Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-11-18
Charles II. Dietrich of Nebraska
Charged With Selling Post
office Appointments.
MAY BE POLITICAL ROW.
Federal Grand Jury at Omaha Finds That
He Sold Places in Government
Service.
TWO OFFICIALS ALSO INDICTED.

Omaha, Neb., Nov 1.-THE federal
grand jury last evening returned indict-
ments against United States Senator
Charles II. Dietrich, Jacob Fisher and
e. A. Francis, all of Hastings, Neb., on
the charge of trafficking in postoftices.
Jacob Fisher is postmaster at Hastings
and &. A. Francis is his assistant. 1t Is
charged against Senator Dietrich that he
sold the appointment to Fisher for $500,
and the evidence convincing it to the
jurors was produced, showing that Fish
er bid this sum for the position to get it,
and gave his note for the amount.
The Hastings postoffice sale is one OF
several that were brought to the atten-
ton of the grand jury. Charges and evil
dence We're submitted to the jurors, or
was ready to be submitted to them, that
Senator Dietrich sold to the highest bid
der the appointments to the offices at Or
leans. Alma, Oxford and Arapahoe, all in
Nebraska, although the last two towns
did not figure prominently in the inves-
tlgatlOn. The Hastings case was COM
pleted without Fisher or Francis being
heard. All witnesses were dismissed and
the foreman of the jury told Judge
Munger that they cared to listen to no
more evidence.
How the Case Started.
A similar investigation was started by
the May term grand jury. but was dis
missed before it was we'll under way.
That investigation had its origin in the
talk that went the rounds in Hastings.
Postmaster Fisher, dissatisfied at hav-
ing to pay for the office, adopted the
eXpedient Of assessing the employees in
his office to make up the $500, and
when the Republican state campaign
committee asked him for a contribution
he said that, having paid for his office.
Il, u L. e I.
the party further.
Question of Rent Paid.
Leopold Hahn was postmaster at
Hastings before Fisher and he it is who
pushed the investigation. Hahn was not
a bidder against Fisher for reappoint-
ment, because he had been forced to
step down and out by Dietrich because
he would not sanction another deal,
which is made the basis Of another count
before the grand jury.
The postoffice at Hastings, it seems,
used to be in the Grand Army building
Senator Dietrich built a new block and
through his influence at Washington had
the pOstOftice moved to his own building
The rental was first asked at $1,000 an
nually, although the Dietrich building
had been vacant for time at an asked
rental Of 5000. Hahn declined to sane
ton the rental, and eventually the build
lug was leaSeQ TO the government for
$1,000.
One Office Paid Twice.
At Alma, Neb., Senator Dietrich is
said to have instructed J. B. Billings.
postmaster, that if he wanted his place
a second term he need obtain only the
recommendation Of Stare Representative
Lowe as single requisite When Bill
ings applied to Lowe for the recommen-
dation he discovered that it would cost
him 5000. The sum was paid, but after
wards Billings says he discovered that
the appointment had been sold to J. j
Mitchell for $1,000.
United States District Attorney W. s.
Summers has been persistent in the pros
ecution. His zeal is explained by some
as piece of politics. Mr.. Summers is a
candidate for reappointment, and is hold
ing over till a selection can be made. his
term having expired a year ago. Senator
Dietrich always opposed him. Senator
Millard has Endorsed Summers, and SEN
ator Dietrich has insisted that Chairman
Lindsay Of the state central committee
be named.