The Great Timber Land Heist

A reporter called on Deputy United States Prosecuting Attorney Hanford and asked for a statement regarding the recently discovered land frauds. Hanford stated: 'On February 1st, I learned that certain persons were engaged in fraudulently entering timber lands in various parts of Western Washington under the timber act of June 3, 1878. The way the frauds were perpetrated was as follows: A syndicate, probably in the East, sent their agents here to carry on the work. These agents first found where there were large bodies of valuable timber land. They would then come to Seattle, or some other place, where there were idle men whom they could use. Whenever they found a fellow they could trust, they would propose to give him money to go to Olympia and file on a timber claim under a false or fictitious name. These agents found no trouble in getting 'filers,' as the records show that since January 24th, there have been twenty-four claims fraudulently filed on in Chehalis County. The parties give the agents a deed for the land, which is not filed until patents are granted. The object in using fictitious names is to prevent the rustler ever being traced. The parties sign all necessary proofs in blank, which are afterward filled out by the agents. These parties are guilty of perjury as well, as the first step in filing is to swear the land is not being purchased on speculation, but in good faith for their own exclusive use. When I learned these frauds were going on, I employed Officer Gardner to secure the evidence, which he succeeded in doing. Two of these agents, Mischel Daly and Wm. Winters, were arrested Saturday night and put in jail. Jamieson, the surveyor and cruiser of the lands in question, was arrested late last night and locked up. I feel that we have just discovered the entering wedge to gigantic frauds against the Government, and I can assure you that prosecutions will swiftly follow.'