Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-22

Especial Dispatch to the Morning JournnI.l
Santa Fe. y. NJ, oct. 21-Nineteen
individuals and one of the largest
Industrial corporations doing business
in the United States, and the largest
doing business in the terrific
res, were indicted here this afternoon
by the United States grand jury which
has been in session for week. under
a blanket Indictment charging con-
spiracy 10 defraud the United States
of coal lands situated In San Juan
county. in the northwestern portion
of this territory.
The Indictment which contains three
counts and covers some twenty pages
of closely written typewriter matter.
charges that the persons named
therein' did unlawfully conspire and
agree together TO defraud the United
States Of America of the possession Of
and title TO large tracts of coal lands
of great value situate In the county
of San Juan. territory of New Mexico,
describing the lands alleged To have
been so fraudulently obtained and
setting forth the manner Of obtaining
them.
The corporation and persons named
In the Indictment are as follows:
Phelps, Dodge 4 Co. of New York,
owners and operators Of the El Paso
and Southwestern railroad and of tho
great Phelps Dodge mining and smelt-
ing interests In New Mexico and Arl-
zona.
James. Mclean. Cleveland H. Dodge.
A. Curtis James. and James Douglas.
members of the firm Of Phelps-Dodge
e. Co, all of New York.
Charles A. Speiss. an attorney Of Las
Vegas and president Of the last sem
ate Of the New Mexico Legislature.
Thomas II. O'Bricn, coal land locat-
ing agent for Phelps, Dodge e. Co,
of Fierro. ~ NJ.
Louis u. Ricketts, geoloRist and
mining expert, recently Of Globe. Ariz.,
and in the employ Of Phelps. Dodge
e. Co, but now OF Cananea, Mexico.
Henrietta r. Ricketts,. of Princeton,
n j., sister of Louis -. Ricketts,, and
Maggie A. Vann. colorod. and cook
for the Ricketts,.
David NJ. White. former territorial
engineer for the territory Of New
Mexico. and who located much of the
land now In litigation as result
the governments efforts to recover p.
Granville Pendlcton, of san j.
county. ex-member OF the New Mex. o
legislature and formerly president ~
the New Mexico bureau Of immigr
tion.
Robert 3 Hegardt. superintendent
Of the Globe mines of Phelps. Dodge
& Co. and the following residents of
Arizona, All thlploAt0 ol HNip''
Dodge & Co: Edwin r. stewart, Rob-
ert r. Reel Niles :. Barray Carlton 5.
Moore Emil r. Stahl. Angus Meal
pine and Arthur r. J. Tovey.
II Is stated that some of the persons
who made entries to coal lands IN
volved in the Indictment were persons
of limited means and that they drew
checks for large amounts 20 pay for
coal lands. such checks being drawn
on tho bank at Globe. Ariz.. which is
alleged to be owned and controlled by
Phelps Dodge & Co; that such checks
were paid and that no deposits 20
cover were ever made 10y the parties
who drew the checks
II is alleged that Charles 4. Spiess
the Las Vegas lawyer named in the
Indictment. employed David NJ White,
90 Santa Fe. TO locate The coal lands
in question, and that az the time Of
such employment Spiess advanced 90
White the money with which 10 de-
fray his expenses In the location of the
lands II is also alleged that the
amount paid for the lands. something
over $4,000. was paid through the
First National bank Of this city la one
sum and not in different amounts cor
responding 10 the different locations,
and that the payment was made by
persons in the employ Of Phelps.
Dodge & CO. This Sc Is said. Is relied
upon bv the representative of the
government 20 show that Phelps
Dodge & CO. we're the real parties at
interest.
Case Regarded a. Important.
The blanket indictment returned to-
dan H. regarded covering one pt
the most important cases which has
been taken up by the government re-
Gently in its investigation into al
legged fraudulent land transactions IN
the west. The evidence was gathered
bv Frederick G.. Dezendorf. chief Of
the sixth field division OF The federal
land office. and the force Of assistants
under him and under the direction Of
r. - Butler. who has charge Or the
work in New Mexico and Arizona a
who has been iu Santa Pc for weeks
and who il familiar with the details
of all land cases pending In New Mex
leo and Arizona.
The work Of preparing the cases ana
presenting them 20 the grand jury has
been done by Ormsby McHarg and
Pes ton Gordon. special assistants %
the attorney general Of the United
states Eho have had full charge of