Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-09
SCHNEIDER 0N+STAND.
Another Defendant in Land
Frauds Case Testifies.
CAUSE OF INVESTIGATION
Statement to Agent Holsinger Starts
Inquiry.
APPLICATIONS IN OREGON
Witness Tells Of Methods Followed.
Counsel Conclude Examination of
Dimond-Other Details.
APPLICATIONS IN OREGON


described the methods followed in secur-
ing land applications in Oregon. His tes-
timony followed closely the conclusion OF
Mr.. Dimonds examination.
Schneider on the Stand.
At the conclusion of the examination Of
Mr.. Dimond Attorney Worthington re-
called Woodford D. Harlan and William
E. Walk. former clerks of the general land
office. and both declared they had never
given Information. either directly or in
directly. to Mr.. Dimond about the suspen-
sion order issued with reference to the
cases of F. A. Hyde and F. A. Hyde & Co.
Joost II. Schneider, the third of the de-
PENDANTS to testify in his own behalf. took
the stand shortly before noon He stated
his age as fifty-four years and said he is
a native of Denmark. He came to the
United States in 1873
Schneider met Hyde in 1873 after his
return from a trip to the Sandwich Is
lands. and he went to work for Hyde on
the latter's ranch the next year. remain
Ing there for number of years. Quite
frequently, Schneider said he went to
San Francisco for ranch supplies and in
odd moments. whenever he was in the
off1ce-sometimes for week or a month
at time-he would fiji out papers and do
other clerical work. doing various tasks
Witness said he made a trip to Salem,
Ore. at Hyde's. behest, and saw a
banker by name of Mccormack. The pur-
pose of his trip was to secure persons to
take out applications for school lands.
Schneider said he carried a letter of intro
duction to Wylie B. Allen. and the latter
introduced him to Thomas McCusher.
Both Allen and McCusher brought him
applications. he said. and all of them
were property filled out and bore the re-
o1,r n;1 leo
number of signatures to applications
from lunchroom mattresses, cowboys and
laborers. On returning to San Francisco
the witness said he didn't tell Hyde
much Of anything about the trip; just
Elizabeth Dimond'' came in for fur
Their mention at the after session OF
court. when Schneider said all he knew
about Elizabeth Dimond'' was that a
letter at one time came to his house and
it was addressed in her name. Either 1t
was in an envelope of F. A. Hyde & Co.
or it was marked to be forwarded to
Hyde. because Mrs. Schneider sent the
letter to Hyde. and afterward Hyde &C.
knOWledged receiving it.
Schneider said ne had been scarcely ac-
quainted with John A. Benson. Witness
knew little about any methods Hyde may
have followed in getting his cases
through the land office in Washington.
Resumes DISCRIMINATION.
The cross examination of Mr.. Dimond
was resumed Immediately after the OPEN
ing Of court this morning. Mr.. Baker be-
ginning with a reference to a demand
made by Mr.. Dimond on Mr.. Hyde for an
increase in his compensation from $3.50
per month to $500. Witness declared his
demand was the result Of his conference
with Adds B. Browne, with whom he was
tod in a of
Mr.. Hyde and that the latter had strong
ly advised such a demand, offering Dr.
mond, in case Hyde should refuse tho in
crease desired, position with the firm
of Britton & Gray in this city.
The defendant was examined at length
concerning the significance of certain
statements made in a letter written by
him to Mr.. Browne. and in which refer
ence was made to the departure of gov
eminent agents from San Francisco with
scandal If it should become known that
Hyde was backing a bill before the Ore
gon legislature. Mr.. Dimond said his in
formation about the departure Of the gov
ernments agents came from Mr.. Hyde:
that he had only the latter's assurance
that the agents gained no information be-
cause there was nothing to get, and that
he had withdrawn his +, advice to Mr..
from Mr.. Hyde in the belief that the ap-
parent tangle in public land matters would
be cleared up. Witness could not remem-
Der the nature of the bill before the Ore
gon legislature.
Questions by Attorney Worthington.
After Mr. Dimond had completed his d.
rect examination yesterday afternoon he
was questioned at length by Attorney
Worthington. on behalf Of Mr.. Hyde. and
it was developed that Dimond knew moth
ing whatever of the land business in
Hyde's Office. and he had nothing to do
with getting the base lands from the
state. Witness said when he first came to
th;s city for Mr.. Hyde his intention was
to remain only a short time, but at the
suggestion of Adds B. Browne, who had
been representing Mr.. Hyde in the bust
ness before the land Office. 1t was arranged
that he should remain here for several
months. The arrangement was made In
Mr.. Brownies Office in this city while
Mr.. Hyde was present. and Mr.. Dimond
said he understood at that time that Ben
son was interested In some Of the lieu
lands because Hyde had said he intended
charging some of Dimond's expenses to
Benson. Jumping a period of about two
years. and speaking particularly Of the
time of the issuance Of the suspension or
der by the Secretary Of the Interior. Mr..
Worthington secured the admission of
statement by Dimond Of the substance Of
a letter which he said he had written
to Hyde. the letter not being in evidence.
to the effect that 1t would be necessary
to find all of the people who had taken
ly identified before a United States judge
in San Francisco. SO as to refute the al
legations of fraud which were then being
made by the government
United States Attorney Bakers cross