The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-02
ALLEGED LAND
THIEVES IN DOCK
Case of Hyde, Benson, DImond
and Schneider on Trial
in Washington.
CONSPIRACY IS CHARGED
sENSoN'S PLEA IN BAR TAKEN
UNDER CONSIDERATION.

Washington. April 1.-The trial of
the land fraud cases against Frederick
A. Hyde. John A. Benson, Henry L.
Dimond and Joost II. Schneider, M
Volvlng an alleged conspiracy to de-
fraud the United States out OF Vdlua-
BILE lands in several western states
has begun here today before Justlce
Stafford in criminal court No. 1. Up
wards of 200 witnesses from fourteen
states i'm the west, where the alleged
fraudulent requirement of IL was
effected, are here for the trial.
This case has been on the dockets OF
the court here and in California Tor
the past four years. the trial having
been postponed from time TO time. one
OF the delays was caused because OF
lack of funds to pay witness fees and
other expenses. An appropriation OF
$50, 600 was made by congress at ITS
present session to cover the cost OF
the trial.
Trial viii Last Long.
1T is believed that the trial will con
tinue for at least three months
The indictments against the four
men charged a conspiracy, Matched IN
this city In 1901, to defraud the United
States out of many thousands OF acres
of public lands in the west. 1t IS a.
lcZ6u tldl llCSG llANiis pRNAoNo
rough the names of fictitious per
sons, acquired school lands in Oregon
and California by false entries and
forged signatures, by entries later
transferred with the help OF infOrma-
ton from subsidized clerks in the gem
erai land office.
Benson. who is a San Francisco mil
lionaire, resisted ~eXtradition from Cal
ifornia, as did his co-defendants, who
are alleged TO have done the actual
work in the field and later carried the
ease to the United States supreme
court. where a decision unfavorable
to them was handed down.
Hermann In the Deal.
.Binger Hermann, commissioner oi
the Ian office at the time, and later
a representative in congress from
Oregon, sent special agents, HelsingeT
and Magee, out west 10 investigate.
The report was submitted to Her
mann. who. il is alleged. held it up,
Finally il was brought to the atten-
tor of Former Secretary Of the In
terror Hitchcock by Magee. The for
mer detailed secret service officers ana
attorneys of the department of justice
ga the case. Their findings led 20 the
indictments.
The governments side of the case is
represented by District AttorneJ BS-
ker. special assistants in the depart
ment of justice, Arthur =. Pugh anC
Francis J. Heney. The foul defend.
ants are represented by A. S. Worth.
ington. r. Golden Donaldson and \
A. Birney of the Washington bar. anC
Joseph c. Campbell Of a Francisco
and w. j.. Vandevere of New York.
Pleaded Not Guilty.
Promptly at the opening of the
trial three of the defendants. Hyde
Dimond and Schneider, pleaded not
guilty, and a plea i'm bar was entered
as to Benson. The attorneys for tn,
defendants first offered a plea III
abatement. and District Attorney Ba-
ker. representing the government, filed
demurrer TO the plea. which was
sustained by Justice Stafford. Hyde
Dimond and Schneider were then ar,
raigned. and counsel for Benson en-.
tered the plea in bar. The jurors were
dismissed until 100. while argument
was heard in bar. 1t is said that q
new panel will have TO be called from
which to select the jury.
At the conclusion OF the arguments
on the plea in a offered by Benson
Justice Stafford reserved decision and
court adjourned for the day.