The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-18
= WEATHER FORECAST.
 washington, Jan. 17---For Alabama, Fair, warmer Wednesday,, Thurrday fair, light to fresh south winds.

h@eht as01t w Ae~1a sSe~& ''sse@s cases referred to be made special. Three days later he received a letter from MT. Hermann which said in part: "Ac- ton on these entries has been sus- pended awaiting reports from a special agent as to certain charges which have been made to the effect that the entry men had not complied with the require ments of the homestead laws. These reports have recently been received and will be acted upon immediately"
 Several days later the Senator said Puter came to him and expressed fear that although the case had been made special, 1t would be long time be- fore they were considered and that Mrs. Watson was very mucn worried as she was being pressed for the money se- cured by the mortgage If they could be satisfied that the cases would be considered soon and without any great delay. he would return home at once.
 The Senator replied In substance that he thought they were giving them selves unnecessary worry that as the cases had been made special he had no doubt they would be taken up. consid- cred and acted on at an early date. As he was going to the Capitol, he volun- teered to stay at the land office with Puter and find out If possible how long before the cases would be considered. When he spoke to MT. Hermann about them the latter expressed the opinion that the consideration of tho cases would not take long time and as ho was very busy he thought he would turn them over to Assistant Commas sioner Richards for consideration. This he did in the Senator's presence. The Senator then Introduced Putsr to Rich ards as a respectable citizen of Ore gon." which. he continued, .1 had then every reason to believe him to be, and' the man interested in the eases who was anxious for as early consideration as possible. This is my whole con- nection with Puter and with these lands.
 No Idea of Wrong.
 T had not the slightest idea in do- ing what I did that there was any, thing wrong about the entries or any of them. did understand that some had made objection to some of the en- tries at one time, months before, but 1t was said they had been thoroughly ex- amined and reported favorably by the register and receiver at Oregon City. and by two special agents.
 What I did before the land office in connection with these twelve entries ! nave u6IeLOIOT0 Statt0s was AC~ offered neither did 1 receive at any time, either two, thousand dollars or any amount of money or anything of value from s. A. Puter or any other person.
 "I further state that not until two years after the consideration Of these cases in the land office as above mentioned had any knowledge or information to the effect that there was any claim on the part of any agent of the government or anyone else, that these twelve homesteads had been acquired wrongfully or fraudu- lently."
 Attacks Henry.
 Then the Senator attacks Francis !. Henry, an assistant United gssteS attorney in the prosecution of land fraud cases, accusing him of unprofes- sional conduct in the Jury room and asserting that 'subsequent to the con- victions in the land fraud cases early in December and before sentence had been imposed. Henry engaged with United States District Attorney John H. Hall In representing the govern ment in the prosecution of said case, entered into agreement with the said S. A. D. Puter, Emma l.. Watson. and others included in said conspiracy, by which they were offered clemency or tendency of some kind or character provided they would, by their evidence, involve myself, MT. Hermann and oth- CTS In these frauds"
 The Senator referred to his long career in the Senate and said that not until this time had any charge ever been made against his integrity either as a man, member of the bar or mem- ber of the Senate. It may be thought, he said, by some that he had violated precedent in coming to the Senate at this time. but he declared, 'I am an innocent man, and have at this stage of the proceedings the same right as any other Senator to come here in de- fense of my character which is as dear to me as that of any other Senator on this floor"
 Sweeping Denial.
 He said in conclusion:
 'T have been declared by unproven charges to be unworthy to remain longer as your associate, and being conAcious of the absolute rectitude of my actions and of my innocence of all wrong, I have deemed 1t not only my right, but my duty to myself and to inc members of this Senate, that I should come here and thus publicly deny all charges which I know to be absolutely false, and also to explain publicly the acts upon my part which | admit and which are now invoked by the prosecuting officer of the govern ment and by a portion of the public press, as badges of crime"
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