Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-02

been equally remarkable for the pains
taking care with which the govern
meut's case has been prepared, tho
foresight with which every possible OBJ
lection has been anticipated and the
rcsistless presentation Of the evidence,
The Men Who Act.
Mr.. Hency has been most ably aid.
ed in his work by w. j. Burns Of the
government secret service, who has full
charge of the gathering of evidence,
and Of whom Mr.. Ileney says: ''With.
out Mr.. Burns | could have done moth.
ing. His assistance has been invalua-
bic. He has been acquainted with
every step I have taken, and we have
been in constant consultation over the
course to be pursued"
Only a portion Of the evidence at
the government s command has thus
far been presented, even to the grand
jury, and it is said that the evidence
against Senator Mitchell, Congress.
man Hermann and State Senator +. z.
Mays is as overwhelming as that pre-.
scented against Puter, Mckinley and
the co-defendants in the trial recently
concluded.
1t is authoritatively stated also that
Congressman j. N. Williamson must
yet face the inquisition Of the grand
jury, and that the evidence of the il.
legal transactions with which his name
Is associated is no less strong than
that presented against his congress-
colleagues who are now under in
lictment.
The story of the evidence against
Senator Mitchell and Congressman
Hermann, upon which their indictment
= based, is remarkable. 1t was first
old by $. A. d. Puter, after his con.
lotion at the recent trial, but all the
Important details have since been cor.
oboratcd and reinforced by abundant
evidence, so that it is regarded
Mr., Hcney as un~impeachable.
81 shall ask the grand jury to in.
let no one, " he said a few days ago,
unless the evidence seems to me am
ly sufficient not only to iudict but to
the accuscd.'
Story OF Mitchell's Completely.
In brief the story is ms follows:
;. a. d, Puter went to Washington
1902, carrying sealed letters from
+, =. Mays to Senator Mitchell. 1t
not a "lcttcr of Introduction" as
t has been 50 frequently described,
or Putcr had known Mitchell since
N9i, and had brought him some inn
.ortaut law business, This letter Pu.
or presented to Senator Mitchell on
.Iarch ., 1909.
Putcr explained to Mitchell that he
interested in certain homestead
pPlicotions in township IL, now no.
orious as the scene of some of the ,
pcrations Of the ring, and said that ,
was imperotiycly necessary that pat. q
should he obtained at once. q
lie told Mitchell that Mrs. Watson :
nd $4,000 invested in the claims in ,
'wnship III, and could not afford to Z
.se the money. Mitchell told him that %
would be necessary to put the rea. -
ms for cNpediting the claims in the q,
'rm of %afidayits, and in the evening
March 3 Mitchell aud Puter went o.,
the Senator'S rooms at the Dewey ~
.tel, There Mitchell dictated to his >.
'n Stenographor the two amdavits -
.bscquently signed and sworn to by %,
lter and Emma Watson. La
The Puter affidavit rccitcd that he
d been the agent of Mrs. Emma Wat.
D in securing for her the II home. -,
ad claims in township III; that he ~,
i examined the title, which he found ON
right, and that upon his advice shell.
.'S'ra her money in the property. mi
Watson affidavit rccited that nm
was the owner of the L. homestead s,,
mss that She has paid over $4,000
D for them, having borrowed the INN
hey with which to pay Tor them by an.
tagging other property; that these ,
tgages were falling due, and that do,
must secure patents to the II claims Y
'ne' m order to escape serious loss. lima
Mitchell Prepared Amdavits. ,r,
ne next morning Senator Mitchell Ieos
Puter and Emma Watson TO tboifes.