The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-12
From Various Sources.

r lOni cpNiiN'S'
 C ENAToR Mitchell, who died after NN losing considerable blood as a re- " suit of the extraction of a tooth, was indicted with a number of others in December. 1904 for connection with tho land frauds in Oregon. It was alleged that fin 1902 he was in the scheme to de- fraud the government out of a portion of its public lands by means of false affidavits and fictitious persons. and that he took $2OO0 in return for his influence with Representative Hermann then commissioner of the general land office in Washington. Hermann was also in- dicted, and 1t was alleged that he ex- pedited 12 claims which he knew to be fraudulent. acting upon the suggestion and wish of Senator Mitchell
 Everything possible was done to save Mitchell, but the evidence was too strong and he was convicted a few months ago. His attorneys secured his release pend ing decision of their appeal, and the sem ator was never sent to jail
 The scene in the senate last winter when he made declaration of his inno- cence was most dramatic. Every senator was in his seat and Mitchell frequently burst into tears as he declared that be- fore God he was innocent of any inten- ton of wrongdoing. He never was the same man. after his indictment. His health, broken by his way of living, had for months augured probable death be- fore prison doors would ever close on him.
 The case on appeal to the supreme court of the United States will abate by reason of his death. He had just paid s5Os to the clerk of the court for the printing of the record. As the work had not been ordered. sthe money will be re- funded to Mitchelrs estate.
 Mitchell, during his senatorial career lived generously and enjoyed all the pleasures of the high official set. lie made money in large sums and spent It lavishly. Mrs Mitchell was for years a leader in official circles.
 His hold on the state of Oregon was remarkable He had an organization be- hind him such as few men in public life are able to build up and maintain In 1897 a revolt against him broke out. and he was again defeated for reelection, but two years later he succeeded in get ting the seat of George W. McBride His present term would not have expired until March 1907.
 He was born in Pennsylvania in 1885 and went to Oregon in 1869. where he practced law. He soon became promi- nent in state politics and in 1866 missed going to the United States senate by only one vote. Bitter politics brought out the fact that Mitchelrs real name was John Nipple, and that while very young he had married the daughter of a washer woman, by whom he had sev- eral children. He left his family ana Tn due time turned up on the Pacinc coast as Mitchell" When the story was printed he did not deny it, but asked the people to judge him by ms recoro rather than by his youthful errors. ne took steps to have his assumed name legalized and made settlement "i'n HIS former wife.
 sanator Mitchell married early in his oregon carer. before the exposure of his Pennsylvania affairs was made His second wife came of good fomiiy, and they had several children. One of them John H.. Jr.. is a prominent Oregon lawyer. and one daughter. Mattie, was at one time the belle of Washington. In 1891 she married the Duke de la Roche- fcucauld and is now living in Paris
 In spite of the exposure, Mitchell was elected to the United States senate h