The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-12-28

declared in most emphatic terms
his entire innocence of any part in
the land frauds. He spoke with In
diguation Of the charges against
him and said that he would have
no difficulty in disproving them.
81 have little to say at this time
except to declare in the most un-
qualified terms that I was in no
way concerned in the land frauds, -
said the senator. stI have done
great deal of work for people of Or
egon who had business with the
general land office and I was fire.
quently hoode1,with letters asking
my assistance, but I have never
been concerned in any fraud upon
the government. Until I am thor
oughly acquainted with the alleged
facts which form the basis of the
,rumored accusations against me. I
lean say little more"
Zone of the rumofs is that you
received large sums Of money for
Iexpediting claims to patent. Is
that true?'
"That is an internal lie," replied
Senator Mitchell with Indignation.
EFF that statement is made by any
one it is an absolute falsehood."
'Then you received no money
for your services in expediting the
claims in which Puter and Emma
Watson were interested"
mo, sir; and if any one has
isworn to anything of that kind it
is Infamous perjury. There is not
one word of truth in it. Not one
dollar was paid TO me-"
| Senator Mitchell stated that he
would have something further to
lsay for publication little later af-
ter he had had opportunity to learn
the nature of the charges against
him. A protracted conference was
held this afternoon between Senator
Mitchell and Assistant Attorney
General Heney.
Congressman Hermann who re-
turned from Washington in com.
pany with Senator Mitchell, ap-
j peared at the postof6ce building
about ten o'clock this morning.
The grand jury had just begun it's
session, but the Congressman made
no effort to evade the juryroom. He
called upon United States District
Attorney John Hall, with whom he
was closeted for half an hour, and
afterward visited Judge Bellinger's q
] lcfnce.
} Mr.. Hermann was aked what ne
had to say about the rumors con-
Meeting him with the land frauds,
and he replied,
| "Until have found out the ma
ture of the charges against me I
! can say very little, except to assure
you that I am in no way involved
: in these frauds. I have no fear oi
the outcome"
"Were you acquainted with Pu'
ter before he came to you with that
} letter Of introduction from Senator
l MITCHELL"
: "Only very distantly, very dis
| tantly," said Hermann. II had
! met him two or three times before
that. But my acquaintance with
1 him was very distant, just as with
9 the rest of the people concerned II
: these transactions"
= The congressman was not dis
r posed to discuss the subject fully
!. until he has opportunity to learr
y more definitely the precise charge
Il which he must meet, and the con
S versation ended.
o It Is freely asserted by the secre
y service men now in the city tina
o efforts have been made to tampe
with the grand jury, in the inter
" est of persons suspected of compile
/, ity in the land frauds. The juror
b come from all partsof the state ant
g many of their friends and acquaint
q ances have recently appeared il
: Portland under circumstances tha
u have aroused suspicious Of a dec
i laid plan to approach the juror
o and influence their proceedings.
q 0ne man whose actions have ex
cited especial suspicion is Henr.
r Ford, a private dete ctive. Secre
: Service Agent Burns says that b
+, has positive proof that Ford mad
o oYertureS TO the defendants in tn
o Putor trial Offering to 's6x" the ju
!. ry which was trying them, but th
d proposition was rejected.
= Lewiston, Idaho, Dac. 24.-Oh
), GERS have hit on novel plan to rio
the town Of bad characters. Any
one caught and found guilty of
, petty offense is given shovel ant