Salt Lake Tribune | 1906-07-21 | Page 3 | Tells How the Public Was Easily Fleeced

TELLS HOW THE PUBLIC WAS EASILY FLEECED Light on Extensive Graft Is Shed in Trial of Land Fraud Cases. 1 ! PORTLAND, July 20. In the trial of Marliu G. Hoge today for conspiracy in connection with the land fraud opera-lions opera-lions in this Stale, Honry V. Miller iaid bare the details of tho alleged unlawful scheme by which ho, Frank E. Klncart, Martin G. Hoge anil Charles Nickell aro charged with having conspired to induco numerous residents of Pliicer aud Mod-ford Mod-ford to commit perjury In making applications appli-cations for land under the timber nnd stone act. Miller described how he entered Into the conspiracy with Kincart, how thoy ngrood upon a course, coucoctod the bogus bo-gus lSmmetaburg of the New Zealand company and started out tc Inveiglo tho unsuspecting to give up their money to be swindled. Hustled for Victims. Next came tho entrance of Martin "vV. Hoge into the scheme with tho dotails of how lie became tho legal adviser of the trio nnd Inter became a hustler for victims 11 L so much each. According to 1 Miller's testimony, Hogo so zealously en- I tored Inlo the spirit of the thing thnt h wns mndc n spocial proposition whereby h was to receive 55 a head for victims as 'soon as they applied and $10 on final proof. MlUor told how Hoge oven went i to the point of having him sign a bogus receipt, showing that he (Hoge) had filed on a piece of land and paid his loca- IH tion fees, when the arrangement wa3 that for and in consideration of his rust- ling victims his location was to be made free of charge.