Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-09
AGAIN ON THE STAND
Rinqer Hermann Testifies in His
Own Behalf.
REVIEW OF THE TESTIMONY
Declares Many Statements by S. A. D.
Puter False.
SENATOR M1TCHELLs VISIT
Defendant Gives Recollection Of the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at Session
Late Yesterday Afternoon.

Resuming the witness stand in his own
defense again today, former Representa-
tive Binger Hermann was called upon for a
close review of the testimony of 8. A. ID.
Puter, and he specified as false many Of the
,, latters sworn statements Several official
letters written by the defendant were pro-
duced in evidence, and it was testified they
were not copied into the books which Mr.
Hermann is charged with destroying. When
the noon recess was taken at 12:3O O'Clock
Attorney Worthington stated the direct ex-
animation of Mr.. Hermann would be COM
pleted with the asking of only few more
questions.
Mr. Hermann this morning began his
version of the occurrences in connection
with the Puter claims passing through the
land Office exactly at the point where he
was interrupted yesterday by the adjourn
ment of court Almost the first question
concerned the whereabouts Of the original
affidavits Of Mrs. Emma Watson and 3 a.
D. Puter upon which the issue Of patents
to the Puter claims was based. United
States Attorney Baker stated it was thought
the afkdavits were i'll the west. but many
kilograms in quest of them had been sent
out without results
Recollection Of Incident.
Giving his recollection of the incident OF
the visit to his office of Senator Mitchell
and Puter and Mrs. Watson. the defendant
said Senator Mitchell urged that the claims
in Ill" township be passed to Patent:
that Mrs Watson would be subjected to
financial hardship If the matter WAS longer
held in abeyance. and that the OrmSby ana
Loomis reports showed everything to be
favorable. Mr.. Hermann SAID, neverthe-
less he informed Senator Mitchell the ap-
iic., -nI116 he
ing as required by the rules or the iano
Office. and the presentation OF the andavns
OF Puter and Mrs. Watson followed within
few days.
What d, YOU say about the converse
ton escrlbel in Puter's testimony. In
witch you are said to have picked up a
!, letter or paper from yoar desk ana toid
Putcr tho claims seem TO have been knock
ed C.t?" Attorne:- WortEington asked
No such conversation ever occurred,
de clared the defendant.
'-What about q visit to your nome oy
Senator Mitchell ore evening. which IS
claimed TO have resulted in statements by
the senator that you had promised to take
I'D the claims j., cerson?
Senator Mitchell never called at my
home. by day or night in reference to
those claims.
What knowledge have you of the alleged
payment of two Sl,ooV plils p9 ueei ~
MITCHELL"
Il know nothing o. such an occurrence
Did you know the afidavits of Pnter and
Mrs. Watson were. as mas beei teSl.litu
here. a tissue of falsehoods.
II did not.
Declared to Be False.
Mr. Hermann also declared to be false
the account of meeting between himself
and Puker on F street. in which 1t was
claimed he promised favorable action on
the Puter claims. The actual final action
of the land Office on the Puter claims. the
, ,ail tab his
II remember Senator Mitchell and Puter.
and poss bly, alsc Mrs. Watson came into
nv Office after this matter had been pend
ing for several days. and the senator urged
against longer delay, the witness oecliireu
Il was very busy and DID not have time to
go through the great stack OF reports al
fidav Wits. etc. so l called Gov. Richards. and
asked him to examine the papers In me
cases and decide finally upon the patents
issuing Gov. Richards took the papers
and went to his own room Senator mitchell
and party following him.
Giving description of the events fmmedi-
ateIy preceding his resignation as commits
sioner of the general land ONCE, AR; her-
mann said he remembered seeing the re-
port of Special Agent Hols!nger upon the
alleged land frauds in states on the racine
slope, and he ordered one OF the cieras IN
the Office to write letter 10 ftoisimsef
directing him to secure additional details
Il considered that 1 was comm ssioner OF
the general land Office. and was satlsned
ali land grants to be suspended was right
the defendant stated
To Secretary Hitchcock.
Mr.. Hermann further said he took the
uoIsiuger report to Secretary Hitchcock,
he thought the same afternoon. and the
Secretary placed the papers in drawer in
his desk Mr. Hermann did not knew
whether Secretary Hitchcock had been in
formed in advance of the existence OF the
report.
Portland in 1854 the defendant declared he
met Mr. Hough, Mr. Rittenhouse and Mr..
Muller, former clerks in his once. nnuinS
them seated at table in the front or the
RESTAURANT Irwin Rittenhouse, in his test-
mouy asserted Hough was not present.
| Hough and Muller said Hough was there
Referring directly to his resignation from
| the commissionership of the general iahd
office Mr. Hermann said:
Secretary Hitchcock sent for me in the
autumn of 1903. and l was very much sur
prised to hear him say he was not satisfied
with my administration of the land office.
| 1 asked him If there was anything reflect
! ing upon my integrity. and he said: No.
! but we are not in accord.
Mr.. Hermann related MS conversations
with Senator Mitchell, resulting in the lat
| ter interceding for him with the Secretary
| to secure a slight postponement OF the date
| of his resignation. and the final agreement
upon February l, fS3, as a GATE SatIslac-
| tory to all concerned
Asthe probable causes of Secretary Hitch
| cocks dissatisf action with his administra-
| ton. the defendant related one incident
| when he was accused Of employing a clerk
| who had been charged with theft; another
| when he declared his belief In the limo
| cence Of two Jerks who were accused Of
| doing private work In office hours. and the
| Secretary dismissed the men: and another
| incident in which the Secretary objected to
| the expenses incurred il extingutshing a
| forest fire in California. and still fourth
| occurrence, in which he appealed to Presi-
| dent Mckinley from a decision of Secre-
| tary Hitchcock and the latter was over
| ruled Strained relations existed between
| himself and the Secretary for several years.
! MIR. Hermann SAID
Direct Examination Closed.
In closing the direct examination of Mr.
| Hermann at the beginning of the uession