Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-26
RECOUNTED TO JURY
RELATIONS BETWEEN BINGER
HERMANN AND OTHERS.
Other Proceedings in Court Today
Former Secretary to Defendant Tes-
tifies-Additional Documents.

The mutually intimate relations between
| the late Senator John RI. Mitchell Binger
| Hermann and Franklin Pierce Mays, In
Oregon were recounted before the fury
| In the Hermann trial this afternoon by
| Harry c. Robertson of Seattle Wash. who
| served as secretary TO both Mr.. Hermann
and Mr. Mitchell
Mr.. Mays. once state senator in Oregon
| formerly had an office in Portland but Mr.
Robertson said he understood Mays is now
| residing on ranch In eastern Oregon
Robertson was secretary to Mr. Hermann
during the latters term in Congress in the
years lS96-ls91. Before that he was a
stenographer in the law Office OF Mitchell
& Tanner, and from 1901 to 1905 he was pri-
vate secretary to Senator Mitchell. Wit
| ness read several letters dictate dby Mr.
! Mitchell from his shorthand notebooks.
Identify Additional Documents
Jennie s. Peyton and Andrew weithus
were the first witnesses at the session this
| afternoon. Botn had been on the stand be-
fore. and they were required only to iden-
tfy additional documents introduced in
evidence in the case.
Harry c. Robertson was in the midst OF
his testimony when Justice Stafford called
attention to the jury box. where one OF the
twelve men was enjoying a post-luncheon
nap The witness was required to repeat
his statements for the benefit of the man
just returned from the Land of Nod
Mr.. Robertson testified to having seen
Mrs Watson and s. A. d. Puter In SEN
ator MitchelPs committee room at the Cap
ltol and to writing and preparing the Puter
and Mrs. Watsons aff1davits, which were
atterward taken to the land Office as the
basis for expediting the passing to patent
or the Puter claims.
Mr.. Robertson declared he freoueptIv
went to bank to make deposits for Senator
Mitchell Asked whether he ever saw Sen
ator Mitchell have large sum of money
about the time the Puter and Watson af1-
r
OF morning when he went to the senator's
room at the Dewey Hotel and found Mr.
Mitchell to be very nervous and apparently
anxious for the return of Mr.. Mckay, pro-
prietor Of the hotel, whom he had sent out
for change.
The witness described Mr. McKays re-
turn. when a stack of $50 gold certificates
about ~ inches thick was handed to the
senator.
George r. Ogden Recalled.
At the opening of court this morning the
government recalled George r. Ogden, n
clerk I'm the public lands division. Division
{. OF the general lang office. who was con-
nected with the special service division dur
Ing the latter part of Mr.. Hermann's serv-
ice as commissioner. Mr.. Ogden stated he
wrote the original letters from the depart
ment calling upon Special Agent C. e.
Loomis and, later Forest Superintendent
Ormsby. to make Investigations into the
authenticity and honesty of the entries by
the Puter claimants I'm township II. south
range east. Witness said the action was
taken upon his own initiative when the
papers In the cases were reached In the of
flee in the regular course of business
Either Mr.. Richards or Mr. Hermann
sent for all the papers in the case. Ogden
said. and the day afterward he had a CON
ference with Mr. Richards about the mat
ter. Il told him I was still not satisfied
proper showing had been made to war
rant the issue of patents" the witness
declared, but the assistant commissioner
took a different view of the situation
Melvin j. McVane. a former witness was
also recalled. The defense desired to cross
examine him upon records OF the land Of
flee relating to the Blue mountains forest
reserve, other than the papers introduced
by the government and Attorney North
ington volunteered to arrange the questions
during the noon recess. =