The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-01
Dates Back Many Months.

Dates Back Many Months.
The alleged connection of Senator Nit
chell and Representative Hermann with
the alleged conspiracy dates back, 1t is
said to the time when Mr.. Mitchell re-
ceived the letter from a prominent at
torney in Oregon introducing S. A. ID.
Puter as a reputable business man of
Oregon. The government will, it is said,
attempt to prove that Puter- and Nit
chel and Hermann were well acquaint-
ed; that Pier was an ardent supporter
of Mitchell in the senatorial campaign of
1898, and that all of them have been
personally acquainted for years.
In 1902 the government alleges Puter
went to Washington on business con
nected with the lands of Hi he was at
that time interested in them. The lands
held up in the general land office, and
Puter thought 1t would be OF benefit
to himself and his fellows to go to Wash
lBgton and see what could be done to
expedite them to the patent.
Before be left Portland, the govern
ment will attempt to prove that he went
TO Il. p. Mays and secured from him a
letter to Senator Mitchell though in fact
according to the government. he was al
ready well-known to the senator. 1t was
necessary for him to have some influ-
ence with the commissioner of the gen
eral land office to secure favorable rec
ognition of his claims, and he there
fore would like to have the help of
Senator Mitchell.
The government contends that Mr..
Puter then went to see Binger Hermann,
then commissioner, and talked the matter
over with him. Hermann 1t is alleged
did not see that anything could be done
to the lands unless some action would be
trIr btnbt Ia hn fro n n
of record In the office. Puter. it Is all
legged, then went to the hotel of Senator
Mitchell and told him of the alleged
conversation with Binger Hermann and
it was there that the famous Puter- Wat
son affdavits, according to the govern
ment were made in the hotel of the sem
ator and 1t is alleged that Senator Nit
chell dictated the papers to his own
stenographer, and had them delivered to
Mr. Puter. On March 6, 1902. the gov
eminent alleges Mr.. Hermann wrote a
letter to Senator Mitchell. stating that
he had expedited the claims as per his
request, and that the clerk of the division
would take the claims under MS consid-
Grafton, and make an examination of
them The clerk reported. it is stated,
that the entries seemed to be fraudulent
and not according to them. These We're
the Davis lands In which it is alleged
w. N. Davis of Albany and others were
interested.
Money to Be Divided.
Looms then forest superintendent to
the government, in the meantime report
ed against the claims of them, but after
this report 1t is alleged ID. w Tarpley
went to Davis and got him to raise $500
each from fourteen men in order to secure
a favorable report from government
| n. oil hn1
also told to make a report. Davis 1t Is
| charged raised S1i00 of the alleged amount
| which was said to be divided between
| Tarpley and LOOMS.
| George r. Ogden was the clerk handling
| the bushes and it is alleged he prepared
a report and sent it to Hermann.
| When Hermann saw the report made by
! Ogden it is said he hesitated, and when
| Puter came to see him. he told Puter
the matter looked pretty bad and that
| he was afraid the claims would have
| to go back to the Oregon office for fur
| their investigation. 1t is said he told
| the senator that his influence was nee
| essary to have Hermann put the land
| through IT is added that he told the
| senator that II tie claims went back to
| Oregon, they would be lost to him and
| the $4,000 he had put into them would
| be gone At this time the government
| will attempt to prove Puter laid two
| $1,000 bills ON the table in front of the
| senator; that he told Mitchell to take
| them, and see what he could 40 to help
| the lands through to patent, and that the
money was taken by the senator.
The next day, it Is alleged, Puter went
to Hermann and Mr.. Hermann told him
| that he thought upon reconsideration
1t would be possible to put the lands
| through.
Bonds of the Indicted persons were fix
ed at $4,000 and they will be given a
reasonable time in which to return them
to the court.