Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/98

 person, Lloyd senior refused to accede to my suggestions, stating that McKinley had deliberately transferred three fraudulent claims to his son, obtaining $1,500 thereon, and that, from all appearances, McKinley was holding this over his son as a lash to force him to sign the contract.

Observing that Lloyd, senior, was determined to proceed in the matter I once more resorted to my favorite tactics of sending him to Mays. The interview between them did not prove as satisfactory as I had anticipated, however, it appearing to Lloyd senior that the attorney was too "busy" to look after his interests, as he kept putting him off from time to time, and evidently dodging the issue. The action of Mays in the premises was thoroughly understood by me, it being the policy to postpone matters long enough to give Mays an opportunity to "pour oil on the troubled waters."

Dissatisfaction with Mays' tactics impelled George Lloyd to visit Eugene, Oregon, where he called upon Miss Marie L. Ware, the United States Commissioner before whom the final proofs were made upon the six fraudulent claims. Not being able to gain any satisfactory information from her, Mr. Lloyd proceeded to the Roseburg Land Office, where he met Col. A. R. Greene, at that time Special Inspector, Department of the Interior, but since transferred to the superintendency of an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. Lloyd made Colonel Greene his "Father Confessor" in the matter of the alleged frauds, and acting upon this information, the Special Inspector hastened to Eugene, where he indulged in a heart-to-heart talk with Marie Ware upon the subject.

In all probability he gained enough information from her to warrant the opinion that all was not exactly as it should be, as he immediately detailed Special Agent E. P. Linnen, of the Roseburg Land Office, to make further investigation. The Special Agent obeyed instructions by repairing to Eugene and calling upon Miss Ware, from whom he received such oral admissions that he felt justified in having her incorporate them in an affidavit.

On the day following the arrival of Linnen, the keeper of one of the local bawdy houses called at the United States Commissioner's office and informed Miss Ware that on the preceding evening a gentleman who had passed the night in her resort had become greatly intoxicated, and had frequently dropped a bundle of papers on the floor of her establishment while "tripping the light fantastic" with some of the inmates.

"Upon discovering the nature of the papers," continued the woman, "I concluded to bring them to you, as I noticed your signature upon them, and thought perhaps they might have been stolen from your office."

Miss Ware gave assurance that the documents had not been stolen, but properly belonged to the individual who had lost them, and she requested her informant to tell the gentleman, the next time he called, that the papers were in her possession, and that he could have them upon application at her office.

Upon recovering from the effects of his debauch, Linnen again called upon Miss Ware and asked for the restoration of the documents, stating that he had mislaid them, and had learned that they had been returned to her custody. This request was readily complied with.

The Special Agent then reported his findings to Inspector Greene, who in turn submitted them to John H. Hall, at that time United States Attorney for Oregon, who presented the whole matter in detail to the consideration of United States District Judge Charles B. Bellinger (now deceased.)

After an examination of the affidavits in question, and in view of the situation as presented to him. Judge Bellinger summoned Miss Ware to Portland. As a result of the conference between the two, it was decided that she should be removed from office.

McKinley and I were in Chicago during this period, and upon receiving telegraphic advices from Miss Ware that trouble was brewing, we lost no time in returning to Portland, where I immediately held an interview with F. Pierce Mays concerning the conditions. Mays appeared very much perturbed over the

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