The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-06-21

Failure on the part Of the jury 10
reach a verdict in the Benson
Dimond-Schneider land fraud trial ne
cessltated locking them up over again
last night until 10 O'Clock tomorrow
morning. BY that time it is hoped
they will have reached an agreement
which viii permit their discharge from
their long term Of service of more than
eighty-Ono days.
Coming as il does upon the heels OF
their lengthy sitting. locking them nup
for what viii be a total OF siXty-nine
hours. when they are escorted TO the
courtroom on Monday, works dou-
BILE hardship during the present hot
smell. for the men in whose hands rests
the fate of the accused
Under Strict Surveillance.
lrnru the last few days of the trial
the jurors had been permitted much
more Ieniency than is he usual lot o.
The juror. They were given almost
complete freedom in strOlling about the
corridors and in The immediate neigh
Lcrhood of the National Hotel. where
they have been quartered since April l.
However from the time they were first
locked up on Friday evening at 20
o clock chcy Will be under the strict
est surveillance antu a verdict is rem
dered.
All day yesterday inquiries at the
marshaIs Office elected the reply that
nothing was yet heard from the jury
room. Mr.. Hyde, who has taken such
an active interest in the case, which
means his complete vindiCation OF pos
siblo Incarceration in the penitenLiaTy-
was conspicuOusly absent from the
court house. The ether defendants
roamed about the building ali day Ions,
but none were on hand when the jury
retired for the night
a. p. Pugh, special assistant to the
Attorney General in the prosecution OF
the alleged land fraud cases. appeared
at the courthouse last night and re-
NAMED until assured that the jury
would not return a verdict. lie was
asked if in the event OF disagree
ment. it was the intention OF the Gov
eminent TO again try the defeudants, he
replied that the matter rested with the
Attorney General, but that if the ma
jority was for conviction IT was
more than probable that the case
would again be brought to trial
Expresses Surprise at Delay.
Mr. Pugh expressed surprise at the
delay in reaching a verdict. The cost
10 the Government of this trial. he
said. has been about $4,000 but the
Government is well repaid even If q
does. not. secure a conviction. The good
resulting from the exposure Of certain
methods in the acquisition Of lands in
the West is worth q million"
Mr.. Pugh said that he has bsen ell
gagged IN the study OF the land cases
since 1897, and for the last five years
has been active in preparing for the
prosecution OF those charged with con-
spring to defraud the Government of
IT'S reservations
The work" he said, 'has been hard,
but I dc not feel that it has been in
vain even If a conviction is not Sc
cured in the present instance. Since
April / my entire time. night and day
Including Sunday. has been devoted 70
this case and I am glad % see the
end"
Deputy Marshal jim Springman was
on hand last night to summon the de-
PENDANTS in the event .hat a verGict
was reached. AS usual spent the night
q; the National Hotel until they reach
verdict or announce a hopeless dis
agreement they viii be kept in close
confinement.
Justice Stafford left the court house
at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, hay
ing waited the entire day for the jury
10 reach a verdict