Colma Record, Fri., May 13, 1910:
San Francisco – John A. Benson, indicted in 1900 with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, for unlawful acquirement of public timber lands in Tehama county, and who was recently released after serving a term in the county jail dropped dead Sunday afternoon at a roadhouse on the San Ramon road, near Walnut Creek, Contra Costa county. The death of Benson marks the closing chapter in a life that has been full of incidents. He began as a school teacher, became a land surveyor, land agent, and then land lawyer. For more than 20 years, Government agents attempted to find him in irregularities. He was finally sentenced to one year's imprisonment. His conviction cost the Government $400,000. Benson's defense cost him $95,000 in cash and $250,000 in the canceling of land entries and suppression of title.
======================
Salt Lake Telegram, Salt Lake, UT 9 May 1910:
DEATH ON HEELS OF RELEASE FROM JAIL
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9--Less than twenty-four hours after his discharge from the Alameda jail, where he had served a year's sentence for land fraud, John A. Benson, dropped dead yesterday while motoring to his ranch near San Ramon.
Benson was a codefendant with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, the Arizona millionaire, against indictments charging land fraud in Tehama county, and was one of the persons mentioned in the Binger Hermann and the Hyde-Benson-Dimond land fraud cases that were tried in Washington.
=====================
San Francisco Call, Volume 107, Number 160, 9 May 1910
JOHN A. BENSON DIES SUDDENLY
John A. Benson Passes Away While Seeking Health Following Incarceration
Death Puts End to Career of Man Who Made Millions From Public Domain
Defendant in Notorious Land Fraud Cases Victim of Heart Failure
John A, Benson, who achieved notoriety in connection with the public land fraud cases, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at Harlands ranch in the Walnut creek district of Contra Costa county. The end came without the slightest warning and following a trip on which he had seemingly enjoyed himself heartily.
In company with his wife and her sister Benson left San Francisco in an automobile yesterday for a trip to his ranch near Alamo in Contra Costa county, where he intended spending a couple of months in rest, being run down from his confinement in the Alameda county jail, which ended only a short time ago.
Pleasure Becomes Grief
Arriving at Harland's ranch the party stopped to get a drink of water. Benson left the automobile and walked to the house, where he chatted with the rancher for a few minutes and took some spring water. He was walking back to the automobile, when he was suddenly seen to totter and before any one could reach him had fallen to the ground. Mrs. Benson rushed to the side of her husband and called to him, but he showed no sign of life. Dr. E. G. Simon of Oakland, who was passing, was summoned and made, an examination. He declared that life was extinct, and the body was carried into the house to await the arrival of the coroner. Doctor Simon gave the cause of death as heart failure.
The tragic ending of the automobile trip was farthest from the minds of the members of the party. Between Oakland and the Harland ranch Benson had chatted pleasantly with his wife and her sister and talked of the pleasures they would have in the open air at his country place.
Mrs. Benson remained with the body and word was sent to Martinez, from which point a deputy coroner at once started for the ranch.
Defrauded Uncle Sam
For the last 10 years the United States government had waged an unceasing legal war on Benson and his land operations, the government land office insisting that most of his titles were based on fraud. During his career he had made millions through, the employment of "dummy" agents, in securing poor forest reserve land in Oregon, Washington and California. On perfecting his titles to the forest lands he would exchange with the government for good agricultural land and then dispose of it at figures greatly in advance, of his original investment. Benson's second marriage was to the divorced wife of "Swiftwater Bill Gates" of Klondyke fame. He took up his residence with her in this city and built a magnificent home for her in the Sunset district.
In recent years Benson's fortune had been greatly depleted through expensive litigation. He was finally convicted of conspiracy to defraud the government in connection with his operations with E. B Perrin.
Indicted With Perrin
Benson's extensive land operations in the west became the subject of renewed
federal investigation in 1903. when the general land offlce at Washington sent special agents to Inquire into his dealings with Perrin who was indicted with him.
Robert T. Devlin, United States attorney for the northern 'district of California, prosecuted those cases and finally succeeded in sending the aged speculator to prison. At one time the federal grand jury returned 42 counts against the operators and testimony and depositions were taken in New York. Washington. San Francisco and in a number of smaller plates where the schemes of Benson carried his associates. Land in Inyo and Tulare counties fell into the hands of Benson's agents and he had been a prominent figure in the courts of most of the western states, fighting out his titles.
