Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-06-04
TWO WHO DIDN'T ESCAPE.

The Deadwood Pioneer-Times re-
lates the details of a case which the
federal government had against Mr..
Alanson Giles, a prominent man at
Belle Fourche. In the Black Hills re-
gion.
Mr.. Giles was accused of doing pre-
cisely what Mr. Crawford did in Wal
worth county, except that his offense
was not as great as that charged
against Mr.. Crawford. He merely
fenced In part of the public domain
and used 1t for his private purposes.
1t was not even intimated that he ever
sought 10 become the owner, in fee
simple. or otherwise, OF lands adjacent
TO his stock range through the use
of personal friends-he merely en-.
closed part OF the government lands
within a fence and turned his stock
loose to Craze thereon.
A government inspector came along
and reported Mr.. Giles act. Notwith-
standing. according to reports, Mr..
Giles promised to remove the fence
promptly, he was prosecuted AMI
was recently convicted in federal
court.
In passing sentence, the court took
into consideration the advanced age
or the man. stating that owing to
his Ill health and age the defendant
would not be imprisoned, but that
he must pay heavy fine.
Mr.. Crawford fenced part Of the
public domain In Walworth county.
The enclosure was about three and q
half miles long by one mile wide, and
included the lands filed on by Mr..
Crawford's boy friends-Blount, Val
entine, Thompson and Lampe. 1t also
included the Crawford ranch and the
state lands held under lease. 1t like
wise included portions of the public
domain, Just as Mr.. Giles fence en-
closed part of such lands. Mr.. Craw-
ford closed up section lines, just as
Mr.. Giles closed them up.
But Crawford went scot free
through. as the special agent said and
States stated In an official report, the
peculiar political complication exist
ing In this state.
Mr.. Giles doesn't appear to have
had q federal attorney interested In
himself in the defendants behalf
Perhaps that may have made some
dinerencei
The other notable case has hitherto
been exploited In the press dispatches;
OF conspiring with certain young men
for the purpose of defrauding the gov
eminent Ware, a resident OF South
Dakota, 1t appears, owned q ranch In
Nebraska, just as Crawford owned
one In Walworth county. Ware had
in his employ. according to the evil
dence, certain young men who actually
lived on the ranch. Mr.. Ware looked
longingly on certain adjacent lands.
He finally suggested to these young
men that II they would file on these
tracts. 20 as to retain them for his
use, he would nay all their expenses
and maintain such improvements as
would be essential To hold the lands.
Crawford. our readers will remem-
Der, didn't have the same advantage
as Ware had. Crawford's young
friends lived 1t Huron. where Mr..
Crawford was practicing law. many
miles distant from his ranch. Craw-
ford and his young friends made two
or three trips TO the ranch and Viewed
the landscape Ger. and then fastened
back TO Huron. Crawford paid all
the expenses incident to these viaits,
He also paid the young men, q two
Of Them state upon oath, the sums
agreed upon between them and him
Tor their services n Ming on the land.
Before they go< around 70 perfect title
tho goyornment got after Mr. CrnW-
ford. The Crawford homestead trnnr-
actions came to N immediate stand
Ware had bis trial M coavictsd.