The Land Office Conspiracy: Bogus Papers for Sale to Chinese
A federal inspector's raid in Spokane exposes a ring allegedly forging Chinese registration certificates — with a land-office registrar among the accused.
SPOKANE, July 1. — Two sensational arrests were made here today in connection with a gigantic conspiracy to rob the government by issuing illegal Chinese registration certificates.
Those arrested are James Graham, register of the land office at Coeur d'Alene City, Idaho, and Edward Rick. Warrants are also in the hands of a deputy United States marshal for the arrest of W. Floyd Pollard and Harry Tillton, formerly of this city, but now at Kendrick, Idaho.
Complaints were sworn to by F. D. Schuyler, Chinese inspector, recently sent out by the treasury department at Washington City, with headquarters at Seattle. It has been known for some time past that a conspiracy has existed and that bogus certificates have been issued by persons in this section of the state and in Idaho, and the treasury department detailed Mr. Schuyler to come here and investigate the matter. Three hundred bogus certificates have been printed by the conspirators, but how many have been put in circulation has not yet been ascertained.
It is alleged by Schuyler that Graham is one of the chief instigators, with several other prominent officials connected with the treasury department, in having the certificates made, and that Edward Rick was employed to engrave the seal from a sketch made by Pollard, and that Tillton and one Ernest Pemster, with several others not yet arrested, did the printing.
United States District Attorney Brinker is now on his way here in connection with the arrests made, and it is said that upon his arrival the other government officials implicated will be arrested. Mr. Graham appeared before Commissioner Kenyon today and waived examination and was admitted to bail in the sum of $1,500. Rick also gave bonds in the sum of $500 for his appearance before Commissioner Kenyon Wednesday.
Mr. Graham said: "I was astonished today when arrested, and it was the first intimation that I have had that I was in any way connected with this affair. I have absolutely no knowledge of or connection with this affair, and in my opinion it is a conspiracy on the part of Schuyler to manufacture a little cheap notoriety for himself."
“Three hundred bogus certificates have been printed by the conspirators, but how many have been put in circulation has not yet been ascertained.”
The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act made legal paper the only lifeline for Chinese residents, and a black market in forged certificates grew up almost immediately. This case shows the machinery of exclusion was as corruptible as it was cruel — and that the line between 'legal' and 'illegal' immigrant was often drawn by whoever held the seal.
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