Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-15

NV0nFInueu from GhHo OAoE
of the conspiracy consisted Of false
locations and notices OF locatlons, pIeI-
erential rights to purchase applica-
tions, and to enter and purchase hnai
entries "by cunning persuasions and
promises of pecuniary reward ana
other corrupt means"
ALASKA COMPANY INVOLVED
It is charged, further. that certain
persons were induced to make unlaw-
full, false and fictitious locations. os-
tensibly for the individual profit OF the
claimant, but in truth for the penent
of the Alaska Development company
and the Pacific Coal and OIL COM
pany =.
The indictments in the cases OF
claimants in the English group charge
that Munday, Shiels. Siegley ana
Stracey conspired with others to get
possession of valuable coal lands FOR
the benefit of private corporations
known as the Alaska Developmens
company and the Pacific Coal and OH
company. -,
Defendants in the English group will
go into court on two counts each.
Stracey, who never has been natural
lied. it is alleged, was one of the heads
of the conspiracy, and Shiels was IN
his employ. All the Alaska coal claims.
it Is charged. were investigated and
suspended by L. r. CLAWS, VINO as
agent. after detecting fraud, laid the
matter before Federal Attorney Elmer
u Todd in this city. Mr.. Todd, point
ing out that there had never been any
criminal prosecutions under the coal
claims laws. referred Mr. CLAWS to
the interior department..
HISTORY OF INVESTIGATION
Special Agent Christensen would
have proceeded, he says, several
months ago, but valuable witnesses
were in Washington before the Bal
linger- -Pinchot investigating commit
tee and the matter was deferred. IT
is claimed the alleged frauds in the
Stracey group were known to the de-
partment at that time.
The department obtained first no.
tice of the Stracey deal in 1897, when
there were no coal land laws applica-
BILE tos Alaska. Stracey went TO Lon
don and interested English capital in
the development plans, and later the
English company assigned Its lease TO
the Pacific Coal and Oil company, and
then to Stracey. It is charged that
Munday induced the government TO
pass the Alaska coal land act of 1894.
He is said to have made several trips
to washington and secured the as
sistance of influential friends in bring
ing about the enactment. With this
law behind him, Stracey, it is claimed,
rushed forty-two of his employees, some
of whom were unable to speak the
English language, into the deal, and
induced them to file at 800 each on
the coal claims. y.
"This was SO raw, even for Stracey"
said Mr.. Christensen, that the claims
were never pushed, and Stracey came
to Seattle and permitted some or MS
friends to proceed with the filings"
TITLE TO 1900 ACRES
In the case of Christopher, the gov
er-nment charges that he, in company
with Mortimer c.. Sweeney, now dead
and George Simmonds, conspired IN
1904 and 1905 to secure title to 11,OOO
acres of coal lands, and that Chr1sto-
pher located thirty-seven, and Sim
monds thirty-three Seattle friends In
the coal claims in their personal In
terest. The accused men, 1t is charged
have since conveyed the claims TO the
original holders.
Three companies were formed, 1t Is
alleged. to secure patents under the
act of May %. 1908.
Stracey is q brother Of Sir Edward
Stracey. of London, who was named
manager of the English end of the
corporation.
Cornelius Christopher is veteran OF
the civil war and q prominent mining
promoter.
Charles F. Munday and George Sim
monds are attorneys. Simmonds at
one time occupied judicial position
in Colorado.