief burden Of prosecu-
tion Of the leaguers IN the courts. was
appointed by President Grant, and other
government officials the weight of
whose influence should have been on the
side OF the prosecution. were found luke
warm I'm the cause. DO not mean 10
imply that there was any overt neglect
OF duty on the part of the government
prosecutors nor that any OF the Grant
politicians used their influence corrupt-
1y; but I do say that from mysterious
sources and in the most mysterious
manner there came strange happenings
all In favor Of the defendants IL did
not take me long TO see that at the rate
matters were going the land leaguers
would soon be free without trial.
At the time of his arrest Robert Lind
say charged his trouble TO Carl Schurz.
In the newspapers he charged that Sec
rotary Schurz had discharged James
Lindsay from the Irontoa land Office
without cause. and that he, Robert had
issued a circular attacking Schurz for
this act In order TO get revenge for the
Issuance of this circular Schurz had
eoncocted this plot against the Lind
says, according TO those WORTHLESS. The
secretary Of the interior was a member
OF the anti-Grant faction, and this gave
some color, with the uniformed, 10 the
cry OF his political plottings against the
Lindsays. This is the FIRST time since
the celebrated land fraud cases came
before the public that the exact truth
concerning their origin has been made
public. The starting point, as have
related, was the falling out of Robert
Lindsay and his lieutenant. Whybarx.
and not any desire on the part of Sec
rotary Schurz 10 punish his political
adversaries in the republican party.
To raise the cry Of political persecu-
ton, however, was to put forward the
strongest available defense. James
Lindsay came forward with a newspa-
per interview in defense OF his son and
IN condemnation of the federal author
titles. Carroll r. Peck. in the Ironton
paper owned by him. charged me with
having involved the government in an