The San Francisco call., 1905-06-27
DAMAGING TALE
OF SECRETARY
Former Confidential Clerk
of Senator Mitchell Takes
Stand Against Old Friend
VIRTUES IN HIS CHAIR
Accused Man Shows Great
Emotion as Witness Tells
of the Land Fraud Deals

PORTLAND, June 2e-Harry Robert
son, United States Senator Mitchell $
former private secretary, was the prin-
cipal witness for the prosecution to-day
in the trial of Senator Mitchell. Robere-
son told fully. without reservation, of his
interviews with Mitchell at Washington,
Of the latters fear of prosecution for
his work before the departments and of
Mitchelis rage when Robertson expressed
10 him the belief that denial was useless,
as several knew Of the connection of the
firm Of Mitchell & Tanner with the work
of getting the Kribs claims expedited, and
The likelihood that the whole story would
come out.
Upon being subpenaed to appear before
the Grand Jury, the witness said ne
went 10 Senator Mitchell and showed him
The summons, asking the Senator what
he could be wanted in Portland for. The
Senator said II was TO testify about the
accounts of the law firm OF Mitchell &
Tanner and told him that Tanner and
hSs son were threatened with Indictment.
Mitchell told Robertson that when he
reached Portland he should go TO Tanner
and look at the partnership agreement
and Tanner would tell him how TO tes
ufy. The Senator. he said, cursed the
prosecution and had said anything was
justifable IN defeating the Government.
Fhe evidence given by Robertson was
direct He identified the letter given him
by Mitchell al Washington TO be delivered
10 Tanner. but which was given to Prose
cutting Attorney Heney and the Grand
Jury The former bookkeeper OF the firm
Of Mitchell Tanner and later secretary
Of the Senator supported strongly with
his testimony the allegations Of the in
dictment upon which Mitchell is being
tried.
During the recital OF Robertson's tes-
tim0ny Senator Mitchell showed every
evidence Of mental agony. lie writhed in
his chair and protested with his attor-
neys for allowing the introduction Of
the evidence.
Robertson underwent a severe cross
examination by Senator Thurston, but
the defense could not shake his testi-
mOny. The Government rested its case
al 2;z5 D. m.
The defense then opened Its case. call
ing T. o. Abbott Of Seattle, W H. Odeil
OF Salem. J. p Fullerton of Roseburg, A.
d. Sullman of Pendleton. ". D. Wheel
wright Of Portland and T. B. Wilcox OF
this city. all Of whom testified 10 having
received assistance from the defendant
from various departments. in which cases
the Senator had refused to accept COM
pensafiOn- The case Of the defense viii
be continued and perhaps finished to-
morrow. 1t is the opinion chat Senator
Mitchell viii take the stand in his own
behalf.
When the afternoon session Of the court
commenced Judge de Haven announced
that the demurrer IL the case Of Con-
gresham John Williamson. DR.. Van Ges-
ner. Marion Biggs and that Of William
son. State Senator F. p. Mays ct al.
would be overrule6 The case of the
United States against williamson. Gesner
and Biggs was set for next Monday,
while the court announced that all of the
cases yet remaining on the land fraud
calendar would be set for hearing on
Friday next.