Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-10-15

fields I'm Alaska. said Special Agent
Andrew Christensen tonight The
evidence submitted TO the grand jury
has been secured from time to time in
the last two or three years, and was
the result of Investigations by special
agents OF the general land office
The Indictment in the Christopher
cases charges that a part OF the con
spiracy consisted of false locations
and to enter and purchase final
entries "bN cunning persuasions and
promises of pecuniary reward and
other corrupt means" 1t Is charged
further that certain persons were in
duced to make unlawful locations for
the benefit of the Alaska Development
company and the Pacific Coal and oil
company.
The indictments in the cases of
claimants in the English group
charges that Charles Il. Munday
Archie Shiels, Earl Siegley and Alger-
non IA. Stracey conspired With others
To defraud the United States Of the
use and possession of valuable coal
lands in the Kayak district, known as
the "Stracey" or English group TO get
possession and title for the benefit Of
the Alaska Development company and
the Pacific Coal and oil company.
All the Alaska coal claims, II Is
charged. We're investigated and sus-
pended by l.. II. CLAWS who a year
ago. after detecting fraud, laid the
matter before United states District
Attorney Elmer T.. Todd in this city.
Mr.. Todd. pointing out that there had
never been any criminal prosecutions
under the coal claims laws. and re-
ferred Mr.. CLAWS to the interior de-
partment.
Christensen would have proceeded,
he said, several months ago. but valu-
able witnesses We're in Washington be-
fore the Ballinger- PinChot investigat-
ing committee and the matter was de-
forred. The department obtained
its first notice of the Stracey deal in
1897, when there was no coal land
laws applicable to Alaska, Straeey
went to London and interested Eng
lish capital in the development and
later the English company assigned
its lease to the Pacific Coal and oil
company. and then 10 Stracey 1t is
charged that Munday induced the
government to pass the Alaska coal
land act OF 1904. He is said to have
made several trips to Washington and
secured the assistance of influential
friends In bringing about the enact
ment With this law behind him,
Stracay, il is claimed, rushed forty
two OF his employees, some OF Whon
We're unable to speak English. into
Alaska, and induced them to file with
500 EACH on the coal claims.
'rhis was so raw" said Mr.. Chris
tensen, that the claims We're never
pushed, and Stracey came to Seattle
and permitted some of his friends to
proceed with the filing"
In the case of Christopher, the gov
ernment charges that he. in company
with Mortimer c. Sweeney. now dead.
end George Simmonds, conspired IN
1904 and 1905 TO secure title to H.
600 acres of coal lands and that
Christopher located thirty-seyen and
Simmonds thirty three Seattle friends
on the coal claims IN their personal
interest. Securing power Of attorney
from the claimants TO locate and sell
the claims. the accused men, it b
charged, have since conveyed the
claims from the original holders.
Three companies We're subsequent
ly formed, II is alleged, to secure pat
ents under the act OF May 2S, 1905,
consisting of The Cleveland Coal com
pany. organized under the laws OF
Maryland which took over sixteen
claims. the Pittsburg Coal company
sixteen claims, and the Youngstown
Coal company fifteen claims.