Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-17
ACCUSED OF BRIBERY
Federal Grand Jury Indicts
Senator Dietrich.
NEBRASKA rs EXGITED
KAsFEReAH HASTINGS, NEB.,
ALSO AccusEn
William Dutton Claims 20 Have Made
the Deal, Acting as In
termediary.

OMAHA, Neb., November if.-1he moIce-
ment returned last evening by the federal
grand jury against United States Senator
Charles H. Dietrich and Postmaster Jacob
Fisher Of Hastings, Neb., on charges or
bribery and conspiracy In sonnection with
the appointment of the latter as postmas-
ter was a subject of extreme interest In
Omaha today. -
At the federal building snan groups of
government officials and others gathered to
discuss the subject. United States District
Attorney w. S. Summers, who has con-
Quoted the case for the government, refused
to talk of the matter or even to see re-
pcrters.
The details of the postnlastership trans
action at Hastings, as given sout today by
Mr. Fishers friends. are as follows:
Fishers Side Of the Case.
The post Office at Hastings up to two
years ago was located in building erected
by the local. post of the Grand Army Of the
Republic. Previous to installation in this
building it had been in other quarters and
successive postmasters had furnished the
post office fixtures themselves.
The Grand Army of the Republic bought
the fixtures for $500, and their use was IN
cluded in the government lease. About
three years ago considerable effort was
made to secure better accomnoda tions for
the post Office business, the contention be-
coming one between the opposite ends OF
town.
Senator Dietrich who had inst been
elected governor had put up new build
ing near the Grand Army Of the Republic
building, and.~ anticipating removal of &c
post office, took the matter up with the
post office authorities durizg. visit to
Washington.
Lease Was AgreedsUpm.
specific terms. but the negotiations wsia
not concluded until after Gov. Dietrich
had been elected United States senator.
In the meantime property sowners inter-
ested in the other sections of the city made
counter offers at reduced rentals and in
order to hold it in the vicinit@ OF. his prop
erty lease was finally drawn Apd signed
at rental of 81 300, omittings tina require
ment of the owEer to furnishes Axtures.
Believing that he was renting his prop
erty for less than it was wsEths for the
purpose of holding the post office for the
benefit of the surrounding property owners,
1t was suggested that the difference in the
rental be made up by a subscription from
the interested parties. =
Again Became Involved.
The G. A. R. people also again became
involved with a protest against the re-
moval from their building for fear they
would lost the money they had put into
the fixtures, and possibly be tenantless for
scme time
AT this juncture the sena tor was called
upon to indorse for the position of post
master one of the applicants, sthe compe-
tition having narrowed down TO the then
mayor, Jacob Fisher, and the editor Of the
Hastings Tribune, Adam Breede.
q An understanding was finally reached by
which Fisher was to receive the appoint
n-ent of postmaster on condition that he
he nffio halo t,ert,1
to the 6. A r. pest at the price which it
had paid for them, and it rs said that he
also agreed to reimburse Ethe senator for
the difference by which he had, been COM
PEELED to reduce the rental from his orig
inal figure of sl,500, in order TO meet the
offers that lad been made in Behalf of
location at the other end OF. the street.
Was to Have Been Made Up.
This difference of 500 1t IS said was to
have been made up in equal portions by
the postmaster and his deputy, and it is
alleged that 1t was paid for.t,in few
nacrths, and then when the senator discov-
cred its questionable character the money
was returned to Postmaster Fisher and
Deputy Francis.
Postmaster Jacob Fisher, upor learning
OF his indictment by the federal grand
jury today appeared in Judge Munger's
court. The formalities of arrest being COM
pleted. Fisher gave a bond for 1,030 for
his appearance in court and was released.
At the federal building it was stated that
United States senator is immune from
arrest on charges of the nature of those
named in the indictment while Congress is
in session. AS consequence Senator Die
trich will not be apprehended at this time
He will be notified of his Indictment, how
ever, and 1t is expected he will appear in
court when he can do SO conveniently.
True Bills Returned.
A special from Omaha, Neb., last night
says: The federal grand jury this evening
returned true bills against United States
Senator Charles H. Dietrich and Postmas-
ter Jacob Fisher of Hastings, Neb. charg-
ing them with conspiracy and bribery in
connection with the appointment of Fisher
to the position of postmaster
When the indictments sweres brought into
the United States district court Judge Mum
ger presiding, and We're placed on file, the
court merely accepted the report Of the
grand jury, making no remarks on it's con-
tents, beyond making an order to- the clerk
for filing of the bills.
The Indictment against Senator Dietrich
charges that he accepted money and prop
erty in consideration of his recommending
Fisher for appointment as postmaster at
Hastings. That against Postmaster Fisher
charges him with making, an agreement
with Senator Dietrich by which the forwer
for securing to Fisher the appointment.
Senator Dietrich is at at9lpresent in Wash
ington. and there was mo- attorney or other
person in the city tonight Authorized to
make a. statement for him. All the wit
nesses in the case left this afternoon for
their homes. =
Acted as intermediary.
The last witness called before the grand
jury was William Dutton, hardware mer-
chant at Hastings, who gave his testimony
tod mo IN
he Dutton) acted as intermediary in all the
alleged transactions between the indicted
men, and after hearing his evidence the
grand jury excused th9remaintng witnesses
who had not testified Mnd at odce prepared
it's report to Judge Munger
Word was sent to The court that it had
report to make. and 3Hdee Munger notified
Foreman Frank e White th&t he would
hear 1t at once. The grand fury thereupon
repaired to the court room. and the court
asked:
Have you any report to uSA3ker Fore
man White answered. I'VE havp' Where
upon the judge asked III INTO read II The
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