Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-10
HERMANN OWNS MUCH LAND
Former Commissioners Cross Examination
Lends Impetus to Interest in Trial
SON BUYS ENTRIES BtFoRE TITLE IS GIVEN
Thirty Thousand Acres in other Deal
This Land was Acquired while
EmpIoye Of the ROseburg
Land once.

WASHINGTON, April 9.-1nterest in the
trial Of Binger Hermann for destroying
public records received a decided impetus
when the defendant who had been testify
ing in his own behalf for the last hve
days was put under cross-eNaminauon
shortly before the close OF court.
After saying positively that no members
OF his family had acquired public lands
during his administration. Mr.. Hermann
qualified the statement later by admitting
that his son. Schiller, had made home
stead entry to which title had not yet been
acquired; that Schiller had purchased three
such entries before patent mad issued to
the claimants, and that these purchases
had been acquired for $500 in gold by the
defendant to relieve Schillers embarrassed
financial condition.
Thirty Thousand Acres Acquired
MIR Hermann admitted that he had ac-
quired 10000 acres Of public lands in Ore
gon when he was receiver of public moneys
at the Roseberg land office This. he NAM
tained, was not the cause of his losing that
position. The records or these transac-
tons as well as those relating to the
claims purchased by Schiller were made
exhibits in the case. In the latter matter
Mr.. Hermann had written a memorandum
]
/ son.
/ United, States Attorney Bakers next
move was to produce the copy Of tele-
/ gram sent by the defendant to p. F. Mays
/ OF Portland, Ore, July IS, 1902 three days
before the proclamation creating the Blue
Mountain forest reserve which Mr.. Baker
! claimed was the Tip" promised Mays by
! Hermann that the former might take the
| necessary steps to make entry in the state
school lands he was negotiating for in this
| reserve. The telegram Mr.. Hermann ad-
mitted sending. 1t read:
Fifteen patents to timber land entries for
! office has recommended withdrawal orig
! inal entry Strawberry mountain and all
additions to secreta Y who has has, taJppTTtoryed
on his direct examination Mr. Hermann
had testified that he had never had any
| business relations with Mays; had never
written him communications nor had in
terviews with him. that Mays had no In
terest in the Blue Mountain reserve that
Hermann knew OF, and that he wished the
jury and court to understand this statement
TO be as strong the English language
could make 1t.
Mr.. HermRnn's Explanation.
Mr.. Baker read this statement from the
he made it he did not think all traces OF
this telegram had been destroyed in the
destruction of his letter books Mr.. Her
mann would not admit this. He said he
now remembered the telegram and eX.
planned that 1t must have been sent II
answer to telegraphic request from Mays
or more likely because Hermann knew
Mays as a leading public man Of Oregon
and simply wished him informed of the
action taken.
Mr. Hermann at this point emphasized
the public service Of Mays, saying he hat
served as United States district attorney
in the state legislature was the leader o
the bar Of the state and had signed the pc
tition for the creation of the reservation
! Under these circumstances It is likely HI
gave the information. Mr.. Hermann salt
he did not give the same information t
anyone else in Oregon, although he said h
gave 1t to the public press.
Mr.. Baker placed in evidence the indorse
ment Of Mr.. Hermann and Senators Mitchell
/ and Dolph on a petition from Mays a
district attorney, after which Mr.. Bake
remarked: He was fired from that posi-
ton was he not, for Chinese frauds?" Mr.
tion.
A regulation Of the land office forbiddinl
r the giving out Of information in advanc
, and also another forbidding any officer o
3 employe or members of their families from
1 acquiring government lands was placed il
e evidence by Mr.. Baker
The cross-examination Of Mr.. Hermann
! will be continued tomorrow.