The San Francisco call., 1904-12-19
GOOD NAMES
Of BIG MEN
IN JEOPARDY
Sensation Expected
in Oregon Land
Fraud Case.
Senator Mitchell Hurrying
Home to Face Federal
Grand Jury.
Congressman Blnger Hermann, a Promi-
nent Attorney and Other Ore
Congressman Blnger Hermann, a Promi-
nent Attorney and Other Ore
gonians May Be Indicted
Special Dispatch to The Call.

HOh1 LAND, OSC. 1o.-A OHllcO
States Senator hurrying to Portland as
fast as steam will bear him in order to
prevent his Indictment by the Federal
Grand Jury, a Congressman who from
now on will momentarily expect to
learn that he has been indicted, a
prominent attorney and scion of one Of
the oldest and best known pioneer fam
lilies of Oregon with Government
agents, timber men and other small fry
in quantity sufficient to fill out the
balance of the cast are the dramatis
personae who win figure in the act of
the investigation of the land frauds
scandal on which the curtain will rise
1 tomorrow morning.
In pursuance OF an order of Federal
Judge c. B. Bellinger, issued at the
time the second land fraud trial was
postponed till next March, the Grand
| jury will convene tomorrow to con-
/ si1er a vast amount of evidence which
! the Government inspectors have been
slowly gathering during the last two
years. When that jury is adjourned it
| is expected that the United States Sem
ator from Oregon, John Nipple Mitch
ell; Representative 10 Congress and ex-
| Commissioner of the General Land Of
/ fee Binger Hermann and Franklin.
Pierce Mays, attorney Will have been
u "a
conspiracy to defraud the United States
of a portion of the public domain
According to Mitchells announced in
i-tention, he left Washington tonight for
J the oStenSible purpose of giving testi-
mony before the jury. 1t is said that
there are those who have been convict
ed of conspiracy to defraud who are not
at all satisfied with the prospect of
playing the scapegoat. 1t is said that
these men have talked TO the Govern
ment representatives in an effort to
save themselves from the terms in
prison that are staring them in the
face.
1t is known that at the last session of
the Grand Jury an indictment of Her
mann was seriously considered. but the
evidence was not sufficient to warrant
the action. 1t is true that Hermann
was not asked to come back to testify
before the Grand Jury, but there is
strong reason to believe that he will be
subject of discussion in the Grand
jury room this week. Irwin Ritten-
/ house, at one time Hermann's private
| secretary, is in the city and is in com
munication with representatives of the
Government.
| In connection with Hermann is re-
viveo the story of the missing records
which could not be found after Her
mann went out of office Forty-one
( books, or parts of them, in which was
/ the correspondence OF the office. can
! not be found. There is a story that
/ some time before Hermann went ont of
office he directed clerk to cut certain
| volumes in half and that the stubs be
4 returned to him. The stubs. it is said
/ were later destroyed.
+. Pierce Mays, the attorney. is link
/ ed with Mitchell and Hermann in what
/ ever might have been done bv Ali of
them. He gave the letter of introduce
ton to Puter to give TO Mitchell
There are others in the game and
some OF them are men OF high standing
in the life of the State, at whom the
| finger of suspicion points. The lesser
knaves have been caught; the weel- to
come perhaps VIII mark the entanpla-
ment Of the bigger rogues.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10. - Sena+or
Mitchell and Representative Ringer
Hermann of Oregon left Washington
last night for Portland Both Senator
Mitchell and Mr.. Hermann declare in
most positive terms that they are ab-
solutely innocent OF completely IN tba
land frauds and have nothing TO fear
from returning to Oregon. Both sssar.
with equal positiveness that tbe +irns
has come when this outrageous perse-
cution must STOP" They will ,nsist
upon their right to go before the Crane
Jury and make answer to all CHARGES
that may be made against them CON
fident that they will be able to estah-
lish their innocence. They expect RI
have hearing on Saturday.
Senator Mitchell sent this televra -,
yesterday to District Attorney Hall
and Assistant Attorney General
! Heney:
II will be in Portland next Satur-
| day. / demand a thorough invesfies-
ton before the Grand Jury ~ 81,
| charges if any have been moJa
| against me. / also demand a right -
appear as witness before the Grand
Jury"
REPRESENTATIVE Hermann bafora
leaving made this statement:
Information having been recaiys !
tfat there was probability thai an
| attempt would be made to invorye
Senator Mitchell and myself in tho
Grand Jury investigation as to land
frauds in Oregon, l believe If RI he
my cuty to proceed to Portland ara
there ask the privilege OF meeting nv,
! charges which may be preferred ;,
LACROSSE, Wis, Dec. 18-Mrs. Hor-
ace G. Mckinley has been granted q
divorce from her husband, h q Ne
KinIey. who was convicted of fraud in
connection with timber land deals in
oregon and who Is now under bonds in
] oregon awaiting trial on a second in
dictment. Mrs Mckinley was formerly
Miss Mamie Edwards of West Salem.
They had been married five years.