The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-20
ILLEGAL FENCING
WARFARE BEGINS
UNITED STATES FILES SUITS IN
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Charges Of Wholesale Grabbing Of Pub
lie Land by Fraudulent Methods Are
Made Against Stockmen Division
of Admiral Drake Estate Expected
to Benefit Many Heirs in the North
west.
Special to Tie Journal.

Special to Tie journal.
Sioux Falls, s. D.. Jan. pa warfare against
stockmen and others who during the past few
years are alleged to have secured vast tracts
of government land in western South Dakota
by fraudulent means, has been begun by the
United States authorities Of South Dakota.
The methods employed in the alleged wholesale
grabbing of the public domain are said to be
similar to those employed by ranchmen In west.
ern Nebraska. AS the opening chapter in the
litigation the United States authorities IN this
city have instituted civil actions against several
persons with the object Of having the federal
courts cancel the patents that were issued by
the government in cases where fraud Is alleged
to have been used in securing the land. One
of the cases is entitled the United States vs..
Ella Henry and Carl Petan; another Is entitled
the United States We. Emma M Prefer and
Carl Petan, and the defendant In another case
is John F. Henry. Petan Is one of the most
prominent stockmen in western South Dakota.
It is alleged that Petan has enclosed an
aggregate of 1000 acres with fence. The gov
eminent expects to show that he induced Miss
Henry and Miss Prefer to make homestead
entries on tracts of 100 acres EACH and that
when they made final proof he paid them In the
neighborhood Of $3.50 each as an inducement foi
| them to transfer the homesteads to him. The
, land entered by the young women is SAID TO De
situated within the 7,000-acre tract fenced by
him. The action against Ryan is on somewhat
similar grounds.
! The beginning Of these actions is due to the
fact that the extension of the Milwaukee rail
road from Chamberlain to the Black Hills II
western South Dakota has caused farm land tt
| become much more valuable. There has beer
steady influx Of new settlers to that regio1
since last spring, and government land II
becoming scarce the intending homesteaders have
| taken pains to look up the records and ascertain
by what right several stockmen have fenced II
large tracts. 80 g. -. Peg:
Division Of Drake Estate.
Wide attention has been attracted by recen
dispatches from this city in reference to tn
early closing of the affairs of the $2OOoo w
estate of Sir Francis Drake, the famous Br1tls
admiral, of which several South Dakotans expec
to be benefciaries, and numerous letters nav
been received from all parts of the United State
| asking for additional information.
Besides those living in this state there ar
other heirs in Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Nil
souri,, New York and other states. 1t appear
that attorneys in their employ have spent man
months in England looking up the records. The
announced recently that affairs were about j
shape for the early distribution Of the estate.
One Of the best-posted American heirs Is Rol
ert Corey of Madison, s. D. A brother OF hi
/ living in Colorado accompanied the attorneys
England, and has kept him fully advised as
the developments and present status Of the ma
4 ter. 'te -> ..~-~ s'-s.-.. ,.~r.s
Among the South Dakota heirs Is Mrs. MAI
Kirk, well-known resident of SIOUX Falls. 81
is daughter Of Lucinda Drake. linea1
r presses the opinion that her claim to the esta
e She has been at work for several years traci1
5 the family pedigree. and says she now has pos
:. tive proof that Sir Francis Drake was the gran
father OF her mother Lucinda Drake. eEEE .eT