members of the G. A. R., who were tempted and fell. Scores of this class invaded the forests and staked out what they were pleased to call their homes. I have shown by photographs the general character of these residences so-called, and will state that these pictures are fairly representative of the alleged "settlement" of the group of entrymen controlled by Jones and his associates. They were mere makeshifts, as will be seen at a glance, and in every case it was shown at the trial of Willard N. Jones, Thaddeus S. Potter and Ira Wade, in consequence of their connection with the frauds, that the entrymen transferred their claims to Jones before the ink was yet dry upon their final certificates, and that they had previously entered into an agreement to do so. Practically the entire body confessed upon the witness stand how they had been led astray, and how they had been induced to commit perjury when making the necessary proof of settlement and cultivation, and that their alleged residence was all a delusion and a snare. Herewith is presented a list of those who thus perjured themselves for the sake of a few dishonest dollars, nearly all of whom were old soldiers or their widows:
Entry No. | Name. | Entry No. | Name. |
---|---|---|---|
13137 | Edward C. Brigham. | 14154 | Bert Blauvelt. |
14233 | Daniel Clark. | 13116 | Oliver T. Conner. |
12946 | Esther P. Collins. | 13113 | Richard D. Depue. |
14237 | Homan K. Finch. | 13088 | Joseph Gillis. |
13087 | Anthony Gannon. | 12932 | Annetta Huston. |
13135 | Benjamin S. Hunter. | 13136 | Franklin Hummel. |
13089 | Thomas Johnson. | 14236 | James Landfair. |
14239 | Addison Longenecker. | 14235 | Granville C. Lawrence |
14234 | George F. Merrill. | 14238 | Thad. S. Potter. |
13105 | Louis Paquet. | 13091 | George Rilea. |
14240 | Henry M. Riggs. | 13142 | Nelson B. Smith. |
13396 | William Teghtmeier. | 13090 | John L. Wells. |
13406 | George West. | 13416 | William T. Everson. |
What lends additional peculiarity to the situation, is the fact that United States Senator Fulton lost no time, after his election, to urge upon the Land Department at Washington the absolute necessity for prompt action in regard Page 472