Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-07
Progress in Hearing Regard
ing Alleged Land Frauds.
TESTIMONY HEARD TODAY
Some Disclosures by Witnesses Be-
lieved to Favor Defense.
WALTER K. SLACK RECALLED
Says he Carried Out Hyde's Instruc-
tions When He Advised
Schneider's Reticence.

Although there was little of striking in
terest in today's proceedings before Jus
tice Stafford in Criminal Court No. in
the course of the alleged Hyde-Benson-
Schneider Dimond land fraud conspirac!
case. it is becoming more and more ap-
parent that the government has it's case
IN chief almost to the point where the
climax may be expected. With the lines
of testimony well in his hands. United
States Attorney Baker is expected to de-
vote all of his energy during the next
few days to welding together the con-
Meeting links of circumstantial evidence,
which will enable him to go before the
jury with the argument that every ma
terial point in the indictment has been
established.
AS II happened this morning. some OF
the testimony offered by the government
seemed almost entirely in favor of the
defense. though several important state
ments were secured from Walter a.
Slack. the last witness before the noon
recess. who identified the handwriting or
Hyde and Schneider in the body OF many
land applications.
The testimany which appeared 10 DE IN
line with the theory of the defense was
that offered by another of the applicants
for state lands in California. whose "selec-
business of F.. A. Hyde. Mrs. Nellie L.
Dutton Of San Francisco was the witness,
and size said her brother in-law- s r.
Dutton. now deceased. made the sugges-
mot her-in-law. Mrs Francis Dutton, who
was then eighty-two years of age and
who since died and herself taking out ap-
plications for land in Mr.. Hyde's office.
Identifies Her Signature.
One of the papers in the case. and Mrs.
Dutton could not remember which one.
was signed and sworn to in the office of
Notary Treco She identified her sigma
ture and the signatures of other men,
bers of her family. According to her
story. Mrs. Dutton and her husband
went to Alaska soon after the applica-
tions were filed. and the deal was finally
closed when they returned. Witness said
lit was her impression that her husband
received about $500 from Mr.. Hyde as re-
suit of the deal.
Besides these facts. it was established
In the course of Attorney Worthington'
cross-examination of Mrs. Dutton. that
she understood she was taking up the
land for her own use and benefit and
that she depended upon her husband for
all of the details of the transaction. TAX
ing his word that her signature should
be affixed to the papers Altogether II
seemed that Mrs. buttons testimony was
to the government.
Mrs. Annie A. Dutton. widow OF s. F.
Dutton. gave testimony. along practically
the same lines. though she said she had
ing the past ten years that minor
| incidents such as the execution of
land papers. etc. have escaped her
memory. She identified her signatures as
the papers were presented by Mr.. Baker.
but she could not remember having gone
before a notary to make the acknowl-
edRments which appeared upon them
She. too, had entered into the transaction
under the guidance of her husband. and
it was her impression that Mr Du,toh
The records of the land transfers from
the state Of California to Mrs. Nellie L.
Dutton and to Mrs. Annie A. button and
transfers by both to F. A. Hyde were
nection with the testimony of George De
Lury, an ohcial Of Mono county, Cal.
Witness Slack Recalled.
Walter X. Slack. formerly a clerk in
the Office of F. A. Hyde ip San Fran
cisco. who has been on the stand three
times previously in the trial. was re-
called. Concerning the trip to Tucson.
Ariz., which he had already testified to
having made for the purpose of seeing
Schneider after the latter's alleged let
tiers of confession to the Secretary of the
Interior in Washington had precipitated
the investigation. Mr.. Slack said he was
carrying out Hydes instructions when he
told Schneider not to talk to any special
agents or other representatives Of the
government.
Mr.. Slack also testified about q great
number of land applications which passed
through Hydes Office. He was asked
particularly to identify the handwriting
In the body of each application. Most of
them. witness said. were written by Hyde
| and others by Schneider.
| The witness Slack was still on the
stand when Justice Stafford ordered the
| customary recess for one hour from l2:a
| o'clock.