The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-02-15
PROVEN GUILTY
JUDGE TANNER CONFESSES
AND BLAMES MITCHELL.


Money Received by the
Firm From Swind-
lers Went to Mitch
ell. 8.
Portland, Feb. 11.-Judge Alfred
III. Tanner, one of the most promi-
nent attorneys of Portland, and law
partner Of Senator John H. Mitch.
ell, recently indicted by the federal.
grand jnry for perjury in connection.
with the land fraud cases, made a
full confession in Judge Bellinger's
court at Ego p. m. today.
Judge Tanner admittsd that the
partnership agreement which he
furnished the grand jury when tes.
tifying for Senator Mitchell, was
made up within the past three
months and dated back to March 5,
1901. He says further that this
was done to prevent Mitchell from
being caughtonthe Indictment later
presented, Of receiving money for
Illegal fees while q United States
senator when, as a fact, all fees re-
eeived from government depart
ment work were to go to Mitchell.
Judge Tanner and his son aided in
formulating this agreement, and
then the two went before the grand
Jury swearing to faisehooda to
shield the aged senator in his atrug;
gle with the government's prosecut-
ing officers.
The confession came as q bomb
to the community, although not to
| the government 8 principal officials,
District Attorney Francis ] J.sHeney
and Chief of the Secret Service
Force W.. Burns. In the indict-
Iment presented by the grand jury
against Judge Tanner for perjury
| the government plainly charged
him with conspiring to protect his
partner, He was accused of hay-
ing aided ID eparing this agree.
ment within the past three months
at his own Office and through the
instrumentality of his son, A. Fl
Tanner, jr., he was also accused o.
knowing that Senator Mitchell re-
ceived as his share Of the profits ir
the firm business, portion of the
money paid by Frederick A. Kribs
ito have cases expedited before Her
mann. Further the accused wal
charged with knowing that Senato
Mitchell had a personal account ii
the Merchants National bank.
list of s to 10 witnesses was affixed
to the Indictment containing thes
charges. The government plainl,
indicated Its case and the official
connected with the prosecution ex
pressed no doubt efconviction.
The fidelity o. Senator MITCHELL
close friends has been tried in ma
ny cases, but the public was no
ready to learn that man of Judg
Tanners prominence and standin
would commit perjury even to say
his business partner. After ono
swearing to statement calculate,
to clear Senator Mitchell, the pub
lie expected that Judge Tame
would maintain his position. Blu
it appears that the government Sc
cret service force, under Mr.. Burns
and the district attorney, wove tn
web of guilt with such irresistibl
strength that the business partne
concluded it was folly to hold ou
longer and jeopardize himself ar
his son to exculpate one who ma
voluntarily committed a crime.
The story Of this case dates fror
the early investigation of Ian
frauds by the present grand jury
When Senator Mitchell realized
force that ranked John II. Hall ha
entered the field of inquiry, he al
ranged to forestall the charge of ri
ceiving money from any source lay
ing him open to indictment undt
the statutes regulating senators an
representatives in congress. Th
partnership agreement was the
framed, and in its provision We
made.showing that Senator Mitcl
ell expressly provided against an
| department. business going to h
personal agent. This agreemen
| was submitted by Judge Tame
| when he was first called to testif
| The document bears the date
| March S, 1901, and:is signed b
| the two lawyers, as principals, an
Harry G. Robertson, witness. M
; Robertson is private secretary
senator Mitchell, and has been
the Mitchell Tanner law office Fl
many years. Judge Tanner affirm
ed that this document was mat
and executed at the time indicate
His so,, vuaa called hv the GRAND i,