Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-01-03
Exciting Developments Follow in
Rapid Succession in Oregon
Land Fraud Cases.
BINGfR HERMANN IN the NET
Present Congressman and Former
Commissioner of the GeneraI Land
Office Under Indictment,

Portland, Ore, Dec. 31.-United
states Senator John H. Micthell, Rep
resentative to Congress Binger Hel,
mann and George Sorenson, formerly
a deputy sheriff Of Multnomah county
were jointly indicted today by the
federal grand jury.
The indictment alleges that John H
Mitchell and Binger Hermann did, in
January, 1902, unlawfully and felon.
lously conspire together and with each
other and with S. A. D. Puter, H. G.
Mckinley, D. w. Tarpley, Emma l..
Watson, Palmer B. Or1nsby, c. d.
Loomis and VIM. H. Davis and others
to defraud the government Of the
United States out of a portion of its
public lands situated IN township IL
south, of range Z east, by means of
forged and false affidavits and flcti-
tious persons, and that, in the further
ance Of such conspiracy, S. A. D. Pu
ter did, on March 9, 1902, pay to John
H. Mitchell the sum Of $4,000 to Sc
cure his influence with Binger Her.
mann then commissioner of the gen
eral land office at Washington.
1t alleges that, acting upon the sug-
gestion and the wish of Senator Mitch
ell and influenced by him, knowing
that the transactions were unlawful
and felonious, Binger Hermann ased
his power as commissioner of the
general land office to expedite 12
claims in township III, and had them
passed to patent when he knew them
to be illegal and not according to the
requirements Of the law.
The indictment also alleges that on
March %, 1904, George Sorenson Of
fered to John Hall, district attorney
for the United States in Oregon, the
sum of $4,000 with intent to influence
the said John H. Hall in his Official ca
pacity when acting on the indictments
returned against S. A. D. Puter, H. G..
Mckinley ct al, to defraud the gov
ernment out of land in township II
south, of range Z east.
The alleged connection of Senator
Mitchell and Representative Hermann
with the alleged conspiracy dates
back, it is said, to the time when Mr..
Mitchell received letter from "a
prominent attorney in Oregon" intro
ducing S. A. D. Puter as "a RESPONSE
bic business man of Oregon"
The government will, it is said, at
tempt to prove that Puter and Mitchell
and Hermann were we'll acquainted,
that Puter was an ardent supporter
OF Mitchell in the senatorial campaign
OF 1898, and that all of them have been
acquainted for years.
Washington, Dec. 31.-Presdent
Roosevelt today directed the removal
from office of John H. Hall, United
States district attorney for Oregon.
Mr.. Hall has been prosecuting officer
Of the government in the land fraud
cases and the removal is made in con-
1ection with them.
The announcement of District Attor-
ley Halls removal was made by At
,orney General Moody, as he left the
white house after a conference with
he president. He declined to say
What charges, if any, had been made
against Hall, but added that for the
good of the service it was believed
,est to dispense with him, particularly
n connection with land fraud cases |
n Oregon, the prosecution of which |
lad been conducted by Hall.
Mr.. Hall was indOrsed for re-appoint- |
nent by Senator Mitchell and Repre-
sentative Hermann of Oregon, both
# whom recently went to Portland.
where they appeared before the grand
ury now investigating the land frauds.
rhe conduct of the district attorneys
'ffice at Portland has been inquired in-
o by the government representatives
nd reports of the facts adduced have
'een transmitted here.
The reports allege that there has
een obstruction of justice, that GER
ain prominent men have been shield
d and that attempts have been made
0 prevent certain parties giving evil
ence In the land fraud cases.
I. N. C. A. Meet.
Va