The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-11
THE Land fraud
Cases Increasing
Many Sections Interested
In Governments
Task.
THE HERMANN CASE
United States Senators In
cluded Among Prom
inent Men.

In Denver yesterday that the govern
ment is planning to indict men high in
the management of the Southern Pacific
railroad calls attention to the fact that
prosecutions for the great land frauds
are still going on. This announcement
followed the finding of another batch
of indictments in Denver a few days
ago.
Between 100 and $50 indictments
have been found, and more are being
found all the time. Wherever the
spade of the government is stuck in
the ground, it uncovers rottenness. Al
though the investigation has been go
ing on for FIVE years, the work seems
hardly more than begun. In Wyom-
ing and Colorado the government is
lust beginning its work In California
many cases are awaiting trial, and the
same is true of Arizona. In only one
state, oregon, has the work been al
most done. More than score Of con-
victions have been effected there. At
torney General Medium of the State
was recently sent to prison for Ave
years.
No scandal in recent years has
reached SO high and touched SO
MANY regulations, Senator Mitchell
died after his conviction. The trial of
Representative Binger Hermann, for
merly land commissioner, Ia to begin
in Portland in the Fall Senator
Fulton of oregon was charged with
having been connected with transact
tions of an illegal nature as attorney
for A. H. Hammond, who built the
Astoria and Columbia River railroad,
but the statute Of limitations had run
against this case Capt. Williamson
was convicted. Senator Borah was in
dicted. Two other United States
senators have been named in con-
nection with the investigation,
Binger Hermann was as near being
the head of the, great conspiracy as
any one man could be, if the charges
against him are true. Bogus claims
were passed and accepted by him as
commissioner of the general land Of
flee in Washington, and he is accus-
ed Of knowledge Of the plot. When
the charges first began to be heard
Hermann lost his place as land
commissioner. He went back to Ore
gon, demanded vindication, and was
promptly elected to congress by his
admitting fellow citizens. His indict-
ment followed with that Of Congress
man Williamson,
When Hermann is tried in the Ore
gon Federal court this Summer Fran
els J. Heney will drop San Francisco
graft hunting and go to Portland to
prosecute him. The indictment Is for
conspiracy to defraud the govern
ment, and the evidence is in greater
part the same as that on which SEN
ator Mitchell and others were con-
yicted.
Idaho's story was practically the
same as Oregon's. The methods were
the same, and the land office officials
were in the plot In Idaho the inves-
tigation has resulted in cleaning out
the officials to such an extent as al
most to sweep the decks clean.
Senator Borah was indicted not long
ago The indictment was not pressed
because he is senior counsel in the
prosecution of Meyer, Haywood and
Pettibone at Boise for the murder OF
ex-Gov Steunenberg, and his with
drawal from the case would upset the
trial. AS soon as that trial is over
Borah must answer the indictment.
In California the alleged frauds were
more extensive than in any other
State. The Hyde Dimond- Benson case
which will be tried in October is 6
tremendous one, the biggest yet un.
covered. The men involved conducted
the largest operations of any indiyid'
ual operators who have been found ou
up to date.
In Wyoming and Colorado the gov
eminent, has really only begun. Sew
enty-two indictments were returned il
Denver few days ago and more arr
to follow. Many indictments ar
DGnQlu& III wyoming. INulllOl IGi
ben busy there with the names o
Senators Warren and Clark. Mr.
Warren is the Presidents chief de
fender in the senate, and there seem
no disposition to make things at al
uncomfortable for him. He has mad
some explanations which are accepted
as satisfactory. Nothing so far ha
been brought to light against Senate
Clark except that his brother is presi
dent of the Union Pacific Coal Com
pany. which concern has figured in al
unenviable light in the charges.
The big timber men of the country
as far east as Michigan, were cogniz
ant of the frauds and proflted by Their
according to charges made by tn
westerners. The land grafters woul
get lot Of quarter sections and bunc
them for the purpose of selling Their
to the big timber men, who, Of cours
would not be interested in a mer
quarter section. The great railroad
are said to have profited knowingly b
the frauds
Fire Was In Chimney.