The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-02-05
SEVEl INDICTED
FOR LAND FRAUD.
Grand Jury Acts in MuSkOgee
Town Lot Cases.
TRUE BILL AGAINST HASKELL.
Governor Of Oklahoma Charged With
Conspiracy to pefraud the Govern.
ment-Jury Instructed to Report for
Duty Again Monday Morning.

ment-Jury Instructed to Report for
Duty Again Monday Morning.
Muskogee, Okla, Feb. 4.-SiXty
leading business men of Muskogee
held mass meeting beginning at
midnight and lasting until early today,
discussing the seven indictments re
turned late yesterday by the federal
grand jury i'm the government town
lot investigation.
Mayor Martin presided. An express
sion of confidence in the men indicted
was made, and a committee of seven
was appointed to correct what was
termed an erroneous impression as
to the legality of land titles in Musko-
gee and eastern oklahoma
Forty-seven Overt Acts Named.
1t became known today that the first
indictment returned, against Cover
nor Haskell, Clarence w. Turner and
| Walter II. Eaton, alleged folty-seven
overt acts in conspiracy to defraud
| the government.
The second indictment, against Will
lam T. Hutchins and Turner, alleged
| thirteen. and the third. against Abe IT
| u. English, Frederick b. Sewers and
Jesse w. Hill, alleged ninety-two acts,
Muskogee, Okla, Feb. 4.-As a re-
suit of the Investigation by a federal
grand jury of alleged frauds in con.
nection with the scheduling OF town
lots in this city, seven indictments
were returned The charge against
the 10 endants is conspiracy to de-
fraud the government. The names of
those indicted are Governor Charles n.
Haskell, f. b. Sewers, c. w. Turner,
w. Hutchings, A. z. English. Jesse
w. Hill and Walter r. Eaton.
Attorney Thomas II. owen of Mus
kogee, representing Governor Haskell,
made arrangements for the governor
tomorrow morning to enter his appear
ance and give bond in the sum or So.
900 for appearance for trial.
The writs issued are returnable forth.
with. Governor Haskell is at Guthrie,
the state capital. There is but one
indictment against him, charging him
with conspiring with Walter r. Eatou
and Clarence w. Turner to defraud
dictments against Turner and one
each against the others.
Turner WAS first to give bond in the
sum of $4,000. Hutchings and Eaton
followed and gave bond in the sum OF
$4,000 each. All will probably be ar
raigned before Judge Campbell tomor
row.
Jury to Report for Duty Monday.
The jury was instructed to repOr,
for duty again Monday morning
which gave rise to the impression thai
only a partial report had been made
in the town leases. Later it was
learned that the jury is to consider
matter other than the town lo
frauds next week. Several of those
who, it was expected would be indict
ed, escaped because the evidence die
not show they We're identified with the
alleged conspiracy.
Walter r. Eaton, one Of the men in
dicted, is brother-inlaw of Walter J
Richie, Jr., of Lima O. He is the secre
tary of the Indianoia Contracting com
pany, of which Governor Haskell i!
president, and which it is alleged
scheduled the names of many dun
mics" to secure town lots. Jesse w
Hill, another of the indicted. came
here from Texas and became identi
fed with the MuskOgee Development
: company. 1t is claimed that he dis
posed of a large number of lots fraud
ulently scheduled.
Assistant Attorney General Sylves
ter r. Rush, elated over his success il
securing indictments here, left for his
home in Omaha, Neb. Assistant At
torney General o. E. Pagan, who drew
up the Indictments, left for New York.
The report of the jury in the towr
, lot matter came at time wholly un
expected by the public, as the govern
J ment had announced only two hours
before that other witnesses were com
ing from Missouri and Ohio There
were not more than twenty persons in
the court room when the report was
made. Fifteen of the wealthiest me1
in Muskogee called at the Office OF the
United States marshal here and signed
Governor Haskell's bond for $4,000
Many more asked to be allowed &c
sign it, but there was no more space
on the document.