Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-08
Testifies in Own Behalf in Land
Frauds Case.
NO IDEA OF ANY CONSPIRACY
Denies knowledge of Use of I'm.
proper Methods.
MENTIONS VISITS TO THIS CITY
Discusses Employment by F. A. Hyde
and Explains Regarding Letters
and Anonymous Com
munications.

The trial of the Hyde Ben son -Dimond-
Schneider land frauds conspiracy case
before Justice Stafford in Criminal Court
No. I entered into one Of its most I'M
portant and concluding phases today
when Henry T. Dimond. one OF the four
defendants appeared on the witness
stand and testified that never in the
period of his employment by r. \. Hyde
did he know Of the alleged fraudulent
methods followed by Hyde III securing
possession of large numbers of appli-
cations fer public lands.
Speaking of his letters and the annny-
NOUS letters which he received at various
times. many Of which have been intro
duced in evidence in the case, Mr.. Di-
mond said that all Of his correspondence
now in possession of The government was
voluntarily placed in the case by himself
at the hearing i'll San Francisco.
Dimond a Witness.
Henry F. Dimond appeared the wit
ness stand shortly after the opening of
court this morning. Answering prelm-
mary questions the defendant stated he
is forty-seven years of age. is an at
torney-at-law by profession and that his
present occupation is secretary and gen
eral manager OF the Dried Fruit Associ
alton of California.
Are you acquainted with the defendant
Frederick A. Hyde2" Attorney Wander
veer. who conducted the examination
asked.
II am Mr. Dimond replied
state the details of the beginning OF
your business relations with him.
Il met him first at summer resort near
San Francisco where he was introduced
~ -,,n " mlItna1 friend and our ac-
quaint ance was merely casual for MANY
months Finally he came to my office and
the result of our conversation was tha'
lie made ME an offer OF Sl.Soo year 70
take up a number Of cases for him. cases
which he said were tagging n the gen
cal land office.
Witness said he entered into a formal
agreement with Mr. Hyde by which IT
was specified that he would give the pref
erence To Mr.. Hyde's cases over his other
business. He said his copy of the agree
ment was destroyed in the conffagration
in San Francisco in 1NH At first II was
contemplated that Mr. Dimond's activities
would be wholly confined TO San Fran
cisco and by correspondence with HI.
general land office. but HYDE requested
him to come to Washington and look up
a number of cases in the land offlca. Prior
to leaving San Francisco he prepared for
the work in Washington by reading up
the decisions of the land office. Also be
tween the time his is, edEeTpaafsure for Wash
and !. III he Raas busy with his private prac-
tie and in the period he also visited
many counties in California and secured
the passage of automobile speed ordi-
nanceS.
Arrival in This City.
Finally Dimond departed for Washing
ton. reaching this city in August or Sep
TENDER. 1901. but for a long time he was
at loss as TO how TO proceed and he
did not even know the cases In which lie
was to appear until. after much cor
respondence with Mr.. Hyde in San Fran
cisco he received his docket list This
list included about 80 or ~: cases.
Was there anything in those papers
to indicate the meth ods which may have
been followed in securing the land APP
plieations," Mr.. Vanderbeer asked.
There was not" Mr.. Dinond replied.
Did you know anything about the
lands?'
Il did not
Witness said he made his headquarters
while in this city in the office of Brit'on
& Gray. who had long conducted Mr..
Hyde's business before the general land
office.
Asked whether he had been acqua mi ed
with John \. Benson before his visit 10
Washington in 1901 Mr. Dimond said
Only casually. AS ! recollect it, | had
been introduced To him and we had a
conversation OF three or four minutes
but | had no further acquaintance witt
him
Mr. vanderbeeer secured the reintro-
duction OF the first letter written hS
Nj. Benson 10 Mr.. Nimond during IN.
latters frs, visit to Washington whicl
resulted In the latter taking up a trans
action with the Aztec Cattle COmpa ~
and pushing il to successful conclusion
The outcome was that the cattle compa n,
sold to Mr. Benson total of - SOD acre:
of land. which had been rendered useless
for cattle grazing because the surround
ing sections had been included in fores
reservation.
Second Trip East.
Mr.. Dimond said he returned to San
Francisco in May 1H'a. ard whole he at
tended to considerable business he was
absent from the Office during most Of six
weeks on account OF ne illness % Mrs
Dimond. she having contracted typhoid
fever in Washington.
His next trip east was in October. 1872
but that was only fyng visit tn New
York. on part of the Aztec Cattle Com
pany deal, and he was III Washington
only three DAYS
Concerning he suspension order issued
by the Secretary Of the Interior. Mr. Di-
mond said he first learned Of it from Mr..
HYDE, and al the latters request he came
again TO Washington stopping on the way
at Tucson. AriZ.. to see J. H. Schneider.
He had never known Schneider before
that time. having met him only once when
guesi at a roundup al Hyde's ranch. OF
which Schneider was foreman. The re
suit of the interview with Schneider and
OF his Investigations in Washington were
reported by Dimond To Hyde.
Mr. NanderTeer read 10 The jury one of
the letters written by Dimcnd I" Hyde.
in which il was stated that the laNity
Of the system employed by Hyde was
responsible for the calamity tina lap
pened This letter also showed that hi
mond was insisting that HYDE search for
and produce a. many As possible of the
persons whose applications for public
lands passed through his office
Despite objections by United States At
torney Baker the coart permitted tie in
Production of = copy "f letter from
Adds II. Browne. in Washington to Fred
eri"k \. HYDE in which the former in
formed Hyde IF the serious nature OF the
situation then obtaining in connection
with the public lands and advised the la :
ter what cours" seemed best to fake
Mr. Tinlund testified he severed his con
ne.tiGn with Mr.. Hyde March l. 1883; and
eW days later removed his office 10 an
other building. Witness WAS still on the
stand, teStifying regarding the ancny.
nous letters which have figured 50 large
" in the ease when Justice Stafford or
dered he usual recess AT - 20 o'clock
CONFEDERATE REUNION.
Hundreds in Birmingham to Attend
Ayy,,o1