OCR Text |
Show BENSON PUTS OP A STIFF DEFENSE ' Westerner Charged With. Land Frauds and Bribery, Has a Hearing Hear-ing in Now York. NEW YORK, Feb. 27. Tho examination examina-tion of John A. Benson, charged by tho Government with bribing O. A. Harlan and S. A. Volks, clerks in tho land office at Washington, was concluded today, and a motion was mado by tho counsel for tho accused to dismiss the charge. TlUs motion was based upon tho evidence evi-dence of Harlan and Volk, both of whom testified that tho money Benson paid them had been for work and services rendered him in 1S99, and not to dlvulgo the result of an examination made "by tho landorflco of Benson's mothod of securing secur-ing titles to California and Oregon school lands as alleged by the Government. United States Commissioner Shields said that In view of -tho ovldenco he would read over tho testimony and render his decision later. Evidenco was thon taken on tho second charge, wherein Benson was charged, together to-gether with Frederick A. Hydo of San Francisco, of having conspired to defraud the Government in securing titles to school lands. Bonson placed In ovldenco his contract with Hydo concerning tho lands In question, ques-tion, showing that Hydo had secured titlo to tho school lands beforo Benson becomo interested In tho deal, and that Benson was only to profit through tho sala of tho property. Judgo Campbell, representing tho accused, ac-cused, said that In view of tho fact that all of tho Government's witnesses wcro in California, It would bo more convenient for all concerned if tho examinations woro held thero, and offered to surrender Benson Ben-son to tho California authorities and then have tho examination In that State, thoso representing the Government saying tho suggestion would be acceptable and adjournment ad-journment was taken until Tuesday to afford tlmo to consult with tho Washington Washing-ton authorities. |