After being indicted Benson was sued by Doctor Perrin for $85,000, which Perrin declared had been taken from him in land deeds by Benson. During the fight for their liberty the men had nothing to do with each other. The indictment against Perrin was subsequently quashed and he inaugurated a bitter campaign against Devlin. This terminated only recently with the confirmation of Devlin's reappointment.
After the land fraud cases were instituted litigation fell about Benson's ears in rapid succession. While he usually went into court for his own purposes, his litigation did much to clear the land laws of California, Oregon and Washington and hundreds of his cases are reported in the state records.
============================
San Francisco Call, Volume 95, Number 43, 12 January 1904
JOHN A. BENSON AGAIN IN COURT
Supplementary Hearing Is Begun Before United States Commissioner Shields in New York
SENSATION IS EXPECTED
Three Witnesses Summoned From San Francisco Will Be Called to the Stand Today
Special Dispatch to The Call
NEW YORK. Jan. 11.— A preliminary examination of John A. Benson was begun before United States Commissioner Shields today. Supplementary to the regular preliminary examination held In Washington last week and is under section 1420 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, providing that when a complaint under the Federal statute is made in any district and is certified to the district in which the defendant Is apprehended an examination shall be held to determine whether such complaint is warranted by the evidence. William R. Macy, chief clerk of the United States Land Office in Washington, was the chief witness for the prosecution today. On cross examination he admitted that the two land department clerks, Harlan and Vaik, who were concerned in the alleged attempted briberys, acted in their respective clerical capacities under verbal instructions from both the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of the General Land Office, there being no written law enacted by Congress or written regulations prescribed by Congress defining their duties, and that such oral instructions were liable to change from day to day. Joseph S. Campbell of San Francisco, assisted by Frank M. Platt, son of United States Senator Platt, and Philip Mansfield of Washington, argued that no crime had been committed because no act had been perpetrated which was prohibited by the written law of Congress or written land office regulations. Three witnesses are here from San Francisco Messrs. Slack and Johnson and Miss Doyle. They are from the office of F. A. Hyde and will be examined tomorrow, when some sensational testimony is expected.
San Francisco – John A. Benson, indicted in 1900 with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, for unlawful acquirement of public timber lands in Tehama county, and who was recently released after serving a term in the county jail dropped dead Sunday afternoon at a roadhouse on the San Ramon road, near Walnut Creek, Contra Costa county. The death of Benson marks the closing chapter in a life that has been full of incidents. He began as a school teacher, became a land surveyor, land agent, and then land lawyer. For more than 20 years, Government agents attempted to find him in irregularities. He was finally sentenced to one year's imprisonment. His conviction cost the Government $400,000. Benson's defense cost him $95,000 in cash and $250,000 in the canceling of land entries and suppression of title.
======================
Salt Lake Telegram, Salt Lake, UT 9 May 1910:
DEATH ON HEELS OF RELEASE FROM JAIL
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9--Less than twenty-four hours after his discharge from the Alameda jail, where he had served a year's sentence for land fraud, John A. Benson, dropped dead yesterday while motoring to his ranch near San Ramon.
Benson was a codefendant with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, the Arizona millionaire, against indictments charging land fraud in Tehama county, and was one of the persons mentioned in the Binger Hermann and the Hyde-Benson-Dimond land fraud cases that were tried in Washington.
=====================
San Francisco Call, Volume 107, Number 160, 9 May 1910
JOHN A. BENSON DIES SUDDENLY
John A. Benson Passes Away While Seeking Health Following Incarceration
Death Puts End to Career of Man Who Made Millions From Public Domain
Defendant in Notorious Land Fraud Cases Victim of Heart Failure
John A, Benson, who achieved notoriety in connection with the public land fraud cases, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at Harlands ranch in the Walnut creek district of Contra Costa county. The end came without the slightest warning and following a trip on which he had seemingly enjoyed himself heartily.
In company with his wife and her sister Benson left San Francisco in an automobile yesterday for a trip to his ranch near Alamo in Contra Costa county, where he intended spending a couple of months in rest, being run down from his confinement in the Alameda county jail, which ended only a short time ago.
