Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-24
WARE on WITNESS STAND
Clergyman Accused of Land Conspiracy
Denies Purpose to Defrsud Government.
BEARS OUT MUCH THAT LAMBERT TOLD
Diners Essentially In Construction
Placed on Motives and Seeks
to Establish His limo
cence of Crime.

cencG OF trtme.
The twelfth day of the trial Of the case
Of the United States against Rev. George
O. Ware OF Lead, s. D., charged with con-
spiracy with Frank w. Lambert and Harry
Welsh to defraud the government out OF
titles TO public lands within the U. Z. l.
land and cattle enclosure in Hooker county
Nebraska reached its climax Tuesday
morning in the appearance of Rev. George
@. Ware on the stand as a witness In his
own behalf
Mr.. Ware is a man Of pleasing appear
ance, 40 or 45 years of age, scholarly, with
a slight English accent, and he talked
directly to the point His story did not
differ materially from the evidence given
by Frank Lambert. except In the construc-
ton put on the motives OF the transac-
tons
rho attorneys for the government inter
posed very few objections TO his testimony
or the questions put him by his attorneys.
Mr. ware,s story was q recital OF his ex-
periences In America. Apparently. he made
no effort TO conceal any of the transactions
hetween himself and Lambert, the essential
denial being OF any agreement to buy the
land filed upon by the soldiers after they
lad made final proof for $50 or any other
sum.
Denies Purpose to Defraud.
IT had no intention, desire or purpose TO
defraud the government out OF the land
or any part OF It in my contract or agree
ment with Mr.. Ltmbert. nor was this con-
tract made in the interest OF myself, the
L. b. I. Land and Cattle company or any
body else" he said.
At the outset Of his testimony Mr.. Ware
said
"I am a native of Herefordshire, England
] came to Canada in 1874 and remained
there some three years. From there came
TO Sully county, South Dakota, where be-
came an American citizen and engaged in
farming for about four years. I subse-
,uentiy removed to Hennepin county and
went into the stock business, awaited my
self OF my homestead and presumption
rights and remained there about four years,
bought some stock and went into the live
stock business on a small scale. then en-
gagged in the live stock business along the
Dismal river, having bought some i've
stock there in 1867 and in 1898 pastured
some fifteen sections of land and subse-
auently bought $40 acres In that vicinity
and a tract of forty acres along the Dismal
river. This land was bought OF its legit-
mate owners, who were unable to make
patents for it, subsequently bought other
lands from the owners and leased a num-
her Of decided claims which final proof
had been legitimately made. am rector of
the Episcopal church at Lead. s. D., and
have held that Office for about thirteen
years.
Met Lambert Four Years Ago.
al first became acquainted with Frank
Lambert in the spring Of 1902 at Mullen !
subsequently met him at Mullen and he
came to the headquarters of the ranch,
where we had lengthy conversation. Lam
bert informed me that he was in the busi-
ness OF securing filings. Lambert told me
he knew a, number Of people who had land
nling rights and were anxious to use them.
but were unable to use them because OF
their lack Of means for the necessary i'm
provements, filing and for making final
proof These persons were largely soldiers.
Lambert told me the government had made
special provision for the soldiers
and did not require the same
terms for entry, settlement and final
proof that were exacted from other citi-
zens then asked him what arrangement
he proposed He stated that he wanted
$50 for each man. and that It would be
necessary for me to provide for the eN-
penses indicated, and that all the men he
would procure for me would be good men
and all right in every respect. All that
would be necessary for me to pay in the
way of expense would be for filing fees
transportation and expense for the erec-
ton OF a shack on the claims to enable
them to comply with the laws, and that
then would have a good show for the
land after the entrymen had proved up.
Plat of U. n. I. Ranch.
Il showed him a plat of the L. b. L.
ranch and told him what we had done for
some who had squatted inside the range
with teams and machinery. also that we
had fenced some Of their claims for them.
This was particularly true of number of
settlers who had located In the southwest
part OF the ranch. l bought their hay
from them and assisted them in other
ways. and will do the same for as many
as you can bring in. We did have some
trouble with a few squatters who would
send us word to keep the cattle of their
improvements and then would insist upon
me buying them. out The Cody and
James gang. we learned. proposed to in
wade our range. told Lambert that both
he and I understood the land laws. both
having awaited ourselves of our homestead
rights and understood the laws relative
to the disposal OF lands, so there need be
no misunderstanding about that ] Their
said TO him IL these men desire to use
their rights in good faith and are the class
of men you claim. you may take this mat,
ter in your own hands and bring them in
We talked then OF the shacks and / said
they must be no better nor worse thar
the shaeks we build for our own men who
cut hay. and ! viii pay you $50 and ex.
penses for the shacks
Did Not Like Leases.
receive TO recompense me for this ex
pensel RE said ne was issuing a lease
but I said to him they have nothing t.
lease. We both understand they canno
enter into any contract for me to bu,