The Washington herald., 1907-03-21
LANDFRAUDEXPOSED
Stephen Puter on Stand in
Binger Hermann Trial.
BROUGHT ON FROM OREGON
Man Serving n Term Declares He
Handed Mitchell Money and that
Latter Called on Commissioners.
Get Patents When lie Reached
Home-CIerIz Knew of Methods.

The elimination OF the governments
effort to show Binger Hermann's cOnnec-
ton with the land fraud eonspiTacies in
the West as furnishing a motive for the
destruction Of thirty-dve letter-press copy
books OF the General Land Office, upon
which alleged offense the indictment of
Hermann is based. was reached in the
trial OF the case in Criminal Court No.
J. yesterday.
Stephen A. d. Puter, convicted and
serving a term in the MuItnomah County
jail, Oregon. whose testimony was largely
responsible for the conviction of Senator
Mitchell was the star witness, and he
spared no details in relating story Of
graft and bribery which involved HIM
self, the late Senator. Hermann, aud
score OF lesser officials.
Referring to the famous ''eleven-seven'
cases in oregon upon which his convic-
tion rested. Puter said the determination
10 enter IA series of claims in township
No H. range Z. in the Cascade forest re-
serve. was reached as soon as that town
ship was surveyed,
County Clerk Understood.
I'VE decided it would be a good plan to
locate a lot Of homesteaders on the tract, "
he said. "and rounded up ten people and
contracted to pay each Of them $50 in ad-
dition 10 expenses to enter upon and make
final proof on claims in the section. COun-
~ Clerk Montague. of Albany, the county
seat, understood the whole situation.
I'VE changed the names OF the persons
making entry so they would not be recog-
nized, and the final result was that all of
the claims We're decided to Emma l.. Wat
son under the name OF Emma L. Porter.
After we got the deeds a fellow named
Heideke noticed the advertisement of the
people just as they made their final
proofs. and called upon Horace Mckinley,
my partner. and demanded money 10 re-
frain from exposing the deal. He was
given $50. and agreed to keep his mouth
shut
About this time / learned that an in
Nestigati1n was to be made and that
Special Agent Clarke Z. Loomis would
probably be sent over the claims. Ny at
torney. Pierce Mays told me to see
I.oomis. and 1 did SO. and / soon saw
that Loomis was willing. II was agreed
that he should make a favorable report
concerning the claims for Sl.000, 500 down
and the other 500 when the report went
in. Hedeke was paid another $50 to act
as guide and take L0omis over tie noun
tains.'
Came 10 see Hermann.
Witness said he came to Washington
ana went to see Commissioner Hermann
Hermann told me ! would have 10 show
some reason for making the cases spe
cial. Puter continued. and I saw Sena-
tor Mitchell and arranged with him fol
the preparation OF afidavits which, tbs
Senator said, would be SUFFICIENT for GU
purpose"
Ia spite Of this apparent assurance, j.
seems that some trouble arose becaus'
when Puter seemed TO see success jus
ahead he declared Hermann made th
statement that the claims were "almos
knocked out
''He suggested that I return again Il
Oregon and secure further proofs from ml
entrymen, Puter testified, "but ] told hin
that would be impossible, because ther'
was a hint of fraud in the air, and all th'
homesteaders would hold me IN for morl
than they received in the first place. Her
mann suggested that Il might be better q
see Senator Mitchell, and I did so.
u told Mitchell the claims had alread
cost me more than S7608, and I expresse
myself as willing to forego all hope o
profit if l could only get out even.
Pulled Out $4,000.
Il pulled two SlO00 bills out of m
pocket and laid them on the desk i
front of him. The Senator said. 'Yo
cannot afford this. Puter' but ! insiste
that / was willing to give up that muc
more, and he took the money and prom
ised to see Commissioner Hermann in
mediately. The next morning Senate
Mitchell told me about his visit to Her
mann. and repeated the commissioner
promise that the patents should issue.
zone day later 1 called upon COmmiS
sioner Hermann in his Office, and he ser
one Of the clerks with me into the base
ment OF the Land Office, and there sa'
an old lady clerk writing out my patents
She had tow or three finished. and sal
the rest would be done ia a few day
j was satisfied that everything was a
right then. and started for home. an
when I reached Portland the patents weI
there awaiting me.
TarpIey offered $4,000.
Another interesting sldelfght in the Ian
frauds was offered in the testimony {
Daniel W. Tarpley He told about ge
creation of the Blue Mountain forest II
serve and ef securing upward of 17.0
acres in the Blue Mountain section. Soc
after he had proved his claims. TaTple
said. Franklin p Mays sent for him an
demanded that he give up 50 per cent
his holdings TO meet his share OF ii
expenses incident to getting the fore
reserve deal through
Tarpley declared he offered TO pay
the rate of 80 cents on each acre. or $50
altogether. but he said Mays scorned TN
and asserted SS,o00 would not begin
pay the people in Washington" MAJ
demanded % per cent Of the land or n0tl
ing. and threatened To "checkerboar6
Tarpley's entire tract IN case of refusa
The man Heideke mentioned by Pute
testified TO receiving about $500 in nus
money and an appointment as fore
ranger at s. per month in considerable
of the part he played in the transaction
incident TO the 'eieyen-seven cases
Puter. Tarpley. and Heideke admitte
their knowledge of the fraudulent natu
of all of their land entries from the b
ginning