Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
G 0 N E TO OREGON
SENATOR MITCHELL AND REPRE-
SENTATIVE HERMANN.
Both Will Appear Before the Grand
Jury in the Land Fraud
Cases.

Senator John H. Mitchell and Represen-
tative Binger Hermann of Oregon have
gone to Portland to go before the federal
grand jury to answer charges duplicating
them in the Oregon land frauds. They
both declare that they are innocent of any
act that might involve them in these
frauds. They expect to have a hearing
next Saturday.
Before leaving this city Senator Mitchell
said:
This afternoon 1 telegraphed Francis J.
Heney, assistant attorney general, and
United States District Attorney John Hall,
as follows:
1 will be in Portland next Saturday 1
demand thorough investigation before
grand jury of all charges. if any. against
ness before grand jury
was advised yesterday by kilograms
from Portland that it was reported there
that Puter, Watson and others of that
gang mad made confessions duplicating me,
and that there would be an effort made
10 lndlct me and Hermann before the grand
jury which meets tomorrow. A week ago,
when l was called as a witness / had no
intimation that it was claimed | was i'm
plfcated in any way, and 1 did not feel it
my duty to go and sacrifice public business
put the moment l was advised that I was
being attacked personally 1 concluded l
was justified in sacrificing public business
and everything else to go and defend my
character against assaults that 1 know to
be without any foundation whatever
Mr.. Hermann's Statement.
Representative Hermann, before leaving,
said:
information having been received that
there was a proba bility that an attempt
would be made to involve Senator Mitchell
and myself in the grand jury investiga-
tons as to land frauds in Oregon, 1 be-
lieve it to be my duty to proceed to Port
land and there ask the privilege of meet
Ing any charges which may be preferred
For nearly six years l was commissioner
of the general land Office here in Washing
ton, and during that period of time I per
formed the duties of that office according to
law as / understood it, and to the best of
my ability and without favoritsm to any
one.
mo act was ever done by me as commits
sioner that was not believed to be con-
scientiously right and in strict accordance
with the law.
81 was necessarily compelled to rely upon
reports and recommendations of many sub
ordinate officials If any of these reports
or recommendations Were erroneous or
false, l had no knowledge of same
Persons guilty of defrauding the govern
ment of any portion of it's domain should be
prosecuted and severely dealt with. and l
shall be only too glad to render the gov
eIHfneHl any ala within my power TO that
end
1T was with deep regret I could not ap-
pear the second time a witness at Port
land. as desired by the government, because
of urgent matters pending before commit
tees of the House, bills to be reached on the
calendar. and votes on important matters to
be cast, such as on the Swayne impeach-
ment and other matters during the past
week. Most of these l have attended to-
and as Congress is now about to adjourn
for two weeks, over the holidays, / feel that
now is the time that l can be spared from
official duties here, and that it is my duty
to go to Portland and there ascertain upon
what basis the reflections upon me rest"
Secretary Hitchcock Will Not Talk.
Secretary Hitchcock declined to discuss
the Oregon land frauds when asked for a
statement today regarding the alleged COM
plicity of Senator Mitchell and Representa-
tive Binger Hermann in the cases now be-
fore the courts. 1t Is understood that the
Secretary does not think 1t proper for him
to discuss such matters at present. as the
case is yet in the hands Of the Department
of Justice, which is charged with the prose-
cution thereof.