Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
HERMANN INDICTMENT
Specifies Destruction OF Public
Document.
DEFENDANT EXPLAINS
SAYS IT IS AN OLD STORY OFTEN
PARADED.
Charge Made That Mr.. Hermann De-
stroyed Thirty Five Letter Press
Copy Books.
DEFENDANT EXPLAINS

The indictment against Binger Hermann,
representative in Congress from oregon and
formerly commissioner OF the general lana
office, for destroying public records. report
ed at the City Hall here late yesterday as
stated In The Star, was returned under
section 5408 of the Revised Statutes OF the
United States. which provides as follows:
Every officer, having the custody OF any
record, document, paper or proceeding spe-
Gifted in section 540S, who fraudulently takes
away, or withdraws, or destroys any such
record. document, paper or proceeding fled
In his office or deposited with him or In his
custody, shall pay q fine of not more than
s. 900 or suffer imprisonment at hard labor
not more than three years. or both. and
shall, moreover. forfeit his office and be
forever afterward disqualified from holding
any office under the government of the
United States.
The Indictment Is brief 1t alleges speci-
fcally that Mr.. Hermann the 18th Of Janu-
airy, 1913, was an officer OF the United
States-commissioner of the general Land Of
fce-and that as such officer he was the GUS
todian OF all records, documents, papers and
proceedings filed In the general land office.
and that among; the records We're thirty
five certain letter press copy books which
contained letter press copies of certain off,
Cial letters concerning the affairs and bust
ness of the general land office. and which
were required TO be kept IN the copy books
by the usage and custom Of the land office
for reference and information pertaining to
and concerning the business and admins
tration of the office The Indictment recftes
that a more particular description OF the
thirty-fye letter press copy books cannot
be given because they are not now In ex-
tstence. The Indictment then charges that
Sr. Hermann did "unlawfully and fraudu-
lently destroy the said thIrty-ive letter
press copy books, and the contents of the
bald letter press copy books. with intent to
impair their usefulness and to prejudice the
due and proper administration of the bust
hess OF the said general land Office contrary
70 the form OF the statute IN such case made
and provided and against the peace OF the
government.
Considered by Special Grand Jury.
A special session OF the grand Jury, as
explained in The Star. was called to meet
yesterday to consider this case, and at 3:O5
pm. the indictment was returned in JUS
nce Wright's court, Criminal No. 1. No
steps were taken by the district attorneys
Pfdce to secure Mr.. Hermanns appearance
~ court. but Immediately after the indict-
ment had been returned Mr.. H. p. Galley
counsel Tor Mr.. Hermann appeared before
justice Wright and moved the court to fix
Dali. United States Attorney Beach sug-
Eested that It be f1xed at 5000. Mr.. Cat
ley said that was too much to require OF
Mr. Hermann. He then said that Mr.. Her
mann is a member of Congress, and that
Tor more than thirty years he had held
positions Of trust and confidence both at the
hands of the chief executive of the nation
and of the people of his own state, Mr.
Galley said. further, that no man could
point finger at Mr.. Hermann and con-
scienaoany say that hs ever did a wrong