The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-27
MITCHELL IN AGONY
wRITHEs WHILE HIS FORMER sEC-
 RETARY TEsTIFIES.
Damaging Evidence Is Given Against the United States Senator from Oregon at His Trial
 nt Portland.

Portland, Ore, June 26.-Harry hoo- ertson, United States Senator Mitcneiis former private secretary, was the prin- cipal witness for the prosecution today in the trial of Senator Mitchell. Rob ertson told fully without reservation of his conversation with Mitchell at Washington and the latter's fears Of prosecution for his work before the department, and of Mitchelrs rage when Robertson expressed to his em- ployer the belief that denial was use- less 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 subpoenaed to appear be- fore the grand jury, the witness said, he went to Senator Mitchell ana showed him the summons. asking the Senator what he could be wanted in Portland for. The Senator said 1t was to testify about the accounts of the law firm of Mitchell & Tanner and told him that Tanner and his 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 testify.
 The Senator had cursed the prosecu- tion and had said anything was jus tifiable in defying the Government On Robertson's return to Washington af- ter an examination before the grand fury, Senator Mitchell, he said, shook his fist in Robertson's face and swore at him for his actions in Portland and Robertson thereupon resigned his po-
 sitioh. In continuing Robertson said that Mir Mitchell finally acknowledged that he had known Kribs and remem- bered the partnership agreements with
 its damaging clause. He cried and
 swore and said that he ought not to be
 prosecuted in the Kribs case as he had
 only received a few small checks for
 what he had done.
 The evidence given by Robertson
 was direct He identified letters given by Mitchell at Washington to be de. livered to Tanner, but which were given to Prosecuting Attorney Henr and the grand jury and telling to tho
 best of his recollection the plans mad,
 by Mitchell and Tanner to evade prose-
 cution and how these schemes came tc nauGht. Robertson supported strongly with his testimony the allegations oi the indictment upon which Mitchell is being tried.
 During the recital of Robertson's | testimony Senator Mitchell showed every evidence of mental agony. He | writher in his chair and protested with his attorneys for allowing the intro duction 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 at | 2:45 D. m.
 The defense then opened it's case calling T. O. Abbott of Seattle, W. H Odel of Salem. J. P. Fullerton of Rose- burg, A. S. Stillman of Pendleton and W. D. Wheelwright and T. B. wilco | of this city, all of whom testified ito | having received assistance from the de- fendant before various departments. in l each case of which the Senator had re- fused compensation. The case of the | defense will be continued and perhaps | finished tomorrow. It is the opinion that Senator Mitchell will take the | stand in his own behalf.
 When the afternoon session of cour, | opened Judge DeHaven announced that | the demurrer In the cases of Congress
 man J. N. Williamson. Dr. Van Ges.
 ner. Marion Biggs. and that of. Will
 Hanson. State Senator F. P. Mays. e, al, would be overruled. The case oi | the United States against Williamson
 Gesner and Biggs was set for next Mon.
 day and the court announced that al | of the cases yet remaining on the Ianc | fraud calendar would be set for hearine | on Friday next.