Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-04-03
TIRE DRAM The Pen
MI ( SHERIFF GETS
BONE Of CONTENTION
Claim No. Trip Drawing,
Evokes Decision Important
to Settlers.

/ OAb4A NJ. b, AEApp 016W4A8y
Evokes Decision Important
to Settlers.
Rapid city S. D., March sl.-At
torney A. w. L.ayman has received a
decision from the commissioner Of the
general land Office which establishes
q precedent as TO the duties OF regis
tiers In the receipt OF papers OF all sorts
which may be filed with them as af-
fecting entryinen and contestants. BY
this decision the acts OF registers are
made judicial and not clerical. as has
heretofore been held.
The case or which this decision Is
based involved the best quarter Sec
tion Of land In the Tripp county draw
ing and by reason of fraudulent manip.
ulation two prominent land brokers and
bankers have been sentenced to serve
six months In the LeavenwOrth peni-
Tertiary.
In the drawing at Gregory; Isaac N.
Struck, of Somerset Okla, was No. 4.
and on April s, 1903, ne filed on the
northeast quarter Of section ct 81,
immediately after fling fling struck was as
offered 500 for his REIMBURSEMENT,
which he refused and then accepted a
cash cher from Logan Fain for $500.
The deal was contaminated September
4, 1909 and that night, when depart
Ing for his Oklahoma home. Struck
displayed his draft to several persons,
including Sherin r. r. Johnson, dep
uty sheriff OF Gregory county.
When Thomas C, Burns. register OF
the Gregory land office, opened for
business the following morning, four
teaaf to vst<a
faced him. They were Sheriff John
SON. logan Fain. Walter Diskurn and
r. L. Ink. simultaneously they all laid
their papers In front OF the register
and he stamped them in rotation.
Who had the right to be considered
then raised. Attorney Layman APP
peared for Sheriff johnson. Not ear
Ing to act on his own Initiative, Reg
lister Burns took the matter mp with
the general land office. BY It he was
advised to relate az near as possible
stamping of the four contests, and to
determine as accurately as possible
which paper was first officially
stamped, all bearing the hour of 2 a.
m. Register Burns decided that the
Johnson papers were first stamped and
Sheriff Johnson was senior In the filing
and had priority Of right to contest
the Struck fling.
The decision makes the decision of
the register a judicial act. The other
three contestants had appealed, but
sheriff Johnson remains as sole claim
ant to the quarter section valued at
$4,000 A special agent investigated
the facts surrounding the transaction
between Struck and Fain and his part
ners, Joe B. Baker and Brian Harmon,
ktSnf fSDk
ed for speculation in ACCOMPLISHMENTS;
and convicted.
PRICES oENERAtLY LOWER
FOR STATE LANDS AT LEASE
Pierre, 8. u, March 3l.The land
commissioners office reports that the
highest record for leased state lands
made this year and exceeding any pre-
vious year In the history OF the de-
pArtment Il In Yankton county, where
tract was rented for $4.26 per acre.
The highest price ever previously paid
was In Clark county last year. where,
tract was leased for $3.75 per acre.
This a for graxinK land in both cases.
Az general reduction in rates was
made In the western and central coun-s
Ties this year because Of the past two
seasons OF drought and q rate Of 81.
WAS fixed for such lands. "a tighter de-
mand IL evidenced in this portion OF
the state, for the reason that many
hundreds Of cattle have been, sent to.
other grasing grounds. and In conse-
aMence the cattle men are fewer and
those remaining do not have their for
Sner needs. IeAAings have been made
m all of the counties except those in
which sales are to- be held during the,
Mr1t half Of April. and In those cUun-
ties leases will be made the day fol-
lowing the sale.
g4 HINT IN Nn1f : peos re IL - q, ~
River county will be offered for sale
~ bids are made. the minimum price
nelnE - an acre. They will not be pat
Up, however. unless there II some In
oica ton thGtS there are buyers willing
tos pay ~ least the minimum price. IN
iave been made this spring, there ii
|andicat iOn that only moderate per
cent q the lands win be sold.
PLANS 10 FACILITATE
"A RAvEl TO BLACK HILLS
Rapid City, 81 D.. March 3l.While
~ the city recently Congressman Mar
TN made some pertinent suggestions
lor sttracsing tourists and conventions
~ the Black Hills cities. There are
seyen commercial clubs and business
organisations In the Hills. The con-
kressman suggests that member Of
zach be appointed as q committee on
EtransportatiOn to take up the matter
| ~ xcursion rates Into the Hills with
Ecludes special rates for delegates to
|c0nvenfi0ns and special excursions. a.
We1i ~ the general tourist traffic. An
other eugge1tion III that of providing
understandable tickets good IA and out
|Eo1S the Hills over any route desired and
- my airssslon Nth stopoyer priyilsgs
tfSRel over iss5f hint f,uo I'm