Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-10
HERMANN QUESTIONED
Cross-Examination by United
States Attorney.
APPOINTMENT OF RELATIVES
strenuous Objection by Defense to
Certain Inquiries
AS TO BLUE MOUNTAIN RESERVE
Attacking the Credibility of the Wit
ASSASSINATION Of the Trial
Mays Service.
APPOINTMENT OF RELATIVES
AS TO BLUE MOUNTAIN RESERVE


severe cross examination by United States
ATTORNEY Baker. and it is probable the ques-
.ioring will not be concluded until tomor-
row The actual charge against the de-
fendant-of destroying thirtyfive letter
press copy books of the records of the gen
sral land offce-came up only indirectly, ref
.rence being made to the books when Mr..
Baker secured the admission of testimony
bearing upon the appointment OF a number
# his relatives to subordinate positions
IN the public lands service on the ground
that Hermann wrote letters to those reia-
lives which were copied into the volumes
Further questioning upon the telegram
cent to F. T. Mays of Portland. which the
government claims was a tip to Mays
that the Blue Mountain reserve proposition
aad been approved by Secretary Hitchcock.
vas also included in the cross examination
Mr. Hermann was asked whether he had
sen; similar ges to George Sorrenson,
H. A Smith. w. N Jones and others.
Mr. Baker at the opening of the session
his morning, returned directly TO the
.harge. bombarding the defendant with
series of questions about the telegram TO
Mays in Portland, July %. 1902 Mr.. Her
mann chung to his explanation, made yes
iprday. that ne could not recall the exact
circumstances surrounding the senuiEg OF
The message. He was asked what was
meant BY the mention fifteen tllilp'i-
land patents in the telegram, nut answer
ID he could not remember
A moment later letter transmitting
fifteen timber land patents to the Rose
urg land office was offered but MI. Her
mann could not recall whether the patents
there specified were the same mentioned in
the telegram to Mays
Objection to Questions
Strenuous objection was made to the next
series of questions as to any relatives or
Hermann who became connected with the
public lands service while he was commits
siuner but the evidence was admitted on
he ground that letters were written by
hermann TO them and copied into the de-
-trpyed books.
NJ Hermann then named w. A Border.
IN uncle, who was appointed forest super
,isor upon his recommendation; Edward
Bender. d brother-in-law. special agent;
W. q. Hermann. brother. forest SUPERVISOR
who was burned to death In the service
Arthur b. Hermann. the latters son. who
succeeded to the post of supervisor hyie
Miller. son-n- law, special agent and En-
nest F Glotfelty, distant cousin mes
Serger.
Several queries drew from Hermann the
statements that the duties of forest super
visors included active patroiling OF their
Districts and the defendant was asked If
his uncle. Mr.. Border. was not more than
eighty years of age.
1IIe was in the sixties" Mr.. Hermann
said, .and active for his years.
Questions as to whether Hermann re-
ceived parts of the monthly salaries of
some of his relatives were admitted IN evi-
de.cta as attacking the credibiiity of the
witness.
MI Hermann could not remember receiv-
ing a share of the salary of his uncle. MT.
Border, unless it might have been in part
payruent of a debt due him.
Specific objection by Attorney Worthing-
ton' led TO the statement by United States
Baker that 1t desired TO
show that Border was appointed for the
sole purpose of discharging the principal
Of. a mortgage held by ahe defendant
Sustained by Court.
Mr. Hermann launched into an explana-
ton, but was stopped when an objection
was sustained.
DO you remember the government re-
fused to pay salary to Kyle Miller on the
ground he had rendered service as
special agent. and you certified to his ac-
count yourself?' Mr.. Baker queried.
II do not remember the defendant an
swered Mr.. Miller was in Washington to
receive instruction special agent.
Was not Kyle Miller in the rear room
at yolT office studying medicine during that
lime
''Hr was not in my personal Office and
lie not studying medicine
And did not Miller assign some of his
monthly vouchers to you?"
nave no TeCO!IeCIlOn as 10 tlat, DUt II
~ it was undoubtedly the case that l
had made advances to him. or the money
was collected by me at his request to be
forwarded TO him
Several vouchers. certified by Binger Her
mann as to the service rendered by Miller.
mt some of them containing assignments
Il the salary to Hermann. were intro
tucrd IN evidence. Defendant stated he
lnvw ). ;. Mathers and Max Pracht for
AcrlN special agents in the service of the
and office. but he repudiated the suggestion
nat lie transferred Pracht from Oregon to
Arizona. and sent Mathers to Oregon be-
aus" the latter agreed to rent Hermanns
H"uSe IN Roseburg. and Pracht had de-
vlIned 10 do
Witness said Orville Dodge was appointed
receiving clerk in the land office on his
reeomm@ ndation. but he could not remem-
Der instructing Dodge To place the sum of
$:-'.Is on deposit in local Lank TO Her
mann personal account.
Replied in the Negative.
Defendant replied firmly in the negative
10 a question by Mr.. Baker as to whether
he had clerks in the land office keep ac-
counts for the firm OF Hermann & Brown
IF which his was member. He iden-
tified blank form. several of which he
said were prepared in the land Office at his
direction d form of preparation of finan-
cial accounts of the firm.
Was there not an occasion when set
Of those forms were prepared heavy
paper anu you compelled the clerk to do
the work all over again because the excess
in postage would have been centS?'' Mr.
Baker demanded to know.
II do not remember such incident at
all" Mr. Hermann declared
That work done in government
.ime-'
Il do not recall whether it was before or
after 4 O'clock
Proceedings This Afternoon.
At the opening of the session this after
noon both sides agreed that DR.. Harry s.
Roger at one time private secretary to the
comm issioner. might take the stand for a
few minutes, conclude his testimony and
return TO his home without further delay.
Dr. Roger described the method of record
ing Incoming and outgoing mail at the land
Office during his service.
When Mr.. Hermann resumed the witness
chair he was further Intercepted regard
lng a conference or conferences with Viii
ard W. Jones and correspondence with
Jones. Mr.. Hermann's memory concerning
his intercourse with Mr.. Jones not
very clear. \ number of letters passing be-
tween Mr.. Hermann and Mr.. Jones, after
Identification. were introduced in evidence.
cross-Examination Continued.
The court continued in session until $3.50