The Washington times., 1908-06-23
HYDE AND SCHNEIDER
GUILTY, SAYS JURY
Dimond and Benson Vindi-
catedof Land Fraud Charge
After Long Ordeal.
NEW TRIALS ASKED
BY THE DEFENDANTS
Jury Tired and Worn After More
Than Twelve Weeks Work
on the Case.

Finding Frederick A Hyde and Joost
H Schneider guilty and John A. Benson
and Henry P. Dimond not guilty. the
jury in the land fraud trial, which has
been IN progress nearly twelve weeks.
brought in their verdict yesterday aft
ernOon.
1t was only after the jury had wres-
lled with the mass Of evidence sevs
enty-two hours. time after time report
ing that they could not reach an agree
Inent, that the verdict was returned.
Motions were entered for new trials
by Attorneys Wcrthington and Donald
son for Hyde and Schneider. and pend
ing the arguments on the motions the
two defendants were released on hail
Hyde in the sum Of so. 900. and SchneI-
der in the sum OF Sl25O0. Dimond is
Tree now, and VIII return to san Fran
cisco, where he is manager of the
Fruit Covers Association. Benson
will be tried here again next fan on
an indictment charging him with brib-
ing Government employees.
Saves Government Land.
a. S. Pugh, special assistant TO the
Attorney General. today declared that
the verdict saves the Government pub
lie lands valued at nearly S1.5OO0oO.
The beneficial results to the land de-
ps.rtment, he says. far outweigh the
great cost Of the investigation and pros
ecutiOn. He estimates that the ex-
penses of the trial, outside the ex-
penses OF the court and salaries aud ex-
HCnEeE f0T hn
Will amount TO $4S.3G0. 45. divided as fol-
lows;
Fees Of 10s witnesses, 5000; fees Of
Jurors, $685.. hotel bill for Jurors and
bailihs, s.. 1855; stenographer, 500; ex-
perts, $500; incidentals. $500.
Mr.. Pugh says:
The verdict in the case is not at
all strange under all the circumstances
10 one who understands the situation;
ana SO far as practical results TO the
land department are concerned, all has
been accomplished that would have
been accomplished by a verdict against
all four defendants.
Benefits IncalcuIable.
while the investigation leading up
20 the indictment and trial itself have
cost the Government a great deal OF
money. the beneficial results 70 the
land department in the future admin
istratioE OF the public land laws are
simply incalculable. The last vestige OF
the conspiracy which originated on the
Pacific coast about ten years ago has
now been utterly destroyed. and It Is
not likely that other similar schemes
viii again be attempted.
"As q net result there will be restored
10 the Government something more than
10000 acres Of public lands which were
selected under the fraudulent practice
charged in the indictment in this case.
The selections have been under susQen-
sion since November. 1902, awaiting the
trial of the case. These selections will
ali now be taken up and ad1udiCated by
tho land department
Values Increase.
The value OF the lands has very
greatly increased since their selection.
eight. nine and ten years ago. so that
the 10000 acres or more Immediately
involved in the trial are probably now
worth from IS 10 SO an acre.
Patents were secured for something
like 10000 acres Of public lands before
the fraud was discovered, which was in
November. 1902 Suits have been inStI-
tuted by the Department of Justice for
the recovery Of these lands and Will
now be prosecuted to final conclusion.
In so FAR as the lands have not passed
into the hands Of innocent purchasers
they viii be recovered. 1t Is not un-
likely that q great many of the patented
lands may be now IN the hands Of in
nocent holders and, therefore, beyond
recovery
Justice Urges jury.
When the jury was taken before Jus
tice Stafford yesterday afternoon al
l O'Clock, each member appeared hope
lessly divided The justice warned them
again that the case was one Of great
Importance, both 70 the Government
and to the defendants. and they should
consider the evidence infinitely. ana
also consider the individual guilt OF
the defendants.
After returning the verdict, the fury
men, who have been locked Up for
more than twelve weeks. away from
their families and business affairs.
were discharged. They looked tired
and worn from their long court sit
ting, and subsequent deliberations, and
lost no time IN leaving the courtroom.
The trial Of the four men charged
with defraudIne the Government out
Of vast areas OF land In the West was
one Of the longest and most trying ever
held in the District OF Columbia. The
investigations alone which lead Up to
the trial cost the Government $4,000.
and the trial cost nearly $4,000 In all,
nearly 200 witnesses were brought from
the West to testify IN the case.
Governments Charge.
II was alleged that Hyde and Ben
son worked together to secure the
tracts Of land; that Dimond was their
attorney in Washington. and Schnei-
der was employed by Hyde It was
charged that they used fictitious names
and forgeries to aid them in their work.
The Government was represented in
the trial by District Attorney Baker
and Special Assistant Attorney General
PuCh. Judge Campbell, Of San Fran
cisco represented Benson. and Judge
Wander Veer, Of New York, was attor-
ney for Dimond-
COL. WILLIAM G. GORGAS.
Col William c Gorgas. who has
been elected president OF the American