The Washington herald., 1907-03-15
BAKER SHOWS HAND
TO Argue that He Stopped
Arizona Investigation.
GETS IN HOLsINGER DISPATCH
Message from Hermann Told Special
Agent to Drop Work and start for
Set Up Claim of No Wrongful IN
tent I'm Hermann's Action.

Drawing near the end Of the presenta-
ton Of the governments side Of the case
in the trial Of ex-Representative Binger
Hermann, District Attorney Daniel Baker
played another trump card yesterday
when he succeeded in getting into evil
dence the copy of telegram sent TO Spe-
eial Agent Holsinger, then in the field in
Phoenix Ariz, just after the order had
gone forth for HOlsinger to institute an
investigation into the operations Of +.
a. Hyde & Co, disclosed to the depart
ment in Washingtoa by the letters of J.
/ A. Zabriskie. Of Tuscon, Ariz.
/ The first Zabriskie letter giving infor-
nation OF the land frauds was dated in
Tuscon. April .. 1902. and the second,
giving more details. was mailed May r.
/ 1902 An answer went out from Mr. Her
mann. with instructions 20 Special Agent
! Holsinger 70 institute an investigation,
under date Of June IS. 1902. The telegram
was dated June =, 1902. so that it must
have reached Phoenix almost as soon as
the letter. and it read as follows:
''Holsinger. Phoenix. Ariz-
Camera sent you by express KalispeI
/ Mont. You start there July 1. Suspend
work Arizona till your return.
"(signed) BISGER HERMANN"
Probable Line of Argument.
With this line Of evidence from the
records as a foundation. the district at
torney, it is claimed. IS preparing to argue
to the jury that Mr. Hermann first made
show Of starting an investigation into
the California. Arizona. and oregon land
frauds, and then called off Special Agent
Holslnger and practically buried him for
months on an obscure and unimpOrtant
mission, 50 that the first report from the
field Holsingers report did not reach
Washington until late in the autumn Of
1892.
Much time has been devoted by the gov
! eTnment % bringing out I'm detail the con-
ispiracies in the West, and the numerous
convictions which have resulted in those
leases. and tc attempting to show Mr.
Hermann's connection with the conspira-
tors-all TO indicate a motive for his de-
lstruction of the letter-press books; but
the district attorney, with his last wit
lness yesterday. returned sharply to the
lmain Issue in the case.
Letters from Files Identified.
| Charles A. Dubois, chief Of the Division
of Surveys Of the Land Office identified a
number Of letters taken from the files OF
the Land Office, and he also stated the
memoranda on the jackets, answered by
Commissioner" indicated that the an
swers. in the ordinary conduct Of the
business Of the Land Office. must have
been copied into the letter books. which
Hermann is indicted for destroying.
II is evident the contention of the de-
lfense will be that there was no wrongful
Intent in the destruction Of the books. and
that Mr.. Hermann followed the custom
established by his predecessors in the
Commissioners chair I'm regarding to let.
ter books of his private Office as personal
property.
The defense yesterday succeeded n
blocking the introduction Of evidence con
cernng HeTmann's attitude toward tn,
Rogue River forest reserve. as compared
with his attitude toward the Blue Noun.
tain reserve. I'VE wish 20 show that
none Of Hermann's friends We're inter.
ested in the Rogue River proposition,
declared Mr.. Baker. The holdings OF
Blue Mountain lands we have already
! proven"
With the adjournment Of the court yes
terday the Hermann ease goes over Il
n"xt Monday.