Fraud

President Roosevelt forwards a letter from David M. Goodrich to Attorney General Bonaparte concerning Henry K. Love’s appointment. In the future, Roosevelt wants portions of his and Bonaparte’s correspondence about men in power “to be published for the sake of the lovers of good literature!” In a postscript, Roosevelt instructs Bonaparte to remove Albert A. Richards, an apparent crook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

In response to Colonel Thompson’s letter and petition on behalf of Alfred H. Curtis, President of the National Bank of North America, President Roosevelt sends letters from Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte and the District Attorney. Roosevelt believes that it is clear that Curtis is guilty and says that if Curtis were truly deceived by Charlie Morse, he would have no issue in testifying against him. Even though Curtis was vouched for by a number of different prominent men, Roosevelt says that this is evidence that these sorts of men tend to stick together because of business and social ties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Judge Dietrich informs Attorney General Bonaparte he had asked for a large panel of seventy jurors and informed the U.S. Marshal to avoid any appearance of bias. Dietrich also reports on developments regarding the judge to be appointed for the Idaho land fraud case. He reached out to several judges before eventually deciding on Judge Edward Whitson, an outside judge which will give the appearance of fairness. The decision was “entirely satisfactory to all parties here.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-07

Creator(s)

Dietrich, Frank Sigel, 1863-1930

Judge Dietrich reports to Attorney General Bonaparte on discussions he has had with the parties and special government counsel regarding the outside judge to be appointed in the Idaho land fraud cases. All parties agreed to Judge Edward Whitson, but Dietrich is not sure all would agree to Judge William Henry Hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-06

Creator(s)

Dietrich, Frank Sigel, 1863-1930

Governor Gooding encloses secret reports from a Pinkerton agent who has immersed himself on the defense team of the Haywood Trial in Idaho. Gooding calls President Roosevelt’s attention to his understanding that during the trial, the defense plans to release information about Governor Steunenberg’s supposed fraudulent activities in timber land sales. Gooding believes that the Department of Justice in Idaho is sympathetic to the defense.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-10

Creator(s)

Gooding, Frank Robert, 1859-1928

N. M. Ruick provides Attorney General Bonaparte information on a conspiracy to defraud the United States of timber lands in Idaho. Ruick mentions that Governor Steunenberg was involved in the conspiracy, and suggests the possibility that Steunenberg’s murder case is being used to check the investigation of the frauds.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-29

Creator(s)

Ruick, N. M.

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on the trial in Idaho related to the murder of former Governor Steunenberg. After consulting with Calvin Cobb, owner of the Idaho Statesman, Bonaparte has directed United States District Attorney N. M. Ruick not to investigate any allegations regarding Steunenberg’s possible involvement in timber fraud. Any such involvement would be under the statute of limitations, and investigation of such would only help the defense case for those accused of Steunenberg’s murder. Bonaparte notes that if any reasonable evidence arose that Ruick was helping the defense, he would recommend Ruick’s immediate dismissal. He asks that if Roosevelt would like to speak with him for any reason, he should let him know. Otherwise he will stay in Baltimore and do work that he brought with him relating to the whiskey controversy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-29

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Billings F. Cash informs Attorney General Bonaparte that he is convinced that Calvin Cobb and Governor Frank Robert Gooding were involved in timber fraud. The special agents involved in this case – Gorman, Goodwin, and O’Fallon – connected this timber fraud case to a senator who is serving as the prosecution in the trial of the murder of Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-23

Creator(s)

Cash, Billings F. (Billings Franklin), 1859-1924

Overton W. Price of the United States Forest Service suggests changes to President Roosevelt’s order regarding the issuance of patents for public lands to eliminate opportunities for fraud. Price also recommends changing the wording to allow any authorized officer of the government to investigate cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-22

Creator(s)

Price, Overton W., 1873-1914

This digest summarizes the need for Congress to make an immediate appropriation of enough money to bring the land office business up to date in order to relieve the land claimants, protect public property, and fulfill the laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-25

Creator(s)

Unknown

The Daily News covers Grand Jury disclosures in the land fraud case of Charles H. Moyer, Big Bill Haywood and George A. Pettibone. The disclosures seem to indicate a connection to the late Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg, as well as an anonymous message that was sent to Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone’s attorney. Significant support of Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone was also noted in a series of speeches made at the Coliseum protesting their incarnation. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-31

Creator(s)

The Daily News

Clement S. Ucker presents a sworn statement relating to the Union Pacific Coal Company’s case. Ucker attests that there were affidavits and statements enough to form a case showing a conspiracy to defraud the United States government. Additionally there were records restoring the coal lands to the public domain, but these were “allowed to remain dormant in the files” of the office while conspirators tried to acquire the lands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-04

Creator(s)

Ucker, Clement S., 1873-1930

George F. Pollock submits a report to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock following an order from President Roosevelt that no patent be issued to public land until an “examination on the ground” has been made by an agent of the Department of the Interior, in order to hinder “theft of the public lands.” Pollock reports on the current pending cases and requests additional funding to carry out the work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-22

Creator(s)

Pollock, George F.

Assistant Treasurer Fish writes to President Roosevelt through William Loeb that the political situation in New York has improved as previously reticent politicians, such as New York Governor Odell, are now showing support for Roosevelt’s renomination after the admirable way in which Roosevelt treated Senator Hanna’s initial lack of support. Fish closes by addressing the irregularities in the post office department and suggesting that any fraud should be investigated and punished.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-05

Creator(s)

Fish, Hamilton, II, 1849-1936

Secretary of the Treasury Shaw reports to President Roosevelt the results of the Glasgow Manufacturing Company trial in Boston. Bentley pleaded guilty while Samuel Grunburg and Simon Burman were convicted, as were Examiners Shedd and Trafton. The men were convicted of defrauding the government out of approximately $500,000.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-22

Creator(s)

Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932

Chairman Fairley forwards a copy of the Republican State Central Committee’s expenditure report that was filed with the Colorado Secretary of State in order to refute charges of corruption. Fairley also states that more than 18,000 votes were fraudulently cast for Alva Adams and over 20 individuals are serving jail sentences.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-16

Creator(s)

Fairley, D. B. (David Bell), 1851-1938

Attorney General Moody responds to Richard Wilson Knott regarding jurisdictions involved when investigating election fraud. Knott had written to President Roosevelt and Moody is responding at Roosevelt’s request.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-01

Creator(s)

Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917

Richard Wilson Knott asks President Roosevelt to support a federal investigation into charges of voter fraud and voter intimidation in Louisville, Kentucky.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-14

Creator(s)

Knott, Richard Wilson, 1849-1917

President Roosevelt is surrounded by a number of trees that have been cut down: “postal frauds,” “fraud,” “railroads,” “beef trust,” “timber frauds,” and “discrimination.” He uses a “square deal” hatchet to cut an “oil trust” tree.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-22

Creator(s)

Donahey, J. H. (James Harrison), 1875-1949

An oversized man labeled “Beef Trust,” with skeleton face, performs a magic trick on a stage by taking “Diseased Livestock” and pushing them through a tube labeled “Packingtown” to produce packaged “Pure Meat Products.” A diminutive man, “The Prof’s Assistant,” wearing a cap labeled “Inspector,” is standing on the stage on the left. Packingtown is a real section Chicago that was the setting for the horrible actions committed in Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle, published as a book when this cartoon appeared. Caption: A monstrous and amazing feat of magic.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1906-05-23