The Alaska prospector., 1906-03-08
The Branter Case.

l mere afe SO many ulStOTteu NeI- sions of the Sadie Branter case, which is made the basis of some of the charges against Judge Wicker sham, that we publish the story of the case practically as told to the senate subcommittee by the judge in his reply, for the information of those locally intero osted in the case, and in justice to the judge.
 Charge No. 6 states "That you were indicted in the U. s. Court for subornation of perjury in inducing Zadie Branter, undert the assumed name of Zadie k. Waterman, to represent herself as a widow and head of family for the purpose of securing government homestead"
 Charge No. : is "That you were indicted, tried and convicted of the crime of seduction at Seattle, before Judge Burke in 1889. The case was taken up afterwards by Judge Allyn, who in some way, which does not appear in the records, suc- ceeded Judge Burke in the matter. Judge Allyn granted new trial, which does not appear in the record. He also granted a change of venue. but there is nothing in tEe records to show why. The in- dictment appears subsequently, to have been dismissed or nulled in some way.'
 In answer to these charges the judge gives the following narra- tive of the case. The wording is his own, slightly condensed:
 Tn 1887 I was probate judge of Pierce county, Wash. To give assistance to intending settlers l kept lists of vacant pub1ic lands, and it was matter of daily busi- ness to give such information and I assist in fling on such lands.
 "At this time a female book agent visited my office and talked about taking land. She informed me she was a widow. 1 told her if that was the case she could proba- bly take land as the head of a family. She said she lived with her mother in Tacoma, was known as Sadie Branter, but in Iowa had been married to Chas. w. Water man, who hadsince died. Upon her statement to me, believing them to be true, 1 prepared blank home stead papers for her, which she pre- sented in Seattle and made home stead entry, swearing she was a widow. head of a family and com potent to take the homestead. She informed me she was over IS years of age, and I am satisfied that she was at least 19 or 20.
 About this time a. local news paper man took offense at me over political matters and began op- position to prevent my reelection he desired to. control the public printing from my office.
 ''In the meantime Mrs. Water man had become public talk as a book agent and otherwise, and the newspaper man learned of her land entry. He consulted her mother who said she was not mar ried. and when confronted by the :. two she became frightened and said it was not true and that l had told I her to tell the story. She also de- clared that on two occasions that 1 | Ddu NlSltcu Cedttlt WltU jltI duc had seduced her. The newspaper man took her and her mother to Seattle and caused proceedings to be instituted against me.
 "Upon the hearing Mrs. Water man denied the story of her mar riage and testified that l told her to tell the story, and had been un- duly intimate with her..
 "There wa. no other direct testi- monv than hers tha. 1 advised ner to commit perjury or was guilty of seducing her. To the contrary was her own oath in the land office and her general bad reputation in Seattle. Being young handsome woman the jury believed her story.