The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-03-18
FISHER STANDS BY DIETRICH.
Postmaster at Hastings. Neb.. Enters Em-
phatic Denial to Charge That He
Bought the Appointments.

er, the present postmaster at Hastings,
Neb., resumed his statement before
the special senate committee appointed
to investigate the charges against Sen
ator Dietrich. Mr.. Fisher said that at
his relations with Hahn had been
rather unfriendly; 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 %, and he was sure that under
the circumstances he would not have
asked Hahn what he thought of his
tFisher's) appointment as his (Hahn's)
successor, as Hahn has testified. THAT
statement absolutely deny" said the
witness. He also said that he had not
asked Hahn what the Office paid and
fatty contradicted Hahn's statement
that he had asked Hahn to consult
lawyer for him to ascertain whether he
would have to pay note he might
give to Dietrich to secure the appoint
ment. 81 never asked him." he said.
"and no note was given"
Edwin E. Francis, deputy postmaster
at Hastings under Fisher, was the
next witness. He said that he had
agreed to pay half the rental of the
back room of the Dietrich building AMI
had done so for five months, the total
being SAL. The arrangement was that
he was to have half of any proceeds de-
rived from the room. They had made
an effort to rent the room to theWeSt-
ern Union Telegraph company, but had
failed. He said these payments on ac-
count Of the room had had nothing to
do with his salary. He contradicted
the statement Of Mr.. Hannah that he
had aSsented to statement that he
(Francis) had had to pay 500 to Mr..
Dietrich or that he had told Hannah
that Fisher had paid 5000 to Dietrich.
Mr.. Francis testified that he had had
a conversation with District Attorney
Summers relative to testifying before
the grand jury in the case against Diet
rich.
Hardy Gregory, a postoffice inspee
tor, testified to conversations he said
he had had last December with Fisher
and Francis relative to money paid to
Dietrich on account Of the back room
partitioned off from the postofice.
Fishers statement, he said was that the
original lease was to be knocked in the
head because of the reduction of the
rent from $500 to 1.500; that Diet
rich had said that he (Fisher) and the
citizens of the place should take the
fixtures of the G. A. r. post off his
hands but that Fisher had said that
he would not ask the people but would
do so himself. After this Dietrich had
told Fisher that when he went to
Washington he would recommend
Fishers appointment as postmaster
although it was understood the ap-
pointment was in no way dependent
upon. the payment for the furniture.
The witness also said that Fisher and
Francis told him about the rental Of
the back room, but cir statements as
related by Gregory did not differ mate
rally from their statements to the COM
mittee. He said that Francis had told
him that Fisher in returning the rent
money for the room had said that.
dietrich had refunded the money, say
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 Diet
rich case was in progress. 81
Senator Dietrich elected the facts
from the witness that voucher which
he carried to Hastings was for payment
of certain fixtures and also for the pay
ment of the transfer of the postofice.
Fhe bids for the removal came through
the former postmaster, Mr.. Hahn.
William NJ. Dutton, of Hastings, was
the first witness at the afternoon ses-
sion and related conversation with
Dietrich about renting the building for
a post Office. He said Dietrich was
governor at. the time. He also. related
how the Arrangement with the ca IA
K. post had been made by which Il.
was agreed that Dietrich should pay
the post $500 for the fixtures; "A con-
tract was entered into between Diet
rich and the post, which contract was
at this point offered in evidence. The
I contract was entered into while Diet.
rich was, governor, and before, his cleo
ton as senator Dietrich had told him
a. few days after: his election, as gov
ernor that he intended to recommend
Fisher as postmaster, it. being gener-.
ally UNDERSTOOD that the governors
recommendation would be accepted.
This statement was made to 'Dutton In
Lincoln, where he had gone at Diet
| rich,s request.