The San Francisco call., 1905-01-03
HENEY RETURNS
FROM PORTLAND
United States Attorney in
the Oregon Land Frauds
Case Gives Out Statement
SCORES POLITICAL RING
Says That the Revelations
of Conspiracy and Crime
Are Only Just Beginning

Francis ]. Heney OF the San Fran
cisco bar, the special United States At
torney who procured the indictment Of
Senator John H. Mitchell and Repre-
sentative Binger Hermann of Oregon
and the removal Of United States Dis
trict Attorney John H. Hall, in connec-
ton with the Oregon land frauds, re-
turned to San Francisco yesterday. In
speaking of the cases involved, Mr..
Heney said:
Ths/sxtent Of the land fraud cases in ORE
I learned the extent Of the Hyde Benson frauds
through my connection with the prosecution
Of a s corrupt political ring, which hesitates at
nothing to accomplish It's ends. Hundreds OF
thousands Of acres OF the finest timber land
United States within the past Ave years by
half dozen individuals. through fraud. per.
s1s Of oreson w e %
whom they hear the evidence in the case
against Senator Mitchell and Congressman
evidence in the case of Puter, Mckinley and
others. which has already been tried. and IN
case against Mitchell and Hermann does not
depend IN the slightest degree upon the tesu-
rnony OF Puter and Mckinley. The evidence
is sufficient to warrant and sustain oonWo-
ton without placing either Of them upon the
stand as q witness. I have firmly adhered
and Will continue firmly to adhere to the the
upon the testimony of, an accomplice OF a
convicted person unless that testimony Is cor
roborated by other evidence as to every ma
terial issue and circumstance.
The indictments already procured touch only
perpetrated in oreson. The Grand Jury and
have fully months work ahead OF US and
] expect to procure the indictment Of at least
have prohted most by these frauds.
HALLS REMOVAL.
v,s reluctantly compelled to request the
President summarily to remove John II. Hall.
United States Attorney for Oregon, for reasons
which I deemed amply sufficient and which
will make public in detail at the proper time
and Just as soon as is compatible with the
NECESSARY for me to request the removal Of
certain other Federal oficeholders in Oregon
before We complete our investisation. but
upon me in making such requests and am
proceeding with the utmost caution and will
not ask the President to act until l am in
possession of unimpeachable evidence of the
improper conduct OF such officers
In October lsos was b tenoered s.tn POSITION Sos,son
at Washington by the then Attorney General:
Hon P. C.. Knox, upon purely personal
grounds, and declined the appointment solely
hv reason of the fact that 1 could not afford
sacrifice my civil practice here by thus
Ion. D. C. In November. 1908. Attorney General
Knox urged me to accept employment as Spe-
cial Assistant Attorney General to prosecute
the land fraud cases in which Puter. McKin-
ley. Ware and Watson had been indicted at
Portland on October 90 of that same year
and I accepted the employment with great
my absence from my business here for the
greater part of a month Had realized the
amount of work and the time which would be
required thoroughly to exploit the land frauds
in Oregon I would have declined the appoint
gone gone into mt the fight I feel morally bound to
complete II at whatever sacrifice to my own
business interests, since 1t would be difficult
where I left them and secure equally good
suits.
CLAIM SPfTEWORK.
Ny success up to the present time in these
prosecutions is due primarily and almost en-
tirely TO the great moral influence which the
ruggedly honest character of honored
President. Theodore Roosevelt, is exercising
reached into every mansion, home and hamlet
throughout every State and Territory in the
Union. John H. Mitchell and Binger Her
mann realize that fact and 1t is for this reason
that they are loudly proclaiming and vigor-
sop Ssy 9 IN the as Of reron ajse IS 10
the result Of a spiteful desire for vengeance
against them by the Hon E. A. Hitchcock.
Secretary of the Interior.
1t is a matter OF general knowledge in Wash
ington. d. c., that the removal OF Binger Her
mann was requested by the Secretary of the
Interior, by reason OF the fact that as Com
missioner of the General Land Office. he sup
pressed from the Secretary Of the Interior in
formation which reached him from Arizona
posing the vast extent and character of the
Hyde Benson land frauds From that day TO
tniS hermann ana A1ltcncu nave Deen Violently
attacking and abusing Secretary Hitchcock but
the latter has steadily pursued the investiga-
ton Of land frauds throughout the United
states and has earnestly insisted upon the
prosecution Of all offenders. both high and low,
without discrimination.
When I was first appointed by Attorney
General Knox to prosecute the Oregon land
fraud cases the political ring at Portland set
TO work to discount my efforts the moment they
discovered that I was probably the kind OF
who could not be handled. In pursuance
OF their plans letter was addressed and sent
to Attorney General Knox on December TO-
1903, abusing him for appointing me. This
letter was signed by both the Senators from
Oregon. the name Of John II. Mitchell appear
ing first. From recent developments It is OBJ
vious that the reasons given in this letter for
the attack upon Attorney General Knox did
not constitute the real motive which was be-
hind the letter. 1t IL quite evident that John
II. Michel then feared exactly what has hap
pened. towit: vigorous prosecution which
could not be diverted or thwarted by political
any other kind of influence, and which
would inevitably expose his own connection
with the frauds.
REFUSED TO RETURN.
Senator Mitchell refused to return to Port
land witness in the case against Puter
Mckinley ct al. although in my telegram sub