The Washington times., 1905-02-06
HOUFATEIER SCHELL
Won HIS FIGHT
Brought About Indictment
of Mitchell and Hermann.
UNCOVERED TIMBER FRAUDS
Winnebago Priest Was Offered Bribes,
Ridiculed, Threatened, Discouraged,
But Battled on to End Alone.

It was the fact that a parish priest,
Father Joseph Schefl now stationed on |
Winnebago reservation. Nebraska, es-
poused the cause of fifteen poor tam
lilies in TiIlamook county, Oregon, that
resulted III the Indictment recently Of
United States Senator Mitchell OF ore |
gon and representative Binger Her
mann. of Oregon, former Commissioner
OF the General Land Office, and the re-
moval from office Of j. II. Hall, United
States district attorney of Oregon.
1t is Father Schen and he alone who
should be given credit for exposing and
thereby breaking UP what is now res
ognized as one of the most gigantic
schemes TO rob the public ever devised
in the country. Corporate interests IN
Oregon, chiefly railroads planned TO
secure the States timber by a manipu-
lation Of the timber entry laws OF the
United States Government
SchelPs Long Fight.
Finding the swindIers who were at
tempting to rob the families in Tilla-
nook county We're protected by high
political influence, and that the sWina4e
contempla ted the theft CT many thou
sands of acres of timber, Father Scheli
began q public war upon these very
men, which, after three years, resulted
and after four years brought about
confirmation of charges against Mitch
ell, Hermann, and Hail.
Though friends became enemies,
though lie was first ridiculed in Wash
ington departments, though he was
threatened by Hall with prosecution that
would send him to the penitentiary,
though he was tempted by brides, Fstth-
er ScheIl waged his fight against the
n n
spectors in Oregon, bringing responsible
ity for the swindle to the door OF the
real cllIprifs Then it was that he con-
scented to come to the Winnebago feser-
walton here and has already set IN mo
ton a reform which has revolutionized
disgraceful conditions that have existed
On the reservation for twenty years, and
has received the commentator Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Commissioner Leupp
Denounced as a Fool.
Father seheu, you are a fool" de-
elared Governor Chamberlain OF Ore
son, a good friend Of the priest, when
he began his hight on high political pow
ers. who he claimed, were in league
with or protecting the Oregon swindlers-
But, after Roosevelt and Hitchcock
had set in motion the machinery Of the
Government and the swindlers were
about to be driven to cover, Governor
Chamberlain went TO Father Schen and
said:
4 want to retract what I said about
your being Il fool. l want TO take on
my hat to YOU.
II was early in 1891 that Father Schell
realizing the TfIIamook families could be
helped In no other way, went to Wash
ington and visited the Land Department
of which Binger Hermann was then the
head
At that time not a word had been SAID
about the existence of q conspiracy II
Oregon between the high political pow
ers and railroad and commercial inter
ests 10 loot the State of its timber
Subjected TO Ridicule.
When Father SchelI reached Wash
ington. Senator Mitchell and other ore
gon Representatives ridicuIed Schell
telling the newspapers not 10 pay an!
attention TO him, and that he woult
soon leave the 9fty. At the Land Offic
Father Schel was referred to the OH
GERS of the Oregon Land Department
the very men whom Father SeheH ha'
attacked as IN league with the swlndlers
Then Father SchelI Went back to hi
parish IN oregon and began an effort t
secure prosecution of the swindlers b.
United States District Attorney Hall. O
evidence he had secured The upshot 0
It was letter from the district attoT
ney's office informing him that if n
would find some man who viii acknowi
edge that ne has taken up land unde
the circumstances related. thereby per
juring himself, the office would begi
prosecution.
In February. 1862. Father ScheH sc
cured an affidavit from Charles D. Hay
that ne had taken evidence of frau
10 Halls Office and had visited the OF
fee for days, always being told thu
Hall had just gone out or had not com
in
Father SchelI also continued collect
ing evidence Till he had proof Of fraud
in 10 cases of timber entries He shop
ed il was the scheme of the railroad
and other swindIers TO hire men 10 max
entries for nominal compensation fir.
signing contract TO turn the land oyt
10 them.
Told to Quit.
In March, 1862. Father schell prepa
ed to go to Washington. The day befol
,.anccrpiz.a Mitchell F2ar41rl,I