The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-02-03
MITCHELL IS RE|ND|CIEC
OREGON SENATOR HELD FOR
CONSPIRACY AND FRAUD.
GRAND JURY BREAKS SILENCE
Returns Three lndictnens in Oregon
Land casas-conoressman Rineer
Herman and Agents Of Michigan
lumber Company klso Named.

Portland, Ore. Feb. AFTER many
days Of silence the federal grand jury
returned three indictments IN con.
nection with the investigation into the
land frauds which, 1t is alleged, have
been perpetrated upon the United
States government.
The first indictment is against
United States Senator john II. Mitch
ell. Congressman inger Hermann. S.
A. D. Puter, Horace &. Mckinley,
Emma l.. Watson. Daniel W. Tarpley.
Ebert X. Brown. Nellie Brown, his
wife; Henry A. Young, Frank H. Wal
gamot, Clarke e. Loomis and Salmon
3. Ormsby. They are charged with
having conspired on Feb. l, 1909, to
defraud the United States government
Of public lands located in township
III south and range Z by preparing
and signing affidayits as to the occu.
patton and settlement of these lanSs.
Senator Mitchell is specifically
charged with having, at Washington
D. c., on March 8, 1902, unlawfully
prepared an affidavit for Emma T..
Watson to sign, in which Mrs. Watson
untruthfully swore that she was a
bonafide settler on q portion Of these
lands. 1t also charges that Senator
Mitchell prepared unlawfully an aft
davit for S. A. D. Puter to sign, in
which Puter is alleged to have sworn
that he knew the contents of the Wat.
son affidavit were true. The indict.
ment charges that Mitchell received
as compensation for his alleged
services the sum OF $1,000, paid to
him by Puter. The indictment goes
on to state that In pursuance OF the
conspiracy Senator Mitchell intro
duced Puter to William A. Richards,
assistant commissioner of the general
ONCE at Washington. stating that Pu.
ter was one of the most honorable cit
izens In the state.
The second indictment is against
Henry w. Miller, Frank e. Kincart,
Martin G. Hoge and Charles Nickel,
late Of Medford. Ore. 1t charges that
these persons on Aug. 81. 1904. unlaw.
fully conspired to procure 100 other
persons to commit perjury by making
false oaths that certain lands in the
Medford land district. known as tim
Der and stone lands. were being
bought In good faith and not for pur.
poses OF speculation. These persons
falsely swore that they had not con.
tracted to sell these lands, when in
sact they were buying them on spec.
ulation.
The third indictment charges Mayor
William Davis Of Albany. Ore, with
having uttered a false ahldavit.
No specific charge is made against
Mr.. Hermann, as is done in the ease
Of Mr.. Mitchell. The indictment has
the twofold object Of connecting Ell
bert X. Brown and his wife with the
case and removing any illegality tina,
might have occurred when Messrs
Mitchell and Hermann were first in
dicted. At that time Mr.. Heney was
assistant United States district attor
ney and for fear that he might no,
be vested with ample authority to, Of
his own volition cause legal indict
ment. it was thought best to reindict
under the same charges. Kfncart
| and Miller. named in the second In
dictment, are said to be agents OF q
| lumber company In Michigan.