No. 332.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Anderson.
Washington, January 6, 1888.
Sir: Immediately upon the reception of your telegram of the 24th ultimo, informing the Department of the willingness of the Danish Government, in the absence of treaty, and as an act of courtesy which the laws of the United States do not authorize this Government to reciprocate, to surrender John A. Benson, charged with extensive frauds in relation to public lands in the State of California, to the authorities of the United States for trial, I at once caused the Department of Justice to be informed of the purport of your telegram, and steps were immediately taken to procure evidences of Benson’s guilt. But by reason of the distance from this capital of the place where are held the sessions of the court in which he was indicted, and of the voluminous character of the papers relating to Benson’s numerous alleged crimes against the land laws, some delay has supervened in procuring the desired proofs.
The Department, however, has now received, through the Department of Justice and herewith incloses copies duly authenticated, under the laws of the United States of twelve indictments, some of which are for conspiracy to defraud the United States, and the others for procuring false certificates of title to lands to be made for the purpose of obtaining money from the United States. These indictments are all accompanied with warrants of arrest.
You are instructed to request the Government of Denmark to deliver with the copies of the telegrams sent and received by him in Copenhagen, and any other evidences in its possession tending to show his guilt.
I am, etc.,