The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-02
It Is Charged Against U. s.
Senator Mitchell
And Congressman BInger Her.
mann of Oregon.
JOINTLY INDICTED
BY the Federal Grand Jury Sit
ting nc Portland.
Alleged to Have Defrauded the
Government of Public Land.

Senator John H. Mitchell, Representa-
tive to Congress Binger Hermann and
George Sorrenson, formerly deputy
sheriff of Mulnomah county. have been
jointly indicted by the federal grand
jury.
The indictment alleges that John H.
Mitchell and Binger Hermann did, in
January, 1902, unlawfulIy and felonious-
ly conspired together and with S. A. D.
Puter. Horace G. Mckinley, N. w.
TaIpley, Emma L. Watson. Salmon B.
Ornsby. Clark E. Loomis and William
H. Davis and others, to defraud the
government of the United States out of
a portion of its public lands situated in
township IL, south, of range Z, east,
by means of forged and false afhdaVltS
and petitions persons, and that, IN the
furtherance of such conspiracy, 5. A.
d. Puter did, on March 9, 1902, pay to
John H. Mitchell the sum of $1,000 to
secure his influence with Binger Her
mann, then commissioners of the gener-
al land office at Washington.
It alleges that acting upon the Sug-
gestion and the wish of Senator Mitch
ell, and influenced by him, knowing
that the transactions were unlawful
and felonious. Binger Hermann used
his power as commissioner of the gem
eral land office to expedite II claims in
township IL, and had them passed TO
patent, when he knew them to be IL
legal and not according 10 the require
ments of the law.
The indictment also alleges that on
March %, 1904, George Sorrenson offer
ed to John Hull, district attorney for
the United States in oregon, the sum
of $4,000 with intent to influence the
said John H. Hall in his official capac-
ity when acting on the indictments re-
turned against S. A D. Puter, Horace
C. Mckinley ct al, to defraud the gov
eminent out of land in township IL
south of range z east.
The alleged connection of Senator
Mitchell and Representative Hermann
with the alleged conspiracy dates back,
it is said to the time when Mr.. Mitch
ell received the letter from "A prom
inent attorney in Oregon" introducing
S. A. d. Puter as a responsible buSl-
ness man of Oregon The government
will, it is said attempt to prove that
Puter and Mitchell and Hermann were
we'll acquainted that Puter was an ar
dent supporter of Mitchell in the Sena-
torial campaign of 1898, and that all
of them have been personally acqua1nt-
ed for years.
In 1902, the government alleges that
Puter went to Washington on business
connected with the lands Of 11-7 in which
he was at that time interested. The
lands were held up In the general land
office and Puter thought that it would
be Of benefit to himself and his fellows
to go to Washington and see what
could be done to expedite them to
patent.
Before he left Portland, the govern
ment will attempt to prove, he went to
F. P. Mays and secured from him a
letter to Senator Mitchell, though in
fact, according to the government ne
was already well known to the senator.
Arriving at Washington, the land spec
ulator went, so evidence will be offered,
to the office of Senator Mitchell and
conversed with him in regard to having
his claims taken from the suspended
list and put through to patent as soon
as possible. He told the senator, it is
alleged, that he had already sunk
large amount of money In the claims,
and that Emma L. Watson, a hard
working and honest girl had also in
vested in them at his suggestion. 1t
was necessary for him to have some
influence with the commissioner OF the
general land office to secure favorable
recognition of his claims, and he, there
fore, would like to have the help of
Senator Mitchell.
The government will attempt to prove
that he promised to make it right"
could secure the good will and assist
ance of Mr.. Hermann. The government
contends that Mr.. Puter then went to
see Ringer Hermann, then commission
er, and talked the matter over with
him. Hermann, it is alleged did not
see that anything could be done to the
lands unless some action would be ia
ken which, would make the TRANSACTION
of record in the office. Puter then got
into hack, it is alleged, and went to
the hotel of Senator Mitchell, the Dew
ey House. and told him of the alleged
conversation with Binger Hermann.
The famous Puter- Watson afhdavits,
according to the government, were then
made in the hotel of the senator, ana
it is alleged that Senator Mitchell die
tated the papers to his own Stenogra-
pher and had them delivered to Mr..
Puter as finished. The affidavits, which
it is asserted, told of the settlement OF
the land and its cultivation and the
characters of the persons making the
filings, were then, so the government
will attempt to prove, taken to Mr.H
mann, who, it is alleged, took them I'M
der consideration
On March 6, 1902. the government al
leges, Mr.. Hermann wrote a letter to
Senator Mitchell, stating that he had
expedited the claims as per his request.
This is the letter which was introduced
in the first trial and over the Identified
ton of which both Senator Mitchell
and Mr.. Hermann were in doubt. 1t is
also the letter which Commissioner w
A. Richards made his trip to Portland
from Washington to identify. This
letter stated that Mr.. Hermann had ex-
pedfted the claims and that the proper
clerk would take the claims under his
ton 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
Tor IurJner proof anu 1IANeSeASaI1O4l. Inc
clerk recommended, it is stated. that
the entries seemed to be fraudulent and
not according to law. These were the
Davis lands, in with it is alleged w. N.
Davis, of Albany, and others were in
terested.
Expected in Washington.
washington, JAN 2-Ths news of the
Indictment of Senator Mitchell and Rep
Hermann for conspiracy TO
defraud the government of public lands
had been fully expected for some time by
those officials having to do with the case,
and it, therefore, came as no surprise
Secretary Hitchcock frankly stated that
he had looked for the indictment at any
time. while Attorney. General Moody, who
acted in conjunction with the interior de-
partment in bringing about, the several