Pleasure Becomes Grief
Arriving at Harland's ranch the party stopped to get a drink of water. Benson left the automobile and walked to the house, where he chatted with the rancher for a few minutes and took some spring water. He was walking back to the automobile, when he was suddenly seen to totter and before any one could reach him had fallen to the ground. Mrs. Benson rushed to the side of her husband and called to him, but he showed no sign of life. Dr. E. G. Simon of Oakland, who was passing, was summoned and made, an examination. He declared that life was extinct, and the body was carried into the house to await the arrival of the coroner. Doctor Simon gave the cause of death as heart failure.
The tragic ending of the automobile trip was farthest from the minds of the members of the party. Between Oakland and the Harland ranch Benson had chatted pleasantly with his wife and her sister and talked of the pleasures they would have in the open air at his country place.
Mrs. Benson remained with the body and word was sent to Martinez, from which point a deputy coroner at once started for the ranch.
Defrauded Uncle Sam
For the last 10 years the United States government had waged an unceasing legal war on Benson and his land operations, the government land office insisting that most of his titles were based on fraud. During his career he had made millions through, the employment of "dummy" agents, in securing poor forest reserve land in Oregon, Washington and California. On perfecting his titles to the forest lands he would exchange with the government for good agricultural land and then dispose of it at figures greatly in advance, of his original investment. Benson's second marriage was to the divorced wife of "Swiftwater Bill Gates" of Klondyke fame. He took up his residence with her in this city and built a magnificent home for her in the Sunset district.
In recent years Benson's fortune had been greatly depleted through expensive litigation. He was finally convicted of conspiracy to defraud the government in connection with his operations with E. B Perrin.
Indicted With Perrin
Benson's extensive land operations in the west became the subject of renewed
federal investigation in 1903. when the general land offlce at Washington sent special agents to Inquire into his dealings with Perrin who was indicted with him.
Robert T. Devlin, United States attorney for the northern 'district of California, prosecuted those cases and finally succeeded in sending the aged speculator to prison. At one time the federal grand jury returned 42 counts against the operators and testimony and depositions were taken in New York. Washington. San Francisco and in a number of smaller plates where the schemes of Benson carried his associates. Land in Inyo and Tulare counties fell into the hands of Benson's agents and he had been a prominent figure in the courts of most of the western states, fighting out his titles.
After being indicted Benson was sued by Doctor Perrin for $85,000, which Perrin declared had been taken from him in land deeds by Benson. During the fight for their liberty the men had nothing to do with each other. The indictment against Perrin was subsequently quashed and he inaugurated a bitter campaign against Devlin. This terminated only recently with the confirmation of Devlin's reappointment.
After the land fraud cases were instituted litigation fell about Benson's ears in rapid succession. While he usually went into court for his own purposes, his litigation did much to clear the land laws of California, Oregon and Washington and hundreds of his cases are reported in the state records.
============================
San Francisco Call, Volume 95, Number 43, 12 January 1904
JOHN A. BENSON AGAIN IN COURT
Supplementary Hearing Is Begun Before United States Commissioner Shields in New York
SENSATION IS EXPECTED
Three Witnesses Summoned From San Francisco Will Be Called to the Stand Today
Special Dispatch to The Call
NEW YORK. Jan. 11.— A preliminary examination of John A. Benson was begun before United States Commissioner Shields today. Supplementary to the regular preliminary examination held In Washington last week and is under section 1420 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, providing that when a complaint under the Federal statute is made in any district and is certified to the district in which the defendant Is apprehended an examination shall be held to determine whether such complaint is warranted by the evidence. William R. Macy, chief clerk of the United States Land Office in Washington, was the chief witness for the prosecution today. On cross examination he admitted that the two land department clerks, Harlan and Vaik, who were concerned in the alleged attempted briberys, acted in their respective clerical capacities under verbal instructions from both the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of the General Land Office, there being no written law enacted by Congress or written regulations prescribed by Congress defining their duties, and that such oral instructions were liable to change from day to day. Joseph S. Campbell of San Francisco, assisted by Frank M. Platt, son of United States Senator Platt, and Philip Mansfield of Washington, argued that no crime had been committed because no act had been perpetrated which was prohibited by the written law of Congress or written land office regulations. Three witnesses are here from San Francisco Messrs. Slack and Johnson and Miss Doyle. They are from the office of F. A. Hyde and will be examined tomorrow, when some sensational testimony is expected.
