Imperial Valley press., 1909-02-06
sKiNNER's SCHEMES EXPOSED
 Continued from page 1)

skinner vS. Pearman, E. halt or Sec. 90. Tp. 12 s., R, 1i F., S20 acres.
 skinner vs. Aurelius Turner $. W. quarter aud W. halt of & r. quarter Sec. {, Tp lS s. R. 1i E., 2tO acres.
 skinner vs. IT, w. Blaisdell, & W. quarter Sec. 3, Tp. 1 &. R. IS E., 16O acres
 skinner vs II. NJ Bowker. W. half of See. 2i, Tp. ll S., R. t4 E., S2o acres.
 skinner vs ] F. Davis. x W. quarter Sec. 2S. Tp. 16 S.. R. 16 E.. 160 acres.
 skinner vs. Pollkinghorn s. k. quarter and S. half of N F. quarter Sec "A. Tp. 14 &, R. II E. 2lO acres.
 skinner Vs. Ida Thorndike. F.. half of Sec. 4, Tp. 16 S.. R. IS F.. 32O acres.
 Making total of 2560 acres.
 AfRant further states that he is ac- quainted with said Sigel F.. skinner and has known him since June 1907, at which time said Skinner came to his place near Holtville, California, repre- senting himself as an eX-soldier. recent ly from service in the Philippine Islands, and desirous of securing a piece of land for a home At that time said Skinner asked deponents assistance in finding suitable tract. and for that purpose de- ponent went with him and visited var ious parts of the Imperial Valley. Skin ner then went to Los Angeles. and short ly afterwards began filing the contests against the land entries above enumer- ated. All of the above mentioned con- tests were filed during the months of July and August, 1907. Affiant also states that judgement has been rendered in favor of said Skinner by the Register and Receiver at Los Angeles in all of the said cases.
 During the pendency of these contests, and at all times since said Skinner filed the same, it has been a matter of re- mark that Skinner had full swing at the Los Angeles Land Office, and could get anything he wanted. So much was this apparent. that it was generally believed that said Skinner was a Government de- tective, and it was supposed that the contests were brought to expose and pun ish fraud. While Skinner never. to my knowledge asserted that he was Gov ernment Officer, he has at all times boasted of the "pull' he had, and claimed to be in consultation with the Special Agents of the Land Office He also claimed to receive telegrams from the Los Angeles Land Office giving him tips
 
 tested, and also as to movements that were to his advantage. On numerous occasions he has been shown marked preferment in the matter of information. anu has had access to the books and records that were not open to others That is, others were told the records were in use, but Skinner would be taken into the room where the books were hot way while those who asked to see the same records at the counter could not get access to them.
 Affiant further deposes and states that said Skinner has made a business of selling the preference right Of entry to the lands thus contested by him, as fast as the same could be secured. That he has sold the following described tracts for the prices given. and has received pay therefor in the sums stated as 
 Wyman Turner, F.. half of Sec. e, I'D. Is S., R. II E., $2,O00.
 NJ. L. Sevier, w half of Sec. 30, Tp 12 S. R. If E., $2,O00.
 Pearman, E. half of Sec. 30, Tp 12 s. R. II E., $500.
 Aurelius Turner $ W. quarter and W. half of s. E. quarter Sec. 1, Tp. 13 s. R. IA E., $1,OOO.
 Making a total of $G,500.
 Also that he has dispose of the Polk inghorn contest for a valuable considera- tion, but deponent does not know the exact amount he received for it. Said Skinner has also offered the Davis con- test and the Blaisdell contest for sale and has a party living on the land in the Therndike tract holding it for him. He has not hesitated to use dummy second contestants, and in the Sevier case he had dummy assignee hold the land until he could find q buyer. He has had parties file second contests for his protection so when he secured the of the entry, he could have them withdraw their contest leaving him free to sell his preference right to enter said land to the first buyer who would pay him his price. The method em- poyed by said Skinner is substantially as follows After securing judgement from the Register and Receiver at Los Angeles against an entry, he would visit the entryman, or send some one to him, and by making him believe he was in danger of criminal prosecution for land fraud get him to relinquish his filing. Then with the rellnquishment secured as a result of his contest, skinner would have the preference right OS entry to the tract involved. By protecting him self from bona fide contestants by hay ing his dummies file second contests,