The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-04-05
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 the
Securing OF Government Lands
Are to Be Disposed Of
News Of the State.

y
promises To he the most important term
of United States court ever held In
South Dakota convened In this city
today, with Judge John T.. Garland
presiding. The calendar contains more
than one hundred cases. This is the
greatest number OF cases ever on the
calendar for "A term OF federal court IN
the state.
After being charged by Judge Car
land. the grand Jury retired To COM
mence work on the large number OF
cases TO come before Il. Next Tuesday
the petit jury will report. when the trial
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 I'm
connection with securing titles To gov
eminent land In western South Dakota.
The principal witnesses against the
two men are nine widows OF veterans
residing ut New Tim. MINI. and three
other widows OF veterans, who formerly
resided ut New Clm. hut who now live
at ST. Paul. Minneapolis and Northheld.
MINI. The dozen women were recently
subpoenaed 60 appear nj the term OF
court WHICH tOitNeHeu ufIt NuAay ahh
submit their testimony.
In the summer Of 1904. II is alleged.
the two defendants appeared at New
Tim, and by consulting with Command
or Ciossner. OF the New Ulm q. A. R.
post secured the names OF the twelve
widows. The women. II is alleged. were
prevailed upon To- make n trip To STAN
ley county for the purpose OF cxRmin-
Ing land upon which they subsequently
made entry ut the United States land
Office for the district at Pierre. The
twelve widows then returned to their
Minnesota homes. u being alleged that
they were promised the sum OF 500
each for their land after the necessary
formalities had been complied with. II
In further alleged that dummies were
placed upon the land by those inter
csted I'm securing possession Of the
tracts. In the event that indictments
are returned In the case. the trial viii
develop some interesting facts I'm con-
nection with the disposal OF govern
ment land I'm some parts OF South Da-
kota.
Another interesting case II that
against Carl Petan, n well known stock
man residing In the region between the
Missouri river and the Black Hills. who
In charged with eight separate cases OF
subornation OF perjury In connection
with attempts To secure possession of
tracts OF government land. Petan was
I'm Minnesota when IL was publicly an
nounced that charges had been made
against him I'm the federal court He
voluntarily returned TO South Dakota
and presented himself before a federal
commissioner. furnishing bonds for his
appearance at the present term OF
court.
Robert Read. formerly business man
OF Artesian. s. d.. is another man
against whom charge OF perjury is
pending. 10 Is alleged To have com
mitted perjury In connection with PC
tItion i'm voluntary bankruptcy which he
filed In the United States court. Read
was arrested a few days ago. and be-
Ing unable To furnish n bond has since
been AN inmate OF the county jail III
this city.
Elmer Hawkes. OF Pennington county
also will have To answer To the charge
| OF EuboTnation OF perjury.
James Runs 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. n prominent member OF
| the Cournoyer gang OF cattle and horse
"rustlers," who for some time have oeen
| operating on the coded portion or the
| Rosebud reservation. In Gregory coun.
| ~, will have To answer To the charge OF
| larceny alleged TO have been commit
| ted on the reservation. John Courtney
err, the alleged leader OF the gang. is
/ nov serving a term In the Sioux Falls
pcnitentiary. while Claud Cournoyer. q
! brother. also II under arrest on the
charge of larceny. He II AN occupant oi
! the Lawrence county jail, where he VIII
! be kept until his trial at the next term
l az feHerni court AT Dea1wOO1.
! In addition To the above cases there
nrc numerous other cases. ranging from
| pnStofiicc robbery To selling liquor "a
! Indians. To he disposed az during the
/ term OF court which convened here to-
! day.