hotel and suggested a compromise, stating that the best thing I could do would be to give up one-half the claims to the railway corporation; that he thought they would be willing to acquiesce in an arrangement of this kind, as I had put up such a splendid front on the witness stand the Northern Pacific attorneys were dubious about the outcome.
"However," said he, "you know, Puter, if we carry these cases on, you won't be able to save a single claim, as every one of those entrymen will go to pieces when they get on the stand, and the chances are more than likely that you will all be indicted for conspiracy to defraud the Government, convicted, and sent over the road."
As a matter of fact, Mays was simply taking up a collection on both sides of the aisle when he offered this suggestion. At any rate, I declined to surrender such a large percentage of the lands, but finally agreed to compromise upon the basis of 24 claims for the Northern Pacific and 33 for ourselves, so I selected the quarter sections I wanted, and had the entrymen relinquish their rights to the remainder. As soon as this had been done, the Northern Pacific proceeded to cover each abandoned tract with forest reserve selections, at the same time withdrawing their contests against the other 33 entries, and we then went to work to have the latter proved up.
C. A. Smith wired the necessary money to Frederick A. Kribs, at Roseburg, and as rapidly as proofs were made, he called at the Land Office and paid the Government price for the land, as well as all the office fees, whereupon the entrymen, as arranged previously, mortgaged their claims to Mr. Kribs, and at the same time executed a deed in favor of John A. Wild, of Minneapolis, receiving a cash bonus of $100 each.
For some reason or other, the patents to these thirty-three entries were suspended, pending an investigation. A report had been sent to the General Land Office concerning the fraudulent character of the claims, and in my opinion this complaint was instigated by the Northern Pacific. At all events, Special Agent William D. Stratford, who succeeded Mathers at Roseburg, was directed to make an investigation, but it is evident he was picked up by Kribs in short order, as he came to me soon after in Portland with an affidavit for me to sign, bearing upon the question of my connection with the thirty-three entrymen.
This affidavit was a typewritten document of several pages. Stratford informed me that Kribs had given it to him, and he wished me to sign it. He also wanted me to hunt up as many of the entrymen as I could find, and obtain their affidavits in order to facilitate the issuance of patents.
I hesitated somewhat before signing, as it appeared to me the affidavit should have been more explicit in defining my connection with the thirty-three entrymen; but as the Special Agent had come to me direct from one of my associates, and furthermore, because I was assured that it would innure to the mutual benefit of Kribs and myself. I attached my signature.
I then rounded up as many of the entrymen as I could find and secured additional affidavits, requesting McKinley to locate the balance, or those whom I had overlooked. Stratford expressed a desire to get as many affidavits as he possibly could at the earliest moment, that he might embody them in his report to the General Land Office.
Awhile afterward I had business in the East, and stopped off at Minneapolis for the purpose of conferring with C. A. Smith relative to the claims, as it will be remembered they were located in his interest. After describing conditions in Oregon, and Special Agent Stratford's efforts in our behalf. Smith suggested that I proceed to Washington, D. C., at once with a view of using my best endeavors to get the patents through. He then dictated a letter of introduction to S. M. Eddy, United States Senator from Minnesota, whom he declared was his personal friend and one upon whom he could rely for assistance of this character, together with a letter to R. V. Betz, a prominent Washington lawyer. These letters were not presented, for reasons that will appear hereafter.
Page 42
