Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-07

ALTERATIONS IN DOCUMENTS
Substitution Of Names Made in Papers in
Land filings,
STORY OF SAMUEL MANN, NOTARY PUBLIC
Says Declaratory Statements sworn
TO Before Him Were Changed
After they Left His
Possession.

FoaHeGat0ns.
Alterations Of documents after the at
taching Of the notarial signature, was
brought out in the land frauds in north
west Nebraska Names that the notary
had never heard were substituted for the
originals in declaratory statements for
land filings
Such was the startling evidence given
by a government witness Thursday after
noon in the trial OF the land barons.
The federal agents showed by Samuel
M. Mann, a notary public and real estate
dealer Of Quincy, H., also an old soldier,
that declaratory statements procured by
him for Ami b. Todd for Ming on lands
at Valentine had been changed after they
had been sworn to before him at Quincy,
ILL.,. and after they had left his possession.
Called upon to identity certain declara-
tory statements he had executed for old
soldiers at Quincy, the witness said:
witness Identifies Documents.
After these declaratory statements were
executed in July, 1903, for Michael Walker,
Hathaway Fields, Edwin Eddy, George
Washington, Charles w wyman and
David G. Wiper, / sent them by mail to
I A. B. Todd at Plattsmouth, Neb., and
have not seen any of them until I saw
them here in this court room. These
statements have been altered since leaving
my possession and the name Of another
notary public has been added to a jurat
below my jurat as notary public. The
name q f. NJ. Walcott as agent has been
erased, as has the county OF Cherry, and
the name of r. G. Noleman substituted for
the name Of walcott and the county Of
Box Butte for the county of Cherry. In
a deciaratory statement executed by me
at Quincy In July. 1904. with F. NJ. Wal
colt as agent the name of walcott has
been erased since leaving my possession
and the name of Thomas M. Huntington
substituted"
To this evidence OF Mr.. Mann every tech
meal objection known to the most astute
/ lawyers was presented, but they were in
turn overruled by the court and the evil
dence got before the jury with its fun eff
feet. '.'-
Letters written by the WITNESS MANN to
A.. b. Todd at. Denver and c. c. Jamison
at Ellsworth were PRESENTED and identified,
but pending an objection for their admls-
sion as evidence the court adjourned until
$3.50 Friday morning. 50 @
j. II. Davis Testihes.
Another witness oil Thursday afternoon
3
Quincy, Ill, whe had been solicited to en-
ter land by Ami b. Todd. He made his I'LL
ing with several others at the Alliance land
once. He told practically the same story
that has been told by all of the preceding
witnesses relative to visiting the land
leasing IT, and the subsequent entry. and
a second visit, and 70 having all expenses
paid. In his s-exanination he told OF
having been visited by secret service
agent named Hobbs, some. time in Novem-
Der, 1905 He had no intention of purposey
violating the law regarding homesteading
but intended to carry out his contract
with the government as he understood 1t
The evidence produced in the hearing
Thursday morning twas that of ALFRED
Tobin, recalled. who told the same ole
story OF being solicited to file upon lane
in western Nebraska by |. d. Hull at his
home in Iowa, a visit to Gordon free OF
expense, visit to what ne was told was hi,
land and subsequent visit after si'
months. On his last visit to Gordon h,
was paid $50 by Hull to apply on his
FIRST lnstallment OF lease money tor tn,
land, after deducting miscellaneous ex
penses. .. s- ...s.-
Same Old story Repeated.
Daniel Clark, an old soldier from Mag
nolia. Ia. told practically the same story
as occurring at the Gordon and Valentino
end OF the line while James ]. Moore o.
Sheridan, but formerly Of Alliance. told o.
being solicited by Aquilla Tripiett TO file OF
land near Ellsworth for which Triplet
was to pay ell expenses. and that thu
witness could be assured of selling the lanC
for $500 after proving up. His story was II
all respects similar to those told heretofor,
by parties filing on lands for Triplett a
! Alliance. r- a. r..
Ex-Registrar j.. c. Pettyjohn OF the Val
entine land Office was recalled 10 tdentif!
certain records of the Valentine land Of
: fee apd certain entries made by him Will
registrar there. g. ...
: The present purpose of the government 1
r to get in the testimony OF all the witnesse
living at a distance, which is of the sam
D perfunctory character. in order to le
them get away to their homes.
The next group Of witnesses to be ex
amined will be a colony OF old soldiers iron
I the Soldiers home at Milford.
$ 1t now begins to look as II the testi
4 mony will all be in by the middle or las
Q OF next week
IAMONDS-Frenzer 18th and nodRa