The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13
FISHER
TEST|FIES IN BEHALF
OF SENATOR DIETRICH
He Flatly Denies the Statement
Made by Mr.. Hahn on the
Witness Stand.
SAYS HE GAVE NO MOTH
AS Payment for His Appointment
as Alleged-Testimony of
Other NebraSkanS.

WASHINGTON, March 12.-Jacob Fisher,
the present postmaster at Hastings, Neb.,
resumed his statement to-day before the
special Senate committee appointed to in
vestigate the charges against Senator Diet
rich. Mr.. Fisher said that at the time
he was appointed postmaster his relations
with Hahn had been rather u~nfriendly; that
previous to that time Hahn made daily
visits to his (Fisher's) place of business,
but that these visits stopped when he re-
ceived news of his appointment. He did
not recall any visit by Hahn on April 2S,
and he was sure that under the circum-
stances he would not have asked Hahn
what he thought of his (Fisher's) appoint
ment as his (Hahn's) successor, as Hahn
has testified. THAT statement l absolutely
deny" said the witness. He said that he
had not asked Hahn what the Office paid
and fatty contradicted Hahn's statement
that he had asked Hahn to consult a law
yer for him to ascertain whether he would
have to pay a note he might give to Dietrich
to secure the appointment. Il never asked
him." he said, land no note was given"
Edwin A. Francis, deputy postmaster at
Hastings under Fisher, was the next wit
ness. Replying TO questions by Mr.. Plat,
he said that he had agreed to pay half the
rental of the back room of the Dietrich
building and had done so for five months,
the total being SAL. The arrangement was
that he was to have half of any proceeds
derived from the room. They had made
an effort to rent the room TO the Western
Union Telegraph Company but had failed.
He said these payments on account of the
room had had nothing to do with his salary,
He contradicted the statement of Mr.. HAM
man that he had assented to a statement
mat ne (trancis) had had TO pay 500 to
Mr.. Dietrich, or that he had told Hannah
mat Fisher had paid 5000 to Dietrich. Mr..
FRANCIS testlned that he had had a con-
versation with District Attorney Summers
relative to testifying before the grand jury
IN the charges against Dietrich.
Mr.. Bate then asked for the particulars
OF mat conversation. but before he could
reply Mr.. Hoar interposed with a question
as 10 the purpose of the investigation.
MR.. HOAR OBJECTS.
we want" Mr.. Beatty replied, ito show
the pressure that the district attorney put
upon witnesses in this case; that he told
the witness that If he did not testify
he was himself liable to prosecution and
Imprisonment"
Mr.. Hoar suggested that such a line of
inquiry would broaden the inquiry TO an
undesirable extent. and after conversation
with Senator Dietrich the attorney tenn
poraraly withdrew the question.
raruy gregory, a post0ffice Inspector. tes-
tined to conversations he said he had had
last December with Fisher and Francis
relative TO moneys paid TO Dietrich on ac-
count of the back room partitioned off from
the postoffice. Fishers statement, he said,
was that the original lease was 70 he
knocked in the head because of the reduc-
ton of the rent from $1.SO0 to 100. That
Dletflch had said that he (Fisher) and the
citizens OF the place should take the fix
lures or the O.. A r.. Post off his hands.
but that Fisher had said he would not ask
the President, but would do so himself.
After this Dietrich had told Fisher that
when he went to Washington he would rec
ommend Fisher for postmaster, although it
was understood the appointment was i'm no
way dependent on the payment for the fur
nlture. The witness said also that Fisher
and Francis told him about the rental of
the back room, but their statements as re-
lated by Gregory did not differ materially
he said that Francis had told him that
Fisher In returning the rent money for
the room had said that Dietrich had re-
FUNDED the money, saying that there had
been some comment about the transaction,
and that he did not want to continue the
arrangement; These conversations had,
Gregory said, occurred at Omaha at the
time the grand jury investigation into the
Dietrich case was in progress.
MENTIONED BY DIETRICH.
Senator Dietrich elected the facts from
the witness that the voucher which he car
ried to Hastings was for payment of GER
tain fixtures and also for the payment of
the transfer of the postoffice. The bids for
the removal of the postoffice came through
the former postmaster, Mr.. Hahn.
Mr.. Dietrich endeavored at this time to
bring out from the witness that If there
was an eXtortionate price attached to the
removal of the office it was regular. having
| had the SAnGtlnn nf the pnCfnfEnn nanarf-
ment.
Senator Hoar suggested that this was
wholly a matter with the Postofice De-
partment, and ruled that the matter was
not germane.
William NJ. Dutton. of Hastings, related
conversations with Mr.. Dietrich about rent
ing the building for a postoffice. He said
Mr.. Dietrich was Governor at the time. He
also stated how the arrangement with the
G.. a. r. post had been made by which it
was agreed that Dietrich should pay the
post $500 for the fixtures. A contract was
entered into between Dietrich and the post,
which contract was at this point offered in
evidence. The contract was entered into
while Dietrich was Governor and before
his election as senator. Dietrich had told
him a few days after his election as Gov
ernor that he intended to comm Fisher
as postmaster, it being generally under
stood that the Governors recommendation
would be accepted. This statement was
made to Dutton in Lincoln, where he had
gone at Dietrich's request.
The witness closed the deal between
Dietrich and the q. A. r. post regarding
the fixtures and furniture for $500. He then
told of a conversation had with Senator
Dietrich regarding the renting of his build
ing for postoffice purposes; the senator
insisted that he could not get rent enough
for his building from the government. The
senator at that time told Dutton that he
thought Fisher should take the fixtures off
his hands, but denied that he was commits
stoned to make any proposition TO Fisher
and there was no money consideration men,
toned for the fixtures. Dietrich told me
he would recommend Fisher for postmaster
a week after his election as Governor
said Dutton. Charles Emory Smith. then
postmaster general, while in Hastings in
the autumn of 1900, had recommended that
the postOftice be changed and better quar-
ters secured. William NJ. Lowman. of
Hastings, testified that he had a conversa-
ton with Dietrich some time after his cleo
ton as senator in regard TO the postmaster
ship at Hastings, but he could not fix the
date. Senator Dietrich then said the post
mastership rested between Fisher and
Adam Brede.
John Shaker, cashier of the German
National Bank of Hastings, and a brother
in-law of Senator Dietrich. testified regard
ing the transfer of the fixtures and about
the property being in the name of Miss
Dietrich. He said Senator Dietrich was a
man of considerable property and good
standing in the community. On examina-
ton by Senator Dietrich the witness said