The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-04-14
S. Dakota has Land Fraud Case
( With Former N. Dakotan Involved

ta AS a result of the Investigations tofj
M. D.. McEniry, special agent Of the
United States. landoffiee department
with headquarters in this city, indict-I
ments have been returned against
prominent men in South Dakota and
United States District Attorney ]. D.
Elliott of the district of South Dakota
has rendered his resignation.
Mr.. McEniry has not been in his Of
fee in this city for several weeks and
It has been during his absence that he
has secured the evidence which was
presented to the federal grand jury in
session at Sioux Falls AMI which req
suited in the indictments being return
ed. a -~
1t was Mr.. McEnifya who worked up
the case against Frederick Nuremberg
ser+ in this state year ago. The cases
against the South Dakota men are sim
liar to the Nurenberger case. 1t was
on account of his work in connection
with the last named case that Mr.. Nc
Entry was called to South Dakota to
conduct the Investigations there.
~ The men against whom the indict-
ments have been returned are Thomas
H. Ayers ami JohnI. Newell OF Pierre,
and Howard tBinfords and iJqba Me-
.Guire,. fcattlemen living west Of, Pierre,
The, charges are conspiracy to
defraud the United States of its do
| main, and title, to lands san1 for subor-
nation of perjury. The. cases grew
out of the successful effort blythe Gas
Belt Land Co, of Pierre, Of which
Ayres and Newell are the head. to To-
cate some twenty-five Minnesota wild
| ows OF soldiers on South Dakota lands
Among the sensational features, be
| sides the prominence of the men, Ay;
ers being former private secretary o
ext Governor Lee, is the immediate res res.
ignation, after finding the indictments
of Hon. ID. Elliott, United State:
district attorney.
Il Elliott has made a statement to ths
effect that he had contemplated tender.
ing his resignation in a couple o
months and, as he believed that ther,
was absolutely no evidence against tf,
accused, and as they were his persona
friends, he did not like to be put to TIL
necessity of prosecuting them,
1t is charged that the Minnesot
Il widows were induced to file on home
steads BY Ayers and Newell, the wo
| men leasing their land in consideratio
I / of all their expenses Of making settle
i ment being paid. The widows are BIZ
Il ing held in South Dakota as witnesses
n They are:
II MARY Mayer, Mary Meile, Maria A
Julius, and Barbara Claussen OF Nel
/ Tim; Nary E. Crandall, Mary B. Vos
burg, Priscilla Pollock, Nina Ryrna
II Josephine Seaman, Mary Cutshall, Ar
ma M. lWooledge, Anna Hage, Mr.
4 Long and Mrs, ergeheinler Of Re
chester; Mrs. harrington and Mr.
.I Swartwood Of Chatfeld; Cinderell
n Herrick and Mrs. Cole of Oronoca
4 Sophie SchWefls, of St. Paul; Dorca
1 A. Grass Of Minneapolis; Mrs. G. i
II iMowery of Niorthheld.
lkota. AIT one time he was engage
!, lin the neWspape business in Gran
IA Forks. He was also prominent in po
81 itics when the populists were at th
+ helm in this state.
Ell 1T will be remembered that in tt
Nurenberger case which was tried
i This city the charge was similar I
( that brought by the government
d i South l0 dakota. Nurenberger, who W.
a pioneer farmer from Wahpeton and.
& civil war veteran, induced number
y | widows of soldiers who resided u
4 Ohio to 60 to Ward county and tai
z np land under contract by the terms
& which their expenses were to be pa
y lby Nurenberger who was ito recei,
y the titles to the land as SOON as po
@ sible Iii some instances the goverl
4 metlt charged that the terms pf II
VI contracts had been fulfilled but iii ii
8 lmost of the instances the governmel
s [had interfered before final proof Ma
s been made on The land.
8 Nurenberger was convicted and Sci
\. fenced To term IN the federal penite
tiary at Sioux Falls He was (
B lleased on $40, 900 bonds and tile Cal
Ills now pending on an appeal to Il
+ circuit court of appeals.