The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-01-03

had also invested in them at his sug-
gestion. 1t was necessary for him to
have some influence with the commits
sioner C. the general land office to Sc
cure favorable recognition OF his
claims, and he, therefore, would like
to have the help OF Senator Mitchell.
Would Make 1t Right.
The government will attempt 10
prove that he promised to make 1t
right with the senator in the event
that he could secure the good will and
assistance of Mr.. Hermann. The gov
ernment contends that Mr.. Puter then
went to see Binger Hermann, then
commissioner, and talked the matter
over with him. Hermann, it is alleged,
did not see that anything could pc
done to the lands unless some action
would be taken which would make the
transaction of record in the office,
Puter then got into hack, it is al
legged, and went to the hotel OF Sena-
tor Mitchell, the Dewey house, ann
told him of the alleged conversation
with Commissioner Hermann. The ia
nous Puter- Watson affidavits, accord
ing to the government, were then
made in the hotel of the senator, and
! it is alleged that Senator Mitchell dis
tated the alleged papers to his own
stenographer and had them delivered
| to Mr.. Puter as soon as finished The
afidavits were then, so the govern
ment will attempt to prove, taken to
! Mr.. Hermann, who, it is alleged, took
them under consideration.
Claims Were Expedited.
On March &, 1902, the government
alleges, Mr. Hermann wrote letter
to Senator Mitchell, stating that he
had expedited the claims as per his re-
quest. This is the letter which was
introduced in the first trial and over
the Identification of which both Sena-
tor Mitchell and Hermann were in
doubt. 1t is also the letter which
| Commissioner W. A. Richards made
his trip to Portland from Washington
to identify. This letter stated that
Mr.. Hermann had expedited the
claims and that the clerk OF the pro-
per division would take the claims I'M
der his consideration and make an ex-
animation OF them.
This, it is alleged, was done, and on
the following day the clerk recon-
mended they be returned to the local
land office at Oregon City for further
proof and investigation. The clerk rec
commended, it is stated, that the en-
tries seemed to be fraudulent and not
according to law.
Funds Were Raised.
Loomis, then forest superintendent,
according to the government in the
meantime reported against the claims,
or part OF them, but after this report,
it is alleged, D. w. Tarpley went to
Davis and got him to raise $500 each
from IA men in order to secure IA
vorable report from Government
Agent Ormsby, who, it is alleged, haa
been also told to make a report. Da-
Wis, it is charged, raised $1,46O OF the
alleged amount, which was said to be
divided between Tarpley and Loomis.
The government will try to show that
when Loomis received this money he
wrote a personal letter to Hermann,
asking that something be done.
4 Law Not Observed.
George r. Ogden, who was the clerk
handling the business, taking all into
consideration, it will be alleged, pre-
pared a report and sent it to Her.
mann, especially calling attention to
the alleged Loomis and Davis letters,
asking that the LANDS be considered,
but admitting, so it is stated, that the
laws had not been observed.
This report was dated March z, but
on March Mr.. Hermann had ordered
the claims expedited, it is asserted
When he saw the report made by Og-
den, however, it is said, he hesitated,
and when Puter came to see him, it is
alleged, he told Puter that he thought
the matter looked pretty bad and that
he was afraid the claims would have
to go back to Oregon offices for fur
ther investigation. Mr.. Puter by this
time had expended, it is alleged, about
$4,000 On the deal and when he was
told this, it is said, he went back to
Senator Mitchell.
Price of influence.
1t is asserted that he told the sena
tor that his influence was necessary