Colma Record, Fri., May 13, 1910:
San Francisco – John A. Benson, indicted in 1900 with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, for unlawful acquirement of public timber lands in Tehama county, and who was recently released after serving a term in the county jail dropped dead Sunday afternoon at a roadhouse on the San Ramon road, near Walnut Creek, Contra Costa county. The death of Benson marks the closing chapter in a life that has been full of incidents. He began as a school teacher, became a land surveyor, land agent, and then land lawyer. For more than 20 years, Government agents attempted to find him in irregularities. He was finally sentenced to one year's imprisonment. His conviction cost the Government $400,000. Benson's defense cost him $95,000 in cash and $250,000 in the canceling of land entries and suppression of title.
======================
Salt Lake Telegram, Salt Lake, UT 9 May 1910:
DEATH ON HEELS OF RELEASE FROM JAIL
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9--Less than twenty-four hours after his discharge from the Alameda jail, where he had served a year's sentence for land fraud, John A. Benson, dropped dead yesterday while motoring to his ranch near San Ramon.
Benson was a codefendant with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, the Arizona millionaire, against indictments charging land fraud in Tehama county, and was one of the persons mentioned in the Binger Hermann and the Hyde-Benson-Dimond land fraud cases that were tried in Washington.
=====================
San Francisco Call, Volume 107, Number 160, 9 May 1910
JOHN A. BENSON DIES SUDDENLY
John A. Benson Passes Away While Seeking Health Following Incarceration
Death Puts End to Career of Man Who Made Millions From Public Domain
Defendant in Notorious Land Fraud Cases Victim of Heart Failure
John A, Benson, who achieved notoriety in connection with the public land fraud cases, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at Harlands ranch in the Walnut creek district of Contra Costa county. The end came without the slightest warning and following a trip on which he had seemingly enjoyed himself heartily.
In company with his wife and her sister Benson left San Francisco in an automobile yesterday for a trip to his ranch near Alamo in Contra Costa county, where he intended spending a couple of months in rest, being run down from his confinement in the Alameda county jail, which ended only a short time ago.
Pleasure Becomes Grief
Arriving at Harland's ranch the party stopped to get a drink of water. Benson left the automobile and walked to the house, where he chatted with the rancher for a few minutes and took some spring water. He was walking back to the automobile, when he was suddenly seen to totter and before any one could reach him had fallen to the ground. Mrs. Benson rushed to the side of her husband and called to him, but he showed no sign of life. Dr. E. G. Simon of Oakland, who was passing, was summoned and made, an examination. He declared that life was extinct, and the body was carried into the house to await the arrival of the coroner. Doctor Simon gave the cause of death as heart failure.
The tragic ending of the automobile trip was farthest from the minds of the members of the party. Between Oakland and the Harland ranch Benson had chatted pleasantly with his wife and her sister and talked of the pleasures they would have in the open air at his country place.
Mrs. Benson remained with the body and word was sent to Martinez, from which point a deputy coroner at once started for the ranch.
Defrauded Uncle Sam
For the last 10 years the United States government had waged an unceasing legal war on Benson and his land operations, the government land office insisting that most of his titles were based on fraud. During his career he had made millions through, the employment of "dummy" agents, in securing poor forest reserve land in Oregon, Washington and California. On perfecting his titles to the forest lands he would exchange with the government for good agricultural land and then dispose of it at figures greatly in advance, of his original investment. Benson's second marriage was to the divorced wife of "Swiftwater Bill Gates" of Klondyke fame. He took up his residence with her in this city and built a magnificent home for her in the Sunset district.
In recent years Benson's fortune had been greatly depleted through expensive litigation. He was finally convicted of conspiracy to defraud the government in connection with his operations with E. B Perrin.
Indicted With Perrin
Benson's extensive land operations in the west became the subject of renewed
federal investigation in 1903. when the general land offlce at Washington sent special agents to Inquire into his dealings with Perrin who was indicted with him.
Robert T. Devlin, United States attorney for the northern 'district of California, prosecuted those cases and finally succeeded in sending the aged speculator to prison. At one time the federal grand jury returned 42 counts against the operators and testimony and depositions were taken in New York. Washington. San Francisco and in a number of smaller plates where the schemes of Benson carried his associates. Land in Inyo and Tulare counties fell into the hands of Benson's agents and he had been a prominent figure in the courts of most of the western states, fighting out his titles.
