New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-20
ACCUSES A GOVERNOR.
MANN Makes CHARGES.
Says South Dakota Erccnt'Ue Is
Implicated in Land Frauds.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

lshment through politica! influence. Mr.. Mann
presents affdavits of agents of the Interior De-
Partment and others in support cf his charges.
as forerunner of these charges, Mr. Mann,
When the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill was
under discussion, announced his intention in the
following words
l hope at little later period in this session
70 nave the privilege at least of putting into
me Record" some evidence 60 GamniuS in its
character that it ought to drive at least away
from the confines Of civilization some gentle
bty.
Despite Mr. Mann's earnest advocacy of the
! appropriation of additional funds for the in
Nestlgation Of land frauds and his energetic
/ nsht 10 defeat an amendment offered by Repre-
sentative Monden, placing limitations on the
/ secretary of the Interior in investigating land
frauds. that amendment. which supported
/ by Representatives Burke. Of South Dakota;
/ Gronna, of North Dakota. and others was
adopted. The request of the secretary for an
additiona. 100000 TO defray the expenses of
/ further investigation was defeated
Since the adjournment of Congress Mr.. Mann
has been making thorough investigation along
the lines indicated b. his remarks in the House,
and in to-day's Congressional Record he makes
! these charges.
MR.. MANN'S CHARGES.
/ In introducing them Mr. Mann says that his
| limited investigation Of Land frauds leads him
/ 10 the opinion that the individual homestead
! entryman has imposed on the government only
to very limited deg. ee but that fragrant vo-
! lations of the law have been committed by men
representing large cattle interests and by those
/ who have financial political prominence or
both, and who seek 10 shield themselves from de-
lection and prosecution because of their high
standing and reputation. Mr. Mann says;
I I want to refer TO case that demonstrates
corcusivey that a man may not only be
guilty OF crime I'm connection with the public
lands. hut that his political influence is SO pow
/ erful that he can successfully thwart the ef-
I forts OF the government to iudCt-
/ lnehl against MN. ana al the same ulH- can
conduct "A pohtcal campaign ana suctt'N IL
, becoming the Governor Of his state and for the
/ purpose of showing what the records disclose |
VIII append 10 my remarks copies OF "Hcia!
J COnmuuiCa tiouS and files in the Department OF
the Interior relative to this case, which is briefly
as follows
An attorney Of prominence and for some years
! the general attorney of a leading railway COM
/ pany in his state the owner of a cattle ranch,
/ deliberately hired certain young men 20 make
entries under the homestead laws FOR govern
ment land inside OF his ranch, and 1t viii APP
/ pear from the record that the entries were made
/ not only Tor me purpose oi obtaining NhlaNiu!
! possession of the lands, bat with the intent of
fraudulently acquiring title thereto. The lands
/ were within fence. Notwithstanding the law
makes Il criminal offence 10 fence public lands.
The record further discloses that this land grab
/ her hired these filings bc made. ne paid tho
/ fling fees 10 the land Office and all expenses in
! connection with the entries. In addition thereto
/ he agreed to pay, and did pay. To each of the
! young men the OF Sl0o. that he personally
| conducted these boys 20 the lands ~ the time
/ they made their entries. that the entrymen
/ never visited the lands but once afterward. and
! then they were accompanied, as on the hrst
! trip. b.. this man who had induced them -
perjuro themselves for his profit. that the trips
/ necessitated railroad journey Of some distance
! from the place where they and this distinguished
| Conspirator actually resided. and that ne paid
/ all the expenses OF tho trims: that upon the
/ ar6G yyhf he oh hoy
/ found already erected on each tract small
/ board shanty; that they remained upon the
! land overnight upon the occasion Of each trip.
with bedding etc. from the ranch Of the party
! for whom they made the entries.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS RECORD.
After his inquiry az the Department Of the In
terror Mr.. Mann Went TO the Department Of
Justice He was permitted to examine, but not
10 publish, the record. lie says of it:
II showed that the United States District At
! torney reported TO the Attorney General that
| the case had been presented to the grand jury
| and that an indictment failed by n small margin.
and that in his opinion the party implicated
ana his emissares personally saw members oi
| tho grand jUrN and defeated the indictment. He
also stated that the evidence clear and
positive. but expressed the opinion that + would
| be doubtful about securing Indictment be-
| cause of the political prominence and influence
| Of the accused. He not only not indicted.
but following almost Immediately the action Of
| the grand jury in failing 10 indict him. he
| nominated for Governor Of the state, and was
! subsequently elected and Is to-day the Governor
! OF South Dakota.
Mr.. Mann then quotes n letter from Attorney
! General Bonaparte refusing TO make public the
record and closes his statement thus:
ask whepo can there be found a clearer case
| of a premcditated scheme 10 defraUd the gov
! ernment of a portion Of the public domain
! Where can be found a more striking ilIustra-
| ton of tha miscarriage of justice through po
| litical influence II is such aggravated cases
! as this that fully justify the vigorous methods
! Of the Secretary of the Interior in dealing with
| public land frauds.
! have no interest in tho politics of South Da-
kota. ana in referring to this and publish
| ing the record herewith do so for other pur-
pose than to show the methods that
| sorted to by men in high station to fraudulently
obtain possession of the public lands and to
! demonstrate how difficult il is to secure success
| rul prosecution for such violations.
CASES NOW OUTLAWED
Mr.. Mann includes in his statement letter
written to the Secretary Of the Interior by he
Attorney General June s. 1906 by which it
| is seen the cases are now Outlawed. The letter
reads:
Referring to the matter of Coe I. Crawford.
| Julian w. Blount and others (your flies l.. and
X. DIV, 100, l:OG), in which. at the instance
| Of your department criminal proceedings were
instituted against the said parties for alleged
! fraud in connection with certain homestead en-
| tries of public lands in Walworth County, s. -.
| have the honor formally to report that on the
presentation of the governments evidence to the
| grand jury at Sioux Falls i'm April last, that
| body declined to indict. After conference with
| representatives Of your department IL de-
| cided 10 again present these cases to a grand
| jury, and this accordingly done at the re-
| cent term at DeadwOOd, s. u. The result again
was failure to indict tho grand jury. 1t is
| understood, standing - to against indictment.
These cases appeared to present fragrant vlo-
latiOns Of the public land laws, and the failure
| u indictments