Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-06
PETTIJOHN AND TOWLE co
Valentine Land 0fiss Attaches Dismissed
by President for Fraud.
RESULT OF RECENT INVESTIGATIONS
Government omciaI in Omaha says
IL is Only BeEinninE of Up
heaval that IL 90
FOIlow.

Advices from Washington say President
Roosevelt has removed from office, James
c. Pettijohn, register Of the land office
at Valentine, Neb., for participation in
alleged land frauds in this state and has
demanded the immediate resignation of the
receiver, Albert L. Towle. The Offices for
the present will be in charge of a special
agent of the general land Once.
II Is charged Pettijohn and two other
persons fraudulently secured lands which
others entered upon and which later were
relinquished to Pettijohn.
The removal OF Pettijohn and Towle Is
the result of the sweeping investigation by
special inspectors Of the land ONCE, which
has been in progress in the state for
number Of weeks. During their investi-
cation It was discovered that in the
valentine land district the local land
officers had themselves set up "dummies,'
to make entries of government land for
the use and benefit of the government
officials; that these officers had been in
collision with the illegal land fencers
and with those who had made fraudulent
entries and that they had derived personal
profit thereby. The removal of the register
and receiver does not come as a surprise
to those who have been keeping in close
touch with the matter.
Both Mr.. Pettijohn and Mr.. Towle have
long been residents OF Nebraska and some
what active in politics. Towle is a pioneer
resident OF Niobrara, at one time repre-
senting that district in the Nebraska legis-
lature. PettiJohn is at the present time a
member of the republican state committee.
BEGINNING of UpheavaI.
The recent Investigations were precipi-
tated from the proceedings begun in the
United States district attorneys office at
Omaha several months ago. Chief Inspeo-
tor Hunt, with twenty special agents, was
sent into the territory to follow up the
Investigations begun by the department of
justice from this city. Special Agent Pol
lock came to the field several weeks ago
and only recently has finished his work
He was In Omaha about a week ago and
intimated something would be doing up
about Valentine In the near future.
The district attorneys Office in Omaha
was not informed as to the character of
the Investigations carried on by the special
corps of agents. other than the intimation
was given that fraudulent filings were
among the special features looked into
with the astonishing results.
The announcement. through an interview
Win Olstrlct Attorney Baxter was made
in The Bee several days ago that Nebraska
likely would become the storm center of the
land fraud Investigations and the removal
OF the Valentine land Office officials as
stated by an Official connected with the
department of justice here in Omaha, lis
merely the beginning, with some interest
ing developments yet to follow"
Pugh to Take Charge Wednesday.
VALENTINE, Neb., Dec. 5.-(Special Tel
egram.) -Register ]. C. Pettijohn received
notice by wire this evening from the Sec
rotary of the interior that he is dismissed
from ONCE. At the same time A. l. Towle
received a message from the secretary
requesting his resignation. Special Agent
w. b. Pugh has received instructions to
Immediately take charge OF the land office
and the same will be turned over to him
Wednesday.
The people of Valentine had received no
hint of there being any charges against
these officials, who have always stood high
in the community.