The Washington herald., 1908-04-22

Nearly all of yesterdays session In the
trial of Frederick A. Hyde John A. Ben
son, Henry p. Dimond. and Joost
H. Schneider, on the indictment
charging them with conspiracy to
defraud the government out of land
in California and oregon, was devoted to
the cross examination of Woodford d.
Harlan. former chief of a division in
the General Land Office. and William a.
Walk. former clerk in charge of a division
of the same Office.
Both men admitted while On the stand
Monday, that they had been bribed by
Benson 90 advance certain selections, in
which Benson said he was interested.
Harlan testified ne received about $500,
and Walk admitted he received in all
$200O. Both men were discharged from
the governments service on April so last,
On cross examination by Judge Camp
bell Of San Francisco, of counsel for the'
defense, Harlan was forced 10 admit that
he practically demanded money from Ben
son. He practically admitted that the
initiative was taken by him and that Ben
son had not volunteered to give him
money. Harlan. in the course OF the
severe cross examination to which he was
subjected. admitted the authorship of a
letter in which he demanded 500 for GER
tain services which he had rendered.
Furnishes Information.
This was the furnishing of information
which came to Harlan while acting in a
confidential capacity in the special ser
vice division Of the Land Office
A letter written by Harlan to Benson
was produced This letter was dared in
November. 1903
Were the statements contained in this
letter true or false?" asked Judge Camp
bell
Some of them were true and some Of
them Were false replied the witness.
What was your object in deceiving a
man with whom you had been operating
and apparently was your friend?"
Il wrote that letter. said the witness
with considerable confusion. under the
direction Of William Z. Burns"
Burns is a Secret Service operative, and
assisted in the investigation which led 10
the present Indictment
The witness also admitted that he had
been instructed by Burns to accept money
which Benson might offer him.
Gets the Third Degree.
He also admitted that he had been sub
mitted to what might be termed the third
degree about this time by Burns, Secrc-
taTy Hitchcock, and others. Wnen Har-
Ian left the stand, the impression pre-
vailed that his testimony had been con
siderably shaken by the defense
William 4. Walk, who also admitted
having received money from Benson was
also subjected to a searching cross-exam-
ination. Walk testified Monday that on
December Is, 1903. he had refused when
instructed by Burns. to go to room 2I3 in
the General Land Qffice and obtain money
from Benson to be used as evidence.
Later in his examination on Monday. he
identified 800 in bills which ne had re-
ceived that night from Benson at the
New Willard Hotel
why" asked Attorney Worthington.
did you take the money that night after
refusing il that afternoon
I had made my confession at the time
Mr.. Benson was in room 313. and l told
Mr.. Burns that I thought il would be
dirty business for me TO go up and get
the money"
But you went to see Benson that
night You testified How came you to
go to see him?''
henson Sends Word.
"fIe sent word 10 me that he wanted
10 see me-" said the witness. "and told
Mr.. Burns. Mr., Burns told me to 90.
asked him. # was offered money, should
I take it. He said. BY all means"
In his direct examination, Walk testi-
fed that Benson had not given him the
money direct, but that he had found"
1t on washstand IN Benson's apart
ment.
The witness admitted that he had been
promised immunity from prosecution if
he became a government witness. similar
to Harlan. although both said that this
promise had not been conveyed to them
in 50 many words, but both understood
its meaning The statute Of limitations
now bars a prosecution OF both witnesses
for receiving the bTibes.
James J. Barnes. an aged man. was
called to the witness stand toward the
close Of yesterdays proceedings. He was
excused, after being on the stand a few
moments. He was discharged at the
same time that Harlan and Walk were
separated from the service. and it is un-
derstood will give testimony similar to
theirs