After being indicted Benson was sued by Doctor Perrin for $85,000, which Perrin declared had been taken from him in land deeds by Benson. During the fight for their liberty the men had nothing to do with each other. The indictment against Perrin was subsequently quashed and he inaugurated a bitter campaign against Devlin. This terminated only recently with the confirmation of Devlin's reappointment.
After the land fraud cases were instituted litigation fell about Benson's ears in rapid succession. While he usually went into court for his own purposes, his litigation did much to clear the land laws of California, Oregon and Washington and hundreds of his cases are reported in the state records.
============================
San Francisco Call, Volume 95, Number 43, 12 January 1904
JOHN A. BENSON AGAIN IN COURT
Supplementary Hearing Is Begun Before United States Commissioner Shields in New York
SENSATION IS EXPECTED
Three Witnesses Summoned From San Francisco Will Be Called to the Stand Today
Special Dispatch to The Call
NEW YORK. Jan. 11.— A preliminary examination of John A. Benson was begun before United States Commissioner Shields today. Supplementary to the regular preliminary examination held In Washington last week and is under section 1420 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, providing that when a complaint under the Federal statute is made in any district and is certified to the district in which the defendant Is apprehended an examination shall be held to determine whether such complaint is warranted by the evidence. William R. Macy, chief clerk of the United States Land Office in Washington, was the chief witness for the prosecution today. On cross examination he admitted that the two land department clerks, Harlan and Vaik, who were concerned in the alleged attempted briberys, acted in their respective clerical capacities under verbal instructions from both the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of the General Land Office, there being no written law enacted by Congress or written regulations prescribed by Congress defining their duties, and that such oral instructions were liable to change from day to day. Joseph S. Campbell of San Francisco, assisted by Frank M. Platt, son of United States Senator Platt, and Philip Mansfield of Washington, argued that no crime had been committed because no act had been perpetrated which was prohibited by the written law of Congress or written land office regulations. Three witnesses are here from San Francisco Messrs. Slack and Johnson and Miss Doyle. They are from the office of F. A. Hyde and will be examined tomorrow, when some sensational testimony is expected.
San Francisco – John A. Benson, indicted in 1900 with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, for unlawful acquirement of public timber lands in Tehama county, and who was recently released after serving a term in the county jail dropped dead Sunday afternoon at a roadhouse on the San Ramon road, near Walnut Creek, Contra Costa county. The death of Benson marks the closing chapter in a life that has been full of incidents. He began as a school teacher, became a land surveyor, land agent, and then land lawyer. For more than 20 years, Government agents attempted to find him in irregularities. He was finally sentenced to one year's imprisonment. His conviction cost the Government $400,000. Benson's defense cost him $95,000 in cash and $250,000 in the canceling of land entries and suppression of title.
======================
Salt Lake Telegram, Salt Lake, UT 9 May 1910:
DEATH ON HEELS OF RELEASE FROM JAIL
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9--Less than twenty-four hours after his discharge from the Alameda jail, where he had served a year's sentence for land fraud, John A. Benson, dropped dead yesterday while motoring to his ranch near San Ramon.
Benson was a codefendant with Dr. Edward B. Perrin, the Arizona millionaire, against indictments charging land fraud in Tehama county, and was one of the persons mentioned in the Binger Hermann and the Hyde-Benson-Dimond land fraud cases that were tried in Washington.
=====================
San Francisco Call, Volume 107, Number 160, 9 May 1910
JOHN A. BENSON DIES SUDDENLY
John A. Benson Passes Away While Seeking Health Following Incarceration
Death Puts End to Career of Man Who Made Millions From Public Domain
Defendant in Notorious Land Fraud Cases Victim of Heart Failure
John A, Benson, who achieved notoriety in connection with the public land fraud cases, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at Harlands ranch in the Walnut creek district of Contra Costa county. The end came without the slightest warning and following a trip on which he had seemingly enjoyed himself heartily.
In company with his wife and her sister Benson left San Francisco in an automobile yesterday for a trip to his ranch near Alamo in Contra Costa county, where he intended spending a couple of months in rest, being run down from his confinement in the Alameda county jail, which ended only a short time ago.
