Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-19
REFUSES TO COME HERE
MATERIAL WITNESS FOR Gov
ERNMENT IN HERMANN CASE.
Issuance Of an Attachment-Exam
ton of DR.. Loomis-Irregulariti
in Expense Accounts.

Announcement that a recalcitrant wit
ness had been encountered was made to
the court by Attorney Baker In the Binger
Hermann trial this afternoon II being
stated that A. G. King of Seattle, Wash,
had been properly served with a subpoena
March Is. 1907. but declined 10 come to the
District Of Columbia.
A telegram to that effect from Charles B.
hopkins, United States marshal for the
western district Of Washington, was read.
Mr.. Baker made application for the issuance
or an attachment upon the body OF the
said A. g. King and have him produced I'm
court here to show cause why he should
not be punished for contempt of court"
Justice Stafford directed that the attach
ment be issued
The examination OF DR.. Loomis was con-
tinued Immediately after the noon recess
He admitted having held up 8 A ID Pm
ter for an additional $500 because OF tina
trouble growing out of the peculiar claims
In the III region" LOomis said he pre-
pared MS reports on the proving OF work
on Puter's claims and upon numerous other
claims without having been on the ground
at all
Alleged Irregularities.
Many of the letters passing between Her
mann and DR.. Loomis were shown to refer
to alleged irregularities In Loomis' expense
investigation at one time.
Melvin ]. McVane, a land office clerk
who had been on the stand several times
before, was cross-examned by Attorney
Worthington and the witness identified sew
eral entries In letter-press and record books
Of the department.
DR.. Loomis testified to preparing q long
list of affidavits In hotel in Portland,
when. by previous arrangement. the claim
ants for Puter appeared before him and
were sworn, and In one day practically all
the persons answering to the names of the
claimants were thus passed.
United states Attorney Baker produced
the amdavits In court. and Loomis was
asked to account for the apparent discrep-
ancy due to the affidavits bearing different
dates. 1t was established Loomis was paid
as per diem employe of the department.
ana sn ne SAID by putting different dates on
the afidavits he able to show suf-
f1cient apparent work to draw his allow
ances for many days.
One of the affidavits, which was so
of the lands by special agent was read to
the jury.
Regarded as Important.
DR.. Clarke E. Loomis OF Eugene. Oregon
former special agent In the field for the
land office in Oregon during Mr.. Hermsnn,s
term as commissioner. was probably the
most important witness this morning for
the government. He testified that he re-
celved many letters from Mr.. Hermann
some OF Them written on the red" letter
heads or the land Office and Some on Tho
piue leIser heads of the commissioners
private Office. which have already figured
SO largely In the case. The claim of the GOV
eminent Is that almost all of the LETTERS
written at Hermann's personal dictation
were transcribed by his secretaries upon
the blue letter heads, while the raenIar
mall or the bureau. also signed by the de-
ienoant as commissioner was upon the
req letter heads The blue letters II Is
said We're copied into the thirty-hye de-
stroyed books, and the red into the books
OF the various divisions whence they ema-
mated DIR. Loomis identified a large number
on letters received by him from Hermann.
ana otners written by him to the defendant
Several of the missves, 1t was shown. form
co regular chain Of correspondence and
the letters identified Were offered In evt-
dence and read to the jury : ~ - -
Written by Binger Hermann.
Two letters written by BInger Hermann
to DR.. LOOMS, but not copied In the books
were offered by United States Attorney
Baker. and after strenuous objection by the
defense were placed before the jury. Both
referred to the suspension of DR.. LOOMS
from his post as special agent by direct or
der OF Secretary Hitchcock. and promised
Loomis information as to the reason for
the Secretarys action as soon as possible.
Dr. LOOMS was questioned regarding a
meeting between himself and 8. A. d.
Puter and objection by Attorney Worthing
ton brought out the statement from the
United States attorney: I'VE are now going
into the conspiracies known as llU.' and
to show the connection between Senator
Mitchell. Bnger Hermann, g. A. ID. Puter
DR.. Loomis and others"
Justice Stafford ruled that the evidence be
admitted.
The witness detailed a meeting with Puter
on a railroad train, when the latter hanu.d
him draft purporting to be for $50 to meet
expenses of an investigation, and he after
ward found the draft was for $500. LOOMS
had been detailed on that occasion to make
inquiry concerning certain peculiar land
entries.