The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-26
HERMANN HAD VERY
GOOD REPUTATION
SO Says Minister Who Testiies
in Behalf of Indicted Land
Commissioner.

WASHINGTON, March 25.-Rcy,
Francis ", Cushman of Washington
testified that the general reputation of
Blnger Hermann for honesty and in
tegrity was good, very good - as the
trial of the former Commissioner of the
General Land Office for destroying
public records began its seventh week,
Mr.. Cusbman said he had known Mr.,
Hermann for eight years.
tho prosecution of land fraud cases7''
"No, - replied M Cushman 'J
have taken the stand that all of the
entrymen on the public domain ought
not to he held up; that the 499
entrymen against whom nothing has
been charged ought not to be discrimi-
mated against while the Secretary of
the Interior is chasing one man who
might be guilty
In refusing to interrupt the ordinary
course of the trial that the defense
might put j. W. Rowland of Oregon
upon the stand. Judstlce Stafford said
that he understood the Government
would conclude its case in a day or two.
More About $1,000 Bills
With these prelimiuaries over, S, 4.
D. Puter was again put on the stand,
He was asked TO explain more IN de-
tail Just where he obtained the two
the late Senator Mitchell. He said
that since testifying last week he had
recalled that he had made $4,000 on a
deal in November. 1901. and had re-
ceived from Charles Chaffee, president
Of tho First National bank of Rhine
land Wis. a draft for that amount.
This draft was cashed in the First Ma
cember, and then he went across the
street TO the Wisconsin National bank
and got the $1,000 notes in question.
Objection by Attorney Worthington
prevented the Government from putting
in evidence an alleged memorandum of
! the presentation of the $4,000 to
! Mitchell made by Puter shortly after
that time.
A telegram from Charles Chaffec to
! United States Attorney Baker, confirm.
ing the explanation of the $4,000 deal
WAS put in evidence.
Claims Were Passed.
/ Governor W A. Richards, who was
| Assistant Commissioner Of the General
| Land Office during the Hermann adj
ministration, testified that he passed
the "eleven seven Putcr claims to
patent He said Putcr was introduced
TO him bv Senator Mitchell as 'relia-
/ BILE man,
Dr. Andrew c. Smith, of Portland,
/ Ore. repeated the testimony he gave
at the trial which resulted in the con
viction of Former Representative vii
hanson. that in September, 1902. vii,
( hanson applied tc Smith for a loan of
$4S00. Williamson explained that the
/ witness had paid 20 per cent of the
! entry fees on $1,000 acres Of State
school lands and needed money to com
plcte the purchase. When the money
/ was finally produced Williamson IL.
! duccd him to take a ore-third interest
I in the lands, Williamson saying he had
''inside information than the lands
were to be included in the Blue Noun
tain forest reserve. The lands were
never so included The balance Of the
! day was devoted by the Government 10
show from the course Of ar official re-.
port on the Puter claims IN the Geu-
era Land Otijcc. The report was = laced
in evidence and was traced through sew
cral divisions. with the conclusion
drawn b. tUi;cd States Attorney Ba-
ker that il finally reached Mr.. Hermann
and never VS. heard of agnin The re-
port recommended that further investi-
CATION of the claims be made in Ore
gou.