The Washington herald., 1908-06-23


every respect. that he felt it necessary
to again lock them up for further con-
sideration Of the testimony
The end was then not in sight, and 1t
was a surprise 20 every one Of those in
terested in the case and 10 the crowd u
curious onlookers when the jury fled into
their places after only two and a half
hours Of further deliberation with the
announcement that they had reached an
agreement.
Calls Court To order.
Court Crier Joyce called The court TO
order. and Justice Stafford asked the
foreman OF the jury # they had reached
an agreement and were ready with YER
dict. Foreman Alfred B. Dent replied
n verdict had been reached.
The court ordered the verdict read for
the defendants, one az time,
do you find the defendant, Frederick
A. Hyde. guilty or not guilty OF the
forty counts against him, on which you
were instructed 20 return a verdict?''
asked the clerk of Foreman Dent.
GUILTY" was the reply.
In their order. after the same question,
the foreman declared John \. Benson 20
be mot guilty" Henry J. n.mond 10 be
not guilty" and JousU H. schneider 10
be guilty"
y murmur was heard in the court
room. for a division in the verdict OF
this nature had evidently not been ex-
pectcd. On request of United States
Attorney Baker. roll call was taken
of the jurymen on each of the defend
ants and their decision recorded They
concurred with tha; OF their foreman.
Justice stafford then said he saw no
reason why the jury should not be dis
charged. and so ordered
At last. after nearly twelve weeks OF
hearing and seventy-two hours OF wres-
Ting with the mass Of evidence that had
accumulated. these twelve men were free
20 go as they pleased. They looked tired
and worn from their long duty. and lost
no time In getting away from the court
house
Pending the argument on the motion
for a new trial. which was noted. HYDE
and Schneider were released on bail. that
for Hyde being fixed at $4,000, and t.,at
for Schneider at $3.50
This trial is one OF the longest and
most important ever held before a local
court 1t is case really national IN
character and interest. involving as II
does,> lands of the United States run
ming in value probably 70 the millions.
The hearings started on Wednesday.
April 1, and the case did not go TO the
jury until Friday last
Led 10 the Indictment.
The investigation which led TO the in
dictment Of the men cost the government
nearly Sl50,O0O For the purpose of the
trial, Congress made special appro-
priation Of $4,000. the greater portion Of
which has been expended.
In all. more than 200 witnesses from
fourteen States, the majority Of them
from California and oregon. appeared at
the trial Hyde and Benson were land
attorneys and operators in the West. and
Dimond was their attorney before the
Land Office. Schneider was alleged to
have been employed by Hyde
Il is alleged the conspiracy was first
Unearthed when Binger Hermann was at
the head of the Land Office Secretary
Hitchcock finally brought the frauds 10
light and TO the attention of the grand
jury. Officials of the Land Office were
implicated IN the conspiracy that the gov
ernment uprooted.
The four men were charged with de-
frauding the government out OF immense
tracts Of land in California and Oregon
through the use Of dummy" applicants.
The evidence produced by the government
showed that Schneider procured numerous
persons 10 maine application for school
land IN The States named. and at the
time Of signing The application for the
land the dummy applicants would make
an assignment CT the land 70 Hyde.
Notwithstanding that IN California and
Oregon che law limits the amount of
school land witch AZ individual NAV
purchase to Gao acres, Hyde and Benson
procured title 10 immense acreages. The
land obtained through the dummies"
cost Hyde $1.25 an acre.
Through the operation OF the forestry
reserve law, whenever State school land
is included in a forest reserve. persons
owning such land are permitted 10 re-
linquish It 10 the government and receive
therefor land certificates. These cerll6-
Gates may be used to enter any unappro-
priated land in the United states.
The government charged that HYDE and
Benson, working through Dimond who
is San Francisco attorney. improperly
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