The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01
From Page 81, Column :

NOut1uucu FTOlu IdSc 80, SoiuihIIi -
fore would like to have the help of
Senator Mitchell
PUTER VISITS HERMANN.
The Government will attempt to
prove that he promised to make 1t
right with the Senator in the event
that he could secure the good will and
assistance of Hermann. The Govern
ment contends that Puter then went
to see Binger Hermann, then Com
missioner of the General Land Of
flee, and talked the matter over with
him. Hermann. it is alleged, did not
see that anything could be done 10 the
lands unless some action would be
taken which would make the transac-
ton of record in the Office. Puter
then got into a hack, it is alleged, and
went to the hotel of Senator Mitch
ell the Dewey House, and told him of
the alleged converse ton with Conf
missioner Hermann. The famous Pu-
ter-Watson afHdavits, according to the
Government, were then made in the
hotel of the Senator, and it alleges
that Senator Mitchell dictated the al
legged papers to his own stenographer
and had them delivered to Puter as
soon as finished. The affidavits which,
1t is asserted, told of the settlement of
the land and of it's cultivation and the
characters of the persons making the
filings, were then, so the Government
will attempt to prove, taken to Her
mann, who, it is alleged, took them
under consideration.
On March 6, 1902, the Government al
leges, Hermann wrote letter to SEN
ator Mitchell stating that he had ex-
pedited the claims as per his request.
This Is the letter which was introduced
In the first trial and over the identifica-
tion of which both Senator Mitchell
and Hermann were in doubt. 1t is also
the letter which Commissioner w. A.
Richards made his trip to Portland
from Washington to identify. This let
ter stated that Hermann had expedited
the claims and that the clerk of the
proper division would take the claims
under his consideration and make an
examination of them. This, it is alleged,
was done. and on the following day the
clerk recommended they be returned to
the local land office at Oregon City for
further proof and investigation. The
clerk recommended, 1t is stated, that
the entries seemed to be fraudulent and
not according to law. These were the
Davis lands. in which 1t is alleged w.
III. Davis Of Albany and others were
interested.
RESORT TO BRIBERY.
Loomis, then forest superintendent,
according to the Government; in the
meantime reported against the claims
or part of them, but after this report,
it is alleged, D. w. Tarpley went to
Davis and got him to raise 5000 each
from fourteen men in order to secure a
favorable report from Government
Agent OrTnsby, who 1t is alleged had
been also told to make a report. Davis,
it is charged. raised $146O Of the al
legged amount, which was said to be
divided between Tarpley and Loomis.
The Government will try to show that
when Loomis received this money he
wrote letter to Hermann asking that
something be done as to the expedition
of the lands, or at least as to their ia
vorable consideration.
George r. Ogden was the clerk hand
ling the business, and it will be alleged
he prepared report and sent 1t to Her
mann especially calling attention to the
alleged Loomis and Davis letters ask
ing that the lands be considered but
admitting, so it is stated, that the laws
had not been observed.
This report was dated March Z,
but on March 6 Hermann had ordered
the claims expedited and he assented.
When he saw the report made by Og-
den, however, it is said, he hesitated,
and when Puter came to see him it is
alleged he told Puter that he thought
the alleged matter looked pretty bad
and that he was afraid the claims
would have to go back to the Oregon
offices for further investigation. Puter
by this time had expended, it is al
legged, about $4,000 on the deal, and
when he was told this it Is alleged,
he went back to Mitchell 1t is said
he told the Senator his influence was
necessary to induce Hermann TO put
the lands through without sending
than ha n Ia odda6 "a
he told the Senator that If the claims
went back to Oregon they would be
lost to him, and all the money he had
put into them would be gone.
MITCHELL ACCEPTS MONEY.
At this time the Government will at
tempt to prove that Puter laid down
two $1,000 bills on the table in front
of tho Senator, and 1t will also try
to prove that he told Mitchell to take
them and see what he could do to help
the lands through the patent. The Sen
ator, 1t is alleged, did not wish to take
all of the money, and, it is said, pushed
one of the bills back: but the Govern
ment asserts that Puter insisted that
$4,000 was not too much to pay for the
alleged service, and that the money
was taken by the Senator. The Gov
ernment will offer evidence that Sen
ator Mitchell told hin, that he would
3 90 TIE UeSl he COulu lOT UlIIl.
The next day. 1t is also alleged, Puter
went to Hermann and. it is said, asked
him how things looked, and it Is stated
Hermann told him that he thought
J upon a reconsideration 1t would be
/ possible to put the lands through. He
asked Puter, it is asserted. to come
back in the afternoon ard, it is said,
he had turned the matter over to w
A. Richards, his assistant. Puter. it
&c alfeoad went tn MITCHELL and p0t
him to take him to Richards and in
troduce him. The Senator, it is con-
tended, introduced him as one Of the
best men of Oregon, perfectly reliable
and upright.
ACCOMPLICES CONFESS.
, It is alleged that this evidence is
supported by those who it is asserted
have confessed, and is said to be cor
| re borated in many details which have
not been and will not be made public
j at this time, which have been gath
cred with tireless energy by Colonel a.
r. Greene, the Government special in
spector, and his assistants
The indictment against Sorenson was
! made upon the testimony of United
! States District Attorney John Hall, who
| told Heney that Sorenson offered him
! $4,000 to let Wolgamot and other de-
| PENDANTS off in the land fraud cases.
| The Grand Jury, after returning the
Indictment, was excused until Janu-
uary 10.
Ropds of tho Indicted pereons wors