Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-10-10

FRAUD
TRIALS

The Oregon land fraud trials will
not be resumed before December 1.
A report reached Portland Monday to
that effect.
When Mr. Heney and Judge Hunt
left Portland after the conclusion of
the ys-Jones-Sorenson trial, It
was believed that the government
would be in a position to resume
the trials the 18th of this month.
Since then affairs have taken a turn
that determined Mr.. Heney to post
pone the Oregon cases until winter.
Whether the case against Binger
Hermann, at Washington or the trial
of Hyde, Benson and Dimond in the
capital city will be taken up before
the local cases Is not known. but 1t
is evident that there has been a ma
terial change in Mr.. Heney's plans.
The fact that he is very busy with
important insurance cases in the bay
city and further that he has been
appointed a members of the board
of arbitration selected to pass on the
big San Francisco streetcar strike,
may have something to do with the
change of plans. No report has yet
been received by local government
officials on the reasons for the post
ponement. Mr.. Heney probably pre-
ferring to defer the announcement
in detail until the return home of
United States District Attorney w.
G. Bristol. who is in San Francisco
arguing cases before the United
States circuit court of appeals.
The continuation of the Oregon
trials undoubtedly means that the
federal grand jury will be convened
almost Immediately upon the return
of Mr.. Bristol.
In the absence of definite informa-
tion as to the cause of the delay, 1t
is regarded as highly probable that
not only will the federal grand jury
again begin its grind in Oregon, but
that Hermann or the Hyde-Benson
combine will be brought to trial in
Washington between now and the
later date set for the resumption of
the trials here.
The next case set for trial is that
charging ex-senator Winloek w.
Steiwer. Hamilton H. Hendricks,
John H. Hall, Edwin Mays, Clarence
B. Zachary, Adelbert c. Zachary,
Charles A. Watson, Franklin p.
Mays, Clarke E. Loomis and Ed
ward ID. Stratford with conspiracy
to defraud the government by fenc-
ing up about $4,000 acres of govern
ment land in Wheeler county. 1t is
known as the fencing
case" and many facts bearing on 1t
were brought out in the trial OF
Hendricks, Zachary, Watson and
Barnard. Senator Mays, who was re-
SShlis NOhNiNhNus W III hOl DC NiACu III
this case. Mr.. Heney having agreed
to try him but once this year, when
his case was before the court on
motion for a continuance.
II is understood that Clark f.
Loomis will plead guilty. although
this has not been officially given out
If he does. however, he will likely
be a star witness for the govern
ment. Loomis was an important wit
ness for the government in the Hen
bricks, Watson, Zachary and Bar
nard cases.
The most conspicuous defendant
In the fencing case will be John II.
Hall, former United States attorney,
who was removed from office at the
instance of Mr.. Heney when the In
into land fraud AFFAIRS
had begun to assume serious turn.
Edwin Mays was Halls assistant at
the time the conspiracy charged In
the indictment is alleged to have
been formed.
Every indication Is that this will
be one OF the hardest-fought trials