New-York tribune., 1905-01-18
SENATOR DENIES IT ALL.
J. III. MITCHELL'S DEFENCE
Galleries Applaud Statement Of In
n0cence of Land Frauds.
[FRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAU.I

IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.1
Washington, Jan T7-An unusual scene was pre-
sented In the Senate to-day when John n. Mltchel
senior Senator from Oregon, rising to question
of personal privilege declared to be absolutely with
out foundation the charges of completely in public
land frauds which he has been indicted by an
Oregon grand jury. Senator Mitchell took his seat
In the Senate early it being the first time he had
appeared in the chamber since the adjournment for
the holiday recess Many Senators shook hands
with him they came In, and his colleague Sen
ator Fulton. remained by his side throughout his
stay in the Senate chamber.
At the conclusion of the routine business Senators
Clark. of Montana; Kearns and smoot. of Utah.
and McComas. OF Maryland, took chairs close to
the Oregon Senator. and he arose in his place and
read his denial of the charges known to have been
preferred against him. He read slowly and in a
natural voice which, however, broke somewhat at
intervals and he wept he finished his declarati3
In opening his statement the Senator declared
that the charges against him. if true. untitled him
to occupy his seat in the Senate He then detailed
the charges and said
I assert in the most positive and unqualified man
ner that each and every one of these charges. in
so far as they relate to involve is absolutely
unquallhedly and atrociouSy false, and here and
now Indignantly and dehantly denounce their
brand them publicly malicious and atrocious
liars.
Following this general denial with one more
specific. the Senator spoke substantially follows:
But 1 desire to be more specific and therefore I
further deny, in terms the most absolute and un-
qualified which I am capable Of using, that ever
either in the month OF January 1902 in the State
OF Of OREGON or at any other time or place. unlaw-
Bnser Heann then or c0FSPre9 OF I with
Kand Land, once and s. A D. Puter. Horace G. Nc
Rmsby Gooms and l. wa@ II Sn%Gn Da%s
or with either or any OF them or with any other
Of any part # Sf its public lands located either
Of Oregon or any other public lands eher Te in S'9e bs
State of Oregon or elsewhere.
fed terms that said B PTer dd ahd eSnF gnaga II
the city Of Washington, on March 3, 1902 at any
nor did 1, on March 9, 1902, in Washington d c.
from said @ Re o %o or h6Ssa1 6esy
collars 6oo or any other amount whatever, either in
amount whatever. as an inducement to my in
the General Land ONCE. to induce him as such
Somaates6 10 pass to patent twelve certain
ever. or for any other purpose.
The Senator then said he thought It proper to
state precisely what connection he had with Puter
and the lands in question and some of the circum-
stances connected with the action of the grand jury
and the publications in the press regarding the
charges. He said that about March l or . 1902
Puter called him in Washington with a letter Of
Introduction from F. P. Mays, prominent attorney
of Portland Ore, and for many years District At
torney for the Oregon district. Puter had with him
a woman whom he introduced as Mrs. Emma L.
Watson, a widow and citizen OF Oregon. who had
invested something IS 200 in twelve homesteais
after the entTymen had received their certificates
money by mortgagirg other lands secured by
notes coming due. She could not raise the
money to meet these notes until she had
ceived patents for the twelve homesteads she
had purchased. Puter had acted agent for the
woman and she blaming him, Puter said.
he had assured her, when she made the purchases,
the patents to the lands would be issued In the
regular course of business certainly before the
notes she had given for the borrowed money be-
due. Puter said it would be several months
hnfO tha 1-O1Il ha he'd in
order In the Land Office. and that his purpose in
calling him (the Senator) to know If he
could aid him in getting them advanced for early
consideration. The Senator said he told Puter he
would help him iE the event that he found the
cases in a condition to be taken up. Puter. the
Senator said, replied that he thought the cases had
been thoroughly investigated by agents in the field
and reported favorably.
Il had not. of course. the slightest suspicion
said Senator Mitchell. that there anything
wrong about the homestead entries any of
them and 1 told Puter that would go up TO the
Land Office at once and ascertain the status of
the case and asked him to go along with me-"
At the Land Office Commissioner Hermann
planned to him that cases could not be made special
unless good reason was shown by affidavit
why they should be advanced. Puter then told "the
sympathy story about the woman" and Hermann
suggested that Puter put his reasons for making
the cases special in affidavit and he would
consider if it proper to advance them. Puter
and Mrs Watson then Tent TO tne a 9Tfe
were prepared without cost to them
In closing Senator Mitchell said he trusted the
time would come when he could with propriety de-
mand of the Senate a thorough investigation Of
every of the charges against him. He added:
have been declared by unproven charges TO be
unworthy to remain longer your associate, and
being conscious OF the absolute rectitude of my
actions and of my innocence Of al! wrong, have
deemed il not only my right, but my duty to my
self and TO the members OF this Senate that
should come here and thus publicly deny all charges
which l know to be absolutely false. and also to
explain publicly the upon my part which
admit and which are now invoked oy the prose
OF the public press, as badges OF crime.
When Senator Mitchell finished his speech there
was renewal of handshaking, end assurance OF
confidence on the part OF Senators. while it
necessary the presiding officer to his gavel
TO suppress applause in the galleries. Mr.. Mitchell
left the chamber having declared he would not
again trespass on the courtesy of the Senate until
he had been cleared by the courts
PRESIDENT For STRICT SAFEGUARD.