Oregonian/1916/07/26/S. A. D. Puter and 2 Sons Are Indicted
S. A. D. PUTER AND 2 SONS ARE INDICTED
Son-in-Law is Also Included (illegible text)
FRAUD CONSPIRACY CHARGED
Illegal Use of Mails Is Specific Accusation.
FOUR OTHERS INCLUDED
About $200,000 Alleged to Have Been Collected on Promise of Making Land Locations—More Indictments Expected.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 25.—(Special.)—Eight persons were indicted today by the Federal grand jury in the so-called Oregon land fraud case on the charge of conspiracy to use the mails to defraud. Those named in the true bill are:
S. A. D. Puter, timber locator, Berkeley, with offices in this city, New York and Washington.
H. D. Puter, Berkeley, son of S. A. D. Puter.
W. S. Puter, Berkeley, son of S. A. D. Puter.
Alan McEwen, San Francisco, son-in-law of S. A. D. Puter.
W. L. Murray, timber locator, Montreal.
J. L. Van Wormer, real estate dealer, Freson.
A. L. Baker, retired farmer, Kerman.
Franklin P. Bull, attorney, of this city.
The indictment is a sequel to prosecutions in Portland and in this city by United States Attorney Reames, of Portland. The investigation into the alleged frauds began two years ago. More indictments are expected.
S. A. D. Puter, who served a sentence in 1906 in Oregon for conspiring to take land from the Government, is alleged by the Federal officials to have been the leader of the men indicted today.
About $200,000 is alleged by
Government officials to have been collected by Puter and those associated with him.
As against the men previously indicted, it is asserted by the Government that Puter and the others committed an offense against the United States in promising men and women that for a filing fee ranging from $35 to $160 the applicants could be located on land in Oregon in litigation between the Southern Pacific Company and the United States Government. The railroad company refused to accept the applications.
Claim of Co-operation Charged.
The indictment charges that the eight defendants falsely represented that the Government was co-operating with the defendants in forcing the railroad company to sell the land.
In addition to charging that the defendants could never get the land for the applicants, the indictment alleges in many instances the lands applied for, though represented to be of great value, were worthless. It is also alleged duplications were made. The applicants were to pay $400 for 160 acres.
The grand jury completed its inquiry today into the latest angles in the case, and presented the indictment to Federal Judge Morrow.
Puter was one of the prominent figures in the old Oregon land cases 10 years ago. He is on his way from the East to this city. He had telegraphed a request for permission to appear before the Federal grand jury before it completed its inquiry. It is expected he will be arrested tomorrow morning on his arrival.
Bull was one of the defendants in the trial of six men in one of the Oregon land fraud cases brought to a close five weeks ago in this city, when the jury disagreed.