Pleasure Becomes Grief
Arriving at Harland's ranch the party stopped to get a drink of water. Benson left the automobile and walked to the house, where he chatted with the rancher for a few minutes and took some spring water. He was walking back to the automobile, when he was suddenly seen to totter and before any one could reach him had fallen to the ground. Mrs. Benson rushed to the side of her husband and called to him, but he showed no sign of life. Dr. E. G. Simon of Oakland, who was passing, was summoned and made, an examination. He declared that life was extinct, and the body was carried into the house to await the arrival of the coroner. Doctor Simon gave the cause of death as heart failure.
The tragic ending of the automobile trip was farthest from the minds of the members of the party. Between Oakland and the Harland ranch Benson had chatted pleasantly with his wife and her sister and talked of the pleasures they would have in the open air at his country place.
Mrs. Benson remained with the body and word was sent to Martinez, from which point a deputy coroner at once started for the ranch.
Defrauded Uncle Sam
For the last 10 years the United States government had waged an unceasing legal war on Benson and his land operations, the government land office insisting that most of his titles were based on fraud. During his career he had made millions through, the employment of "dummy" agents, in securing poor forest reserve land in Oregon, Washington and California. On perfecting his titles to the forest lands he would exchange with the government for good agricultural land and then dispose of it at figures greatly in advance, of his original investment. Benson's second marriage was to the divorced wife of "Swiftwater Bill Gates" of Klondyke fame. He took up his residence with her in this city and built a magnificent home for her in the Sunset district.
In recent years Benson's fortune had been greatly depleted through expensive litigation. He was finally convicted of conspiracy to defraud the government in connection with his operations with E. B Perrin.
Indicted With Perrin
Benson's extensive land operations in the west became the subject of renewed
federal investigation in 1903. when the general land offlce at Washington sent special agents to Inquire into his dealings with Perrin who was indicted with him.
Robert T. Devlin, United States attorney for the northern 'district of California, prosecuted those cases and finally succeeded in sending the aged speculator to prison. At one time the federal grand jury returned 42 counts against the operators and testimony and depositions were taken in New York. Washington. San Francisco and in a number of smaller plates where the schemes of Benson carried his associates. Land in Inyo and Tulare counties fell into the hands of Benson's agents and he had been a prominent figure in the courts of most of the western states, fighting out his titles.
After being indicted Benson was sued by Doctor Perrin for $85,000, which Perrin declared had been taken from him in land deeds by Benson. During the fight for their liberty the men had nothing to do with each other. The indictment against Perrin was subsequently quashed and he inaugurated a bitter campaign against Devlin. This terminated only recently with the confirmation of Devlin's reappointment.
After the land fraud cases were instituted litigation fell about Benson's ears in rapid succession. While he usually went into court for his own purposes, his litigation did much to clear the land laws of California, Oregon and Washington and hundreds of his cases are reported in the state records.
============================
San Francisco Call, Volume 95, Number 43, 12 January 1904
JOHN A. BENSON AGAIN IN COURT
Supplementary Hearing Is Begun Before United States Commissioner Shields in New York
SENSATION IS EXPECTED
Three Witnesses Summoned From San Francisco Will Be Called to the Stand Today
Special Dispatch to The Call
NEW YORK. Jan. 11.— A preliminary examination of John A. Benson was begun before United States Commissioner Shields today. Supplementary to the regular preliminary examination held In Washington last week and is under section 1420 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, providing that when a complaint under the Federal statute is made in any district and is certified to the district in which the defendant Is apprehended an examination shall be held to determine whether such complaint is warranted by the evidence. William R. Macy, chief clerk of the United States Land Office in Washington, was the chief witness for the prosecution today. On cross examination he admitted that the two land department clerks, Harlan and Vaik, who were concerned in the alleged attempted briberys, acted in their respective clerical capacities under verbal instructions from both the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of the General Land Office, there being no written law enacted by Congress or written regulations prescribed by Congress defining their duties, and that such oral instructions were liable to change from day to day. Joseph S. Campbell of San Francisco, assisted by Frank M. Platt, son of United States Senator Platt, and Philip Mansfield of Washington, argued that no crime had been committed because no act had been perpetrated which was prohibited by the written law of Congress or written land office regulations. Three witnesses are here from San Francisco Messrs. Slack and Johnson and Miss Doyle. They are from the office of F. A. Hyde and will be examined tomorrow, when some sensational testimony is expected.
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