Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-21
WILL CANCEL PROOFS
Alleged ILLEGAL ENTRY OF
PUBLIC LANDS.
Charges by Representative Mann
Against Gov Crawford Of
South Dakota.

Secretary Garfield OF the interior depart
ment has announced that steps will be
taken to cancel the proofs by which Gov
Crawford of South Dakota obtained pos
session of public lands In that state. The
Secretary added that criminal prosecutions
in the case were now barred by the statute
Of limitations but that the Communication
proofs were now under suspension and
would be Cancelled. This, Mr.. Garfield said.
appeared to be all that could be done In
the matter.
Attention was called to the Crawford
case by the charges made by Representa-
tive Mann of Illinois and published in
befated edition of the Congressional Rec
ord under date of March Is. Mr. Mann
said, in part:
"Premeditated Scheme to Defraud.';
Where can there be found a clearer case
of a premeditated scheme to defraud the
government of a portion of the public do
main? Where be found more striking
Illustration of the miscarriage of justice
through political influence? 1t is such ag-
gravated this that fully justify the
vigorous methods of the Secretary of the
Interior in dealing with public-and frauds
Il have no interest in the politics of
South Dakota. and in referring to this case
and publishing the record herewith 1 do so
for no other purpose than to show the
methods that are resorted to by men In
high stations to fraudulently obtain possess
sion of the public lands and to demonstrate
how difficult it is to secure successful pros
ecution for such violations.
Men Hired to Make Entries.
IAN attorney Of prominence and for some
years the general attorney for a leading
railway company in his state, the owner of
cattle ranch, deliberately hired certain
young men to make entries under the
homestead laws for government land inside
of his ranch not only for the purpose of
obtaining unlawful possession of the lands,
but with the intent of fraudulently acuuir-
ing title thereto The lands were within
a fence, Notwithstanding the law makes it
a criminal offense to fence public lands.
The record further discloses that this land
grabber hired these filings to be made; he
paid the filing fees to 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 sum of
500; that he personally conducted these
boys to the lands at the time they made
their entries; that the entrymen never Wis
tied the lands but once afterward and then
they were accompanied, as on the first
trip, by this man, who had induced them to
perjure themselves for his profit; that the
trips necessitated railroad journey of
some distance from the place where they
ana tnlS distinguished C0nSpfrat0r actually
resided, and that he paid all the expenses
Of the trips; that upon the lands upon
which the young men filed they found al
ready erected on each tract a small board
shanty; that they remained upon the land
overnight upon the occasion Of each trip,
sleeping In the shantles, having been sup
piled with bedding. ETC., from the ranch of
the party for whom they made the entries.
Record in the Case.
after obtaining the record of the Int
rior Department. and it appearing that the
case had been referred to the Department
Of Justice. l called upon that department to
ascertain what the record there disclosed
l examined the files and l found that upon
April u, 1906. the case was transmitted by
the Department of Justice to the United
State district attorney. and he was directed
to give the same his careful attention, with
view to the institution of criminal pro-
ceedings against the offender for conspiracy
to defraud the government of public lands,
conspiracy to suborn perjury, subornation
of perjury and for fencing the public lands.
1t was also stated that 1t was the desire
of the Attorney General that the evidence
In this case be presented to the grand jury
at the earliest opportunity: that subse-
quently the United States district attorney
reported to the Attorney General that the
case had been presentedato the grand jury
and that an indictment failed by small
margin, and that in his opinion the party
implicated and his emissaries personally
saw members of the grand jury and de-
feated the Indictment. He also stated that
the evidence was clear and positive, but ex-
pressed the opinion that 1t would be doubt
full about securing an indictment because of
the political prominence and influence of the
accused. He was not only not indicted, but,
following almost Immediately the action of
the grand jury In failing to indct him. he
was nominated for governor of the state
and was subsequently, elected, and Is today
the governor of South Dakota"