The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-04-06
FEDERAL. COURT
AT SIOUX FALLS
Most Important Case in His
tory OF State Convened
Today.
LAND FRAUDS TO BE TRIED
Number of Cases Growing Out of tho
Securing OF Government Lands
Arc to Be Disposed Of
News of the State.

Sioux Falls, s. D., April \. i.-What
promises to be the most important term
of United States court ever held in
South Dakota convened in this city
today, with Judge John f. Garland
presiding. The calendar contains more
than one hundred cases This is the
greatest number of cases ever on the
calendar for Il term of federal court in
the state.
After being charged by Judge Car
land, the grand jury retired 10 COM
mence Work on the large number OF
cases TO come before it, Next Tuesday
The petit jury Will report, when the trlal
of jury cases will commence.
A number of criminal cases growing
out of the securing of government land
are TO be disposed of. Among the most
important of these are those against
Attorney Miller and Joseph Wallace of
Pierre, who are charged with fraud in
connection with securing titles to gov
ernment land in western South Dakota
The principal witnesses against the
TWO men are nine widows of veterans
residing at New Ulm, Mimi, and three
other widows OF veterans, who formerly
resided at New tlm. but who now live
at st. Paul, Minneapolis and Northfield.
Mimi. The dozen women We're recently
subpoenaed to appear at the term of
court which convened here today and
submit their testimony.
In the summer of 1904, it is alleged
the two defendants appeared at New
Ulm and by consulting with Command
er Clossner. of the New Ulm q. A. r..
post. secured the names of the twelve
widows. The women, it is alleged, We're
prevailed upon to make Il trip to STAN
ley county for the purpose of eXamin-
ing land upon which they subsequently
made entry at the United States land
Nffi hn n 1iCt1 irt n
twelve widows then returned to their
Minnesota homes. it being alleged that
they We're promised the sum of $500
each for their land after the necessary
formalities had been complied with. 1t
is further alleged that dummies We're
placed uron the land by those inter-
ested in securing possession of the
tracts. In the event that indictments
are returned in the case, the trial will
develop some interesting facts In con-
nection With the disposal of govern
ment land in some parts of South Da-
kota.
Another interesting case is that
against Carr Petan, q we'll known stock
man residing i'm the region between the
Missouri river and the Black Hills, who
is charged with eight separate cases of
subornation of perjury in connection
with attempts to secure possession of
tracts of government land. Petan was
in Minnesota when it was publicly am
nounced that charges had been made
against him in the federal court. He
voluntarily returned to South Dakota
and presented himself before Il federal
commissioner. furnishing bonds for his
appearance at the present term of
court.
Robert Read, formerly a business man
of Artesian. S. d.. is another man
against whom charge Of perjury is
pending. He is alleged to have COM
mitted perjury In connection with a pc
tition In voluntary bankruptcy which he
filed in the United States court. Read
was arrested a few days ago, and be-
ing unable to furnish a bond has since
been an inmate of the county jail in
this city.
Elmer Hawkes. of Pennington county
also will have to answer to the charge
Of subornation of perjury.
James, -Runs-C Close To -The-Nillage and
Louis Bear Heels. Sioux Indians. whose
homes are on the Rosebud reservation,
are charged with assault with intent
to kill Their cases will be disposed of
during the present term Of court.
Frank Young, O prominent member of
the Cournoyer gang of cattle and horse
"rustlers," who for some time have been
operating on the ceded portion of the
Rosebud reservation. in Gregory coun-
ty, Will have to answer to the charge OF
larceny alleged to have been commit
ted on the reservation. John Cournoy-
er. the alleged leader of the gang, is
now serving term in the Sioux Falls
penitentiary. while Claud Cournoyer. a
brother, also is under arrest on the
charge of larceny. He is an occupant OF
the Lawrence county Jail. where he will
be kept until his trial at the next term
of federal court at Deadwood.
In addition to the above cases there
are numerous other cases. ranging from
postoffice robbery to selling liquor to
Indians, to be disposed of during the
term of court which convened here to-
day.