Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-11-20
TRUE BILLS FOUND
Against a U. S. Senator and a
Nebraska Postmaster.
A Friend of senator Dietrich, OF Me-
brhska, Declares that the Indict-
mcnts for Bribery nrc the
Outgrowth of n PoIIti-
cal Quarrel.

Outgrowth of Pollti-
cal Quarrel.
Omaha, Neb., Nov 17.-The federal
grand jury last evening returned true
bills against United States Senator
Charles II, Dietricn and Postmaster
Jacob Fisher, of Hastings, Neb.,
charging them with conspiracy and
bribery, in connection with the ap-
pointment of Fisher to the position
of postmaster. When the indictments
were brought into the United States
district court, Judge Munger presid-
ing, and were placed on file, the court
merely accepted the report of the
grand jury, making no remarks on
its contents beyond making an order
to the clerk for filing of the bills.
The Indictment against Senator
Dietrich charges that he accepted
money and property in consideration
of his recommending Fisher for APP
pointment as postmaster at Hastings
That against Postmaster Fisher
charges him with making an agree
ment with Senator Dietrich by which
the former was to pay in property
and money $1,000 for securing to
Fisher the appointment.
The last witness called before the
grand jury was William Dutton, a
hardware merchant of Hastings. Ac-
cording to buttons testimony, he
CDutton) acted as intermediary in all
the alleged transactions between the
indicted men and after hearing his
evidence the grand jury excused the
remaining witnesses who had not
testified, and at once prepared its re-
port to Judge Munger.
The jury was composed of 20 mem
bers, 10 of whom are said to have
voted for the Indictment and one
against. The members came from
all parts of the state, no two of them
being a resident of the same town.
The foreman, Frank +. White, of
Omaha, is secretary of the grand
lodge of the Masonic order of Nebras-
ka. The other members are mostly
prominent business and professional
men.
Four other cases, said to be of a
similar nature, are being investigated
by the grand jury.
This Indictment is said to be the
first ever returned against United
States senator on charges of this ma
ture, and caused intense excitement
in government official circles in Oma-
ha and in adjoining towns when it be-
came public.
Senator Dietrich was elected by the
legislature of 10000 to succeed Sena-
tor Allen. who was appointed by Gov.
Poynter to fill the uneXpired term of
the late Senator Hayward, who died
before taking his seat. His term eN-
pires March 3, 1905.
Postmaster Fisher was formerly
mayor of Hastings and has been
prominent in republican politics for
several years. He has been in Omaha
during the investigation of the grand
jury and was to have been placed on
the stand yesterday to testify before
the grand jury. That body, however,
after hearing the testimony of Dut-
ton, decided that it had heard sutfi-
cient evidence and made it's report
forthwith.
Postmaster Fisher and his deputy,
Edward Francis, both of whom were
seen at their hotel in Omaha last
night, and Mr.. Fisher made this state
ment:
This is the first I knew of indict-
ments being returned against Sena-
tor Dietrich and myself. l can say,
however, that they are the result OF
political persecution, and that | have
been treated unfairly in the matter.
Washington, Nov. 1S.-SenatOr Diet
rich said yesterday of his indictment
at Omaha on the charge of conspiracy
and bribery in connection with the
appointment of Jacob Fisher as post
master at Hastings, Neb.:
There is absolutely nothing to
have warranted the Indictment.
have never received dollar or any
property from Mr.. Fisher or any
other person in exchange for my in
fuence. | have some bitter enemies
AS governor | refused to pardon Joe
Bartley, the defaulting eX-state treas.
urer. | have it from reliable author
lUy that Mr.. Summers, present United
States district attorney, is largely
responsible for securing the pardon
of Bartley.
at has been intimated to me for O
long time that Summers would make
me trouble if | did not cease by en-
deavor to have him ousted from his
present position. / do not know, oi
course, the testimony given to secure
my Indictment. 1t must be absolute
ly false or | would not have been in
dicted."
Omaha, Neb., Nov. 1s.-New devel
opments in the Dietrich-Fisher post
once case in which indictments were
returned against United States Sen
ator Charles II. Dietrich and Jacot
Fisher, postmaster at Hastings, Neb.
were few yesterday.
Postmaster Jacob Fisher, upoI
learning of his Indictment by the fed
eral grand jury, appeared in Judge
Munger's court yesterday. The for
malfties of arrest being completed
Fisher gave a bond for $1,000 for his
appearance in court and was re
leased.
Twenty-eI2ht Negroes are Killed.
New Orleans, Nov. 16.-A rear-ent
collision on the Illinois Central rail