The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-19
PROPERTY WORTH
MILLION AT STAKE
Defendants, Who Are
Prominent Business
Men of Utah, Will Take
Their Cause to Secre-
tary of the Interior for
Final Review.

a n adverse decision In what is
~ known as the "Freed coal en-
~ tries case which affects
number of prominent Salt
Lakers, and which has been involved In
extensive litigation for the last six
years, was rendered yesterday in the
United States general land office, ac-
cording to a special dispatch from
Washington. D. c. The case in
volved title to about 1000 acres
Of coal lands in Huntington can
yon, Emery county, within the bound
aries of the Manti national forest. This
land is said to be worth considerably
more than million dollars. Tho case
was taken to the department of the
interior last July on appeal from
favor Of the defendants. The general
land office yesterday reversed that de
cision, and the defendants will now
appeal to the secretary of the interior
Thirty days are allowed by law III
which to perfect the appeal.
History of Case,
Originally twenty-six entries of 100
acres each were made upon the land in
question. The entrymeu in the case
paid $40 and so an acre. and after
ward the government appraised ad-
joining land Mt about $500 an acre, Of
the twenty.six entries. sixteen were
made by Bismarck Snyder Of this city,
his relatives and business associates.
The other entries were made by Charles
NJ, Freed, deceased. his sons, relatives
and by one employee of tho Freed Fur
niture & Carpet company.
In all entries, except those made by
Mr., Freed and associates, the money
was borrowed by the entrymen from
Walter G., Filler, who Is related to the
Freeds, each eutryman giving
note for the purchase price OF
the lands, with 10 per cent in
terest, payable in one year Each
entryman gave mortgage on his IN
dividual tract of land to secure the
note. Some time after the entries were
made all were sold to Charles NJ Freed
during the years 1905 and 1906, at an
average profit to the entrymen, it is
said, OF $3.50.
Entrymen Indicted.
On January is, 1907, the federal
grand jury here returned indictments
against Mr.. Freed and his associates
in the case, charging them with fraud
in making the entries and with VIOLA
ton of the law that requires every ap-
plicant to acquire title of coal lands
for his own exclusive use and benefit
The defendants were taken before tho
federal court on charge OF criminal
conspiracy. Judge j. A. Maynard OF
Denver. then special agent OF the gov
crnment in examining coal land titles,
prosecuted the ease, which was based
largely on the contention, as brought
out, that the lands were to be con-
veycd TO Mr.. Filler, who, 1T was de-
clared. had agreed in turn to convey
them TO the Union Pacific Railroad
company.
The government, however. did not
for lack Of evidence press the case on
the conspiracy charge. On November
10. 1909. the United States district at
iornoy dismissed the indictments Inc
filings were then contested by the gov
ernmont through the local land otilce,
which served notices on the defendants
March 23. 1909. 10 appear for the near
ines. 1t was on that day that Charies
M. Freed died
In sitting as board OF examiners
= d r. Thompson, register, and NJ. NJ.
tContinued en- Page Two.t