Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-03-07

MIR. KEEN's OFFICE. a SWORN
COPY OF 4 MEMORANDUM OF
CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR.. \.
A. KEEN IND H. b. HOLT. AS RE-
PORTED BY MIR. SIIEARON. OK
JANUARY 81. 1906, WHEREIN MIR.
HOLT. WHEN ASKED If IT WAS
THE PURPOSE OF THE APPLI-
CANTS To TRANSFER THE LAND
AS SOON AS THE DEEDS WE'RE
DELIVERED. TO ONE INDGVID-
UAL. REPLIED:
"'NO, NOT To ONE INDIVIDUAL.
BUT IT Is ALL TO BE TRANS
FERRED TO \ COMPANY"
(The report then sets forth the
statements of five residents lf Las
Cruces. who signed the separate appH-
cations. all stating that they did il
at Holt's request. and because they
had confidence in him and did not
think he would ask them to do any
thing wrongD Two of these persons
were women. The report continues:
Il then called on Mr.. Holt at his
office. but did not find him in. Later
in the day Mr.. Hoi, called ON me.
Mr.. Holt very briefly stated
that after consulting with his partner
he had decided TO inform me that
each of the applicants to purchase
had, at the time of signing the appli-
cation, also executed a deed in fee to
James 5. Delameter, trustee, and had
given same to Holt to hold in escrow.
and that the deeds were still i'm his
possession
Il TOLD MIR HOLT THAT HIS
STATEMENT DID NOT CORRE-
SPOND WITH HIS PREVIOUS AL
LEGATIONS, AS | REMEMBERED.
AND HAD RECORDED IN SUB
STANCE IN OUR TWO PREVIOUS
INTERVIEWS"
After setting fortt further details
of the investigation at great length,
the report concludes.
The facts disclos, an attemut to
evade the restriction Of the act of
1898, under a colorado compliance
with the terms of the federal and ter
ritorial statutes. a scheme in all re-
spects similar 10 that used by the
Trinidad Coal and Caking company
to obtain title to public lands. and
declared fraudulent by the supreme
court of the United States "
The sale has not been consummated
and it is within the power of congress
to enforce the conditions OF the grant.
Respectfully submitted
II. p. HOLCOMBE.
Detailed Clerk
General Land office
The report then carries as exhibits
cOuies of conversations with Holt re-
ferred to in the body Of the report.
showing that Holt, in hese several in
terviews, made statements directly
contradictory to each other, and also
copies of the affidavits of the Las
Cruces men setting forth the condi-
tions under which they made applica-
tiOn to purchase
1t is interesting 10 note I'm connec-
ton with this report. ihat Mr Holt is
one Of those who voted for the house
resolution TO investigate Governor
Hagerman'S connection with the
Pennsylvania Development company
land deal, a deal whih was cousum-
mated down to its final detail before
Governor ilagerman came into office,
the house resolution sAgNiu@ contained
among 0tner thfnga vfee toitOWhis:
WhereaS, II appears that the sew
eral territorial institutions in behalf
OF which said lands were selected.
have been defrauded of their rights
by virtue of the totally inadequate
price at which said lands were sold"
The price of the lands transferred
in the Pennsylvania Development
company deal was SO an acre. The
price at which Bonham q Holt
sought to obtain 5000 acres of the
institutional lands from the territory.
by practically the same means, was
$l.50 an acre.