The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-23
Report Mitchell, Hermann and VII.
Hanson will be indicted
as Accessories.
MITCHELL is sIDESTEppING


Portland. Dec. 22.--(speciai to IN,
AAtorian.) 1.-The story that In current
on the streets OF Portland tonight. and
which Ia exciting the interest OF all who
have followed the proceedings Of th'
land fraud trials In M follows:
To secure the indictment Of Repre-
sentative Williamson for alleged con-
Rpiracy to dcfraud the government Of
the United States Of a portion Of its
public lands is as much the purpose
and intention Of the officials now en-
gagged In conducting the investigators
OF the federal grand jury M Il Ia their
sndeavor 10 have indictments returned
against Senator Mitchell and Binger
Hermann.
Evidence and testimony is being. and
has been prepared by which the gov
ernment hopes and expects not only 10
indlct these three men. but there will
also be a determined effort to secure
convictions. at the succeeding trial.
Such is the opinion of an authority
which cannot be questioned. and in
view OF the certainty Of the statements
which have been made, the remainder
OF the sessions OF the grand jury will
be fraught with intense interest TO peo-
pie OF the entire country,
The entrance Of Mr.. Williamson into
the lnnd fraud cases comes as great
surprise, but II has developed through
the connection existing between aim
and +. p. Mays. as well as many other
deals which have been discovered In
various parts OF state by government
officials, who have been probing the
records of land transactions OF the past
few years. II In stated that William
son In closely connected with Mays In
his dealings. and the charge Is made by
the government that he has handled
the lands, and helped In their hand
ling, which he knew have been taken
from the government under fraudu-
lent pretenses.
He said he has operated In western
oregon and that the vicinity OF Prime
vile, his home has also been the seat
OF his operations, and that there are
those now living in both sections of the
state who will yet come under the no.
tice OF the grand jury.
Hermann Coming,
Tonight Senator Mitchell and Mr.,
Hermann will reach Portland the
destination OF their transcontinental
Journey. They come with the expec-
tatIon of being able to explain away
their alleged connection with the fraud
In public lands, which are apparently
reaching such proportions that they
are the subject OF cabinet discussion In
washington.
They say they are innocent; that the
prosecution OF the government is per-
secutlon, and that time will right their
wrongs and show they have been, and
are now, objects of conspiracy, In
stead OF being the orlglnators or par
Elephants in one.
But is now definitely stated that
the prosecution expects to prove en-
,Irely to the contrary with declara-
ton made by two congressman from
oregon.I
The talk has not been idle, rumor
has It, and II will be matter Of cold
facts before another two weeks have
passed over the people waiting.
How, though, are the senator and
the representatives connected9 Is the
common query. That is a hard ques-
tion to be answered with any amount
Of detail. But II Williamson Is en-
tangled with Franklin Mays, so is Her
mann and so lie Mitchell, II is said. 1t |