The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-14
by the revelation of the methods they
have employed to carry them out.

by the revelation of the methods they
have employed to carry them out.
The testimony submitted to the ter
ritories committee yesterday has not
yet been made public, nor will it be.
except as necessity arises.
AS already stated, it showed land
frauds committed by corporations and
individuals identified with the An
drews gang. and the latest efforts to
obtain statehood. 1t shows jury fix
ing, jury bribing, control of territorial
courts and territorial officers, exercis-
ed for corrupt purposes; election
methods SO utterly corrupt as to be
farcical and general reign of law
lessness. but lawlessness by the men
representing the government and the
corporations Of the territory such as
no other record has ever revealed.
1t was as II all the lawless elements
driven from other western states by
the progress and development of civil
ization had sought refuge in New. Mex
leo, where they had been organized and
set to work upon scheme of general
exploitation by the ingenious and act
i've Bull Andrews himself. That
the Bull" has been the directing spir-
it Is thought to be demonstrated. not
by the appearance OF hts name in con-
nection with any illegal acts, but by
the fact that it is hardly connected at
all.
Land Frauds Exposed.
Other men violated the statutes. An.
drews is shown only in the position OF
one who was to reap the benefit
A large portion Of the testimony sub
mitted to the committee yesterday was
the stenographic report of evidence OBJ
tanned BY Ormsby McHarg, acting as a
special attorney Of the Department OF
Justice. to investigate land frauds and
other crimes against the United States
In the territory itself.
This showed that by collision be-
tween state officers and corporations,
including the Pennsylvania Develop.
ment company and the Santa Fee Cen.
tra1 Railroad, both organizations with
which Andrews was connected. timber
and other lands. included in grants
made by congress to the territory to
be held in trust for school purposes.
had been disposed Of to the corpora
tions.
When McHarg first went into the
territory the plea was set up that no
offense had been committed against
the United States, because the land in
question had actually passed from the
United States to the territory. and
therefore the territory must seek re-
dress In the territorial courts. 1t was
evidently the freebooters' opinion that
this contention would be admitted by
the government and that as they con-
trolled the territorial courts. they had
absolutely no reason to fear possible
consequences.
McHarg fought this question through
several courts and finally obtained i.
decision from the United States Cir
cult court that failure by the territory
government to respect the conditions
upon which the land had been granted
forfeited the property in question to
the general government. and the land
and timber and mineral thieves must.
therefore. be prosecuted as offenders
agatnst the United States.
Until this. decision was obtained
McFIarg had been permitted to go up
on his investigating way almost un-
embarrassed by interference. Those
in the controlling combinations. abso-
lutely certain that they could keep
their cases out of the United States
courts. Immediately found Themselves
confronted with situation where the
doors OF penitentiary open to receive
them was clearly suggested
Immediately McHarg was subjected
to persecution. He was interfered
with In every possible way, his life was
threatened. and the senate committee
has testimony that the man to kill him
had been selected. just prior to this
the present governor. George Curry, 4
former rough rider. and at the time 81
his appointment. chief of police in Ma
mia, was appointed governor OF the
territory.
Andrews nd Cuddy came to Washing.
ton. where they filed charges against
McHarg. The department OF justice.
acting upon the representations OF
these two. wired McHarg that he could
stop his Investigations. IS the depart
ment was satisfied he was not accom-
plishing anything. McHarg wired
back that he had evidence enough to
obtain indictments. and would c0ntin-
ne the work unless directed to desist.
He did continue his work, and OBJ
tAined the indictments of fffteen per-