The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-01-07
HIGHOFfICIALS ARE INDICTED
v. Q. SENATOR MITCHELL AND
CONGRESSMAN HERMANN.
Federal Grand Jury 1t Portland, Ore
Accuses Them Of Being implicated
In Land Frauds In state ef Oregon
Other Prominent Men In the Same
Boat-ExpIsnations In order.


tor John II. Mitchell. Representative
Binger Hermann and George soFen'
son. formerly q deputy sheriff az Multi
nomah county. Wers jointly indicted
Saturday By the federal grand Jury.
Tas Indictment alleges that John II.
Mitchell and BingeF Hermann did. In
January. 1901. unlawfuliy and feloni-
ously eonspiFe together. and with each
other. and with 8. A, ID, PnteF. HoF-
ace q. Mckinley. ID. W. TaFpley. EN-
ma l. Watson, Salmon b. Ormsby,
Clark Il. LOomis and William VI. Da-
Wis and others, 10 defraud the govern.
meat Of the uaited States out of q
portion Of it's public lands. situated In
township II south. Of range east.
BY means Of forged and false aflda.
Wits and aciituouR persons. and that
Ia the fnrtheFanee Of such conspiracy.
= A. ID, Puter did on March 3. 1909.
pay 10 John H. Mitchell the sum Of
az.0oo 10 secure his influence with Bin.
gaF Hermann. then commissioner Of
the general land once AZ Washington.
Il alleges that. acting upon the sug'
gestl0n and the wish Of Senator Mitch.
ell and Influenced by him, knowing
that the transactions Were Unlawful
and teiont0us. Eiinger Hermann used
his power IS commissioner OF the gen.
sFal Land once 90 expedite ~ claims
In township n range and bad them
passed 10 patent when he knew them
90 be Illegal and not according To re,
quiremehts % the law The lndict.
meat also alleges that on March -.
1905. George s0Eenson offered 10 John
" Hall. district attorney for the Unit,
- States In Oregon. the sum Of S. 900
with intent "a influence the said John
% HAN In bis onieiai capacity when
acting on the indictments returned
against &. A. D, puter. Horace q.
Mckinley. 81 al. 10 aefraud the gov.
sFumsnl out q land In township ~
Goath - range east
s1FVnsoa 10 Indicted for having Of
fesed a hFibe u 90 e80 70 District a..
tnTney Hall on March - last. uhen
the indietmshI against the eunapirA.
tors Who were convicted In tho recent
trial WAS pondshE In the federal court
The alleged connection ~ Senator
Mitchell and Representative Hermann
with The alleged conspiracy dates back
u IL said. 10 tha time when Mr. Mitch,
oil received the letter from - prumi
neat attorney IN oreEon.- lniFpdaoing
= A. u, PuteF a. a responsible bust
ness man u oScEnn" Tho govern
mcnt will. q IL said. attempt 10 prove
that ruteF and Mitchell and Hermann
WeFo well hcuuainted. that Putgg vas
an aFdsat supporter Of Mitchell In the
senatorial campaign % 1858. and that
ali % them have basn personally &C.
quainsHd for yemFu.
IN 1909. the government alleges. Pu.
ter webt 20 Washington On business
connected with the lands % ti.7. In
which be was ~ that time interested
Tbs lands we're held up Ia the general
land once and Putor thought that u
wouid be ~ benefit 10 himself aud his
fellows 60 80 TO Washington and aes
what ~naid be done 20 expedite them
10 patent
Before ho left Portland. tho govern,
ment viii attempt 20 prove be wen,
In r. r. Mays and necured from him =
letter 70 Senator Mitchell, though In
fact. according 20 the government. be
was already wpli known 10 the sena.
tor Arriving 81 Washington. The land
Hpecuiasnr went. 40 evidence viii be
offered. to the once OF Senator Mitch.
ell and conferred with him In regard
TO having hIa claims taken from the
suspended list and put through to pat.
sut a. soon as possible. sac told the
senator. Il Ia alleged. that he had al
GRADY sunk a large amount of money
IN the claims. and that Emma L. Wat,
son. n hard working and honest girl.
had also invested In them At hia sug
Kestion. II was necessary for him "a
have some influence with the cummis
slouer Of the general land Office "a
secure favorable recognition Of bis
claims. and he therefore would like
20 have the help Of Senator Mitchell
The government will attempt to
prove that he promised TO make Il
Fleht with the senator In event that he
could secure the good will and assist
ance Of Mr.. Hermann.
Mlteheit's Denial
"If anybody says Puter ever paid
me any money In connection with land
frauds or anything else be Ia a DID
Hfarfn