Like the schemers who applied for the patent to all of the ground east of St. Clair Street in 1896, Cap Streeter also had land scrip claiming U.S. public lands. In 1895 Streeter used the document pictured below as proof of his title while selling off plots of "his" land. The real estate notice on the right records a $100,000 land transfer. Within weeks of this deal, Secret Service agents arrested Streeter for forging President Grover Cleveland's signature on the fraudulent land patent. Prior to this claim that he had federal authority to claim the land, Streeter had held to his "squatter sovereignty" right of possession.
 Chicago Daily Tribune, June 30, 1895

Chicago Daily Tribune, August 10, 1895.
Excerpts from article:
    At the hearing Detwiler testified he had received the document from Streeter to make an abstract of title, and after he had done so and returned it to Streeter he suspected it was not genuine; that he obtained possession of it again and sent it to Washington. Detwiler testified further that when he told Streeter the paper was a forgery Streeter said Cox and Nine did it, and when he spoke to Cox about it Cox said Streeter did it and that he had begged Streeter to have nothing to do with it. Detwiler testified Applegate had said the patent was written in three kinds of ink and that he had advised them to throw away the inks.
    "What you say about me is hearsay," interrupted Applegate.
    "Partly so," answered Detwiler," but you know you came into our office yourself and said you asked them to throw the three bottles of ink away, as they were what the patent was written with and were dangerous to have around."

    Capt. Streeter was highly indignant at his arrest and pronounced it a blackmailing scheme. He said "they," meaning the original shore owners, had been after him for years, but he was still fighting them.
    "Is there a government patent to that lake shore land?" he was asked.
    "No, there is not."
    "But you thought there was once, didn't you?" suggested Mr. Cox.
    "Never mind thath," answered Capt. Streeter.
    "Don't you remember, Capt. Streeter," asked the reporter," when it was first announced you had obtained a government patent you said you had one but could not show it because it was locked up where you could not get at it?"
    "Well, at that time I thought there was a patent. I was mistaken."
Capt. Streeter said the alleged patent had come to him through the mail and intimated the sending of it was part of a plot arranged by "them."
    "They can sen me anything they want to, I'll take anything they send me," he said.
Capt. Streeter said he had formerly been of opinion that government could give title to the land, but he had changed his mind.
    "That land belongs to me by right of sovereignty," he declared, "and they can't take it away from me."
    Capt. Streeter then relapsed into a silence expressive of injured innocence and refused to talk any more.
Chicago Daily Tribune, February 1, 1902

Nearly seven years later Streeter was still using the fraudulent land patent to sell parcels of what he claimed to be his land.

Excerpts from the article:
Indictments were voted against two other sellers of lots in "Streeterville" because of representations they are alleged to have made to purchasers in claiming title to lots in the district. The indictments voted and the evidence supporting the charges are:
    George Wellington Streeter, two indictments. Alleged to have sold lot to Julius Carl, 25 State street and accepted payment of $30; alleged to have accepted from D.B. Seaman $5 a year as payment of taxes on lot sold to Seaman several years ago; charged also with selling a lot for $500 to Henry Beihl, 5915 State street.
    William Jordan, stepson of Streeter - Charged with having sold a lot to Andrew W. Schaefer, a grocer at Sixty-first street and Stewart avenue, and accepted $250.
    Martin Flynn, private detective - Alleged to have sold a lot to Schaefer and have accepted $500.

    The true bills will be returned in court today and State's Attorney Deneen then will order Streeter's arrest. The Captain's followers rallied at the tenthouse at the foot of Oak street last night and asserted that they would resist any attempt to take their chief into custody. The Captain counseled peace, however.
    "The government of the deestrict'll stand no matter what comes of me," he said, solemnly. "You fellows keep quiet; we'll face them."
    Chester H. Brush, Recorder of the General Land office at Washington, testified against Streeter and his claim to the lake front. There were frequent charges of forgery and fraud.
    "For months," said Mr. Brush, "we have been receiving letters asking if the abstracts of title this man has given with his lots are valid and correct. Servant girls and laborers have been the majority of those who have applied. They have lost their money, for Streeter's claims amount to nothing."


The same day that the article on the left appeared on page 3 of the Chicago Tribune, page 6 in the same newspaper reported this item related to a likely Lincoln Park development:

Chicago Daily Tribune, February 1, 1902