Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-03-28
HOW II WAS DONE
A Witness at the Hermann Trial
Tells a Story Of Corruption
IN High Places.
COT PATENTS FOR CLAIMS


WA1nlnkUOn, MafCu hAs-C. n -
Puter, who gave his residence as the
Multonomah county jail, Oregon,
where he has served six months Of Q
two years sentence for land frauds,
was d witness for the government
IN tho Hermann trial here Wednes-
day. Mr.. Puter gave with startling
directness the full details Of the DIFF
ficultIes and cost which had attended
his efforts to obtain patents to twelve
homesteads In the Cascade forest
reserve. now known as the eleven
seven" frauds In Oregon.
He said he first rounded up" ten
people and made an agreement to pay
them $50 each 10 make entries to the
claims and turn over the deeds to
him. He then saw DR.. LOOMS. spe-
cial agent for the land office, gave
him $500 to make favorable report
on the claims and promised him a
Ike amount when the patents should
issue. He also endeavored TO Xix
things" with Ormsby the state for
roster, by giving Ormsby's son $500.
After the Loomis report reached
washington, Puter learned that some
thing was wrong and decided to come
at once. Before leaving Oregon, ne
rot letter Of introduction to Sena-
tor Mitchell from Attorney Mayes Of
Portland. Puter said he knew Mitch
ell. but asked Mayes to write q
"strong" letter and indicate to the
senator that Puter would pay him
sxell to fix things up for him. He
presented the letter to the senator
on his arrival and also called on Mr..
Herman The latter told him that his
matters were being looked into and
indicated that things might be going
along all right
Senator Mitchell visited Mr.. Her.
mann and after several consultations
It was decided additional affldayits
were necessary. Puter said he told
both Mitchell and Hermann that II
was useless to do this, that the peo-
Die who had made the entries were
scattered. Beside, he said, further,
II he aid get them together they would
hold him up for more than he had
first paid. He talked the matter over
with Mitchell for two hours, as the
result Of which Mitchell went to see
Herman that day. That night he call
cd on Mitchell and had another con-
ference. II was at this conference,
he said that he took out two $1,000
bills and laid them on the table in
front Of Mitchell saying that this
amount represented all that he (Pu.
teri could spend on the claims and
get out whole II he got the patents.
He testified that he told Mitchell to
take the money and get the patents.
He said that Mitchell took one Of the
bills and tossed II over to Puter, say
ing that Puter could not afford to
spend so much. Puter said he tossed
the bill back and 1t passed several
times in this way. Finally, Puter tes
titled, Mitchell took both bills ana
kept them and said he would see what
could be done. Mitchell called on
Herman that day, and then advised
Puter to call on him. This Puter says
ne did and Herman told him that he
thought things could be arranged 90
that the patents would issue. He said
he had taken the matter up personal
II. The witness testified that Mitch
ell saw Herman again the next day
ana later that day Puter met Hermann
on the street. Herman shook hands
with him, he said, stated he had seen
Mitchell and that his patents would
be issued. A day or so after this Pu,
ter says he called at Hermann's office
and was taken to the basement Of
the general land office, where an old
lady was at work making out his
patents. He said he took the train
for the West at once, and upon reach.
ing Portland, after stopping for =
short time at his home in Berkeley,
Gals: fppnd the rytents waiting for