Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-21
AGAIN THE FEATURE
Testimony of S. A. D. Puter in
the Hermann Trial.
STORY OF ALLEGED BRIBERY
Disclosures Regarding Scope of the
Land Frauds.
NONE OF THE DETAILS RESERVED
Facts Incident to the Witness Obtain.
ing Two $1,000 Bills Paid
Senator Mitchell.
story OF ALLEGED BRIBERY
NONE OF THE DETAILS RESERVED

The testimony of Stephen A. D. Puter
again today was the feature of the trial
| of former Representative Bingef Hermann
| in Criminal Court No. /. Any disclosures
concerning the scope of the land frauds
which Puter did not relate TO the jury yes
terday were brought out In the evidence
| today, because the witness apparently re-
| served no details of the story OF the al
| legged bribery, which seemed to touch al
| most every one who had to do either d.
rectly oil indirectly with the deals. On
| ii oss- examination Attorney Worthington
| pinned Puter closely to the facts incident
| 10 his obtaining the two 81 900 bills with
which the witness had previously declared
| Senator Mitchell was bribed.
| AS soon as Puter resumed the stand at
| the opening of court this morning he was
asked to explain what he meant by the
statement yesterday that the lands in
'eleven-seyen' would be worth s5.2j to
| $3.50 per acre as patented. Wit
ness declared the claims involved being in
| side, the boundaries of the Cascade forest
reserve could be exchanged for scrip
other government lands elsewhere in Ore
| gon or in other states.
What was the actual value of the land
in eleven-seven? " United States Attorney
Baker asked.
1T was absolutely worthless-right on the
crest of the Cascade mountains, Puter an
swered. To make the location of the lands
absolutely clear to the jury he pointed out
"eleyen-seven" the map of Oregon
pinned on the wall of the court room.
Regarding the two $500 payments to
DIR. Clarke f. Loomis, special agent for
the land Office, in consideration of ia
vora BILE reports on the Puter claims. wit
ness said he gave LOOMS one $500 Wells
Fargo draft when the agreement was
reached, and the other few weeks or
months after the patents We're secured.
Asked regarding conversations he had
with Loomis after his own trial and
conviction, and regarding any testimony
I.oomis might give about the deals. Mr..
| Puter said he advised DR.. Loomis to
tell all he knew-not to put up any
| money or hire an attorney. because 1t
| was assured LOOMS could be convicted,
and his only chance of escape was to
throw himself on the mercy of United
States Attorney Heney and the court.
TO Make Clean Breast.
Il did not want to see the old man go
| to Jail, and l felt his only opportunity
was to make a clean breast" witness
testified.
Did or did you not have authorization
from United States Attorney Heney or
any else to offer immunity to
Loomis?" Mr.. Baker queried.
mo, sir; l had no such authority and
| made no statement to that effect to
Loomis
Did you ever have correspondence with
Mr.. Hermann the United States attorney
continued.
Yes
What ahout?'
''Oh; many things. One matter II partic-
ular was about my suggestion to Hermann
to have township south, range east
to have Township south, Range east
annexed to the Cascade forest reserve
What was the tenor of your letter about
township south. range 6 east?"
About the course the commissioner would
advise pursuing. He answered that letter
i'm there we two lptte ba
ject. The first was very brief. asking only
what reasons l had for the aurexat Ton. and
how many settlers were on-the ground. To g.
that | replied l owned several sections in
the township, and there were no settlers
whatever; that stream known as Roar
river passed through the tract. and that
wanted to dispose of my lands for scrip If
the townshp should be annexed.
Hermann answered that letter. telling
me to get the signatures of persons living
near the township, also to see Capt Orms-
by. who would tell me what to do
Following this line of testimony, United
States Attorney Baker sought TO introduce
in evidence a statement from Puter re-
garding the existence or non-eXistence of
the letters al the present time. Objection
was made by the defense to the competency
of the testimony of Puter regarding q
search said to have been made for the
letters at his home.
Mrs. Puter Summoned.
The attorney stated that Mrs Puter has
day morning at 10 o'clock. Upon the tender
of the facts which will be proved by her
the court permitted Puter to give the de.
sired evidence. He said the last time he
saw the Hermann letters was in desk in
his home in Berkeley. When he decided to
leave fbr Boston, witness declared all cor
respondence in the desk packed in
boxes and placed in the attic. Search has
since been made for the letters Puter said.
without success. At least one Of Hermann's
telters was on the blue letter mead OF the
commissioners private office, Puter de-
clared.
do you know anything about the Blue
mountain forest reserveT' United States
Attorney Baker asked.
"Yes;-i was on the way to man
named Smith in Minnesota" replied Puter,
land on the train l met Franklin T. Mays.
He told me he expected to pull off 4 pretty
big thing, and when ! asked what ii was
he told me he expected to create a forest
reserve.
About Hermann Standing LII.
IT asked him where 1t was" Puter
tinued, land he answered. In the Blue
mountains To another question about
what he had done in the matter. Mays said
he had been working on the proposition for
some time, had a large petition signed and
there were no objections from any source.
You know we have Senator Mitchell back
there in Washington Mays said. and you
know how Hermann stands in
did Mays give, you an address at which
he might be reached in Washngto n?" Mr..
Baker queried Over the objection OF the
defense which not sustained by the
court Mr. Puter said Mays ady.5ed that
he could be reached In care,of B.ng Her
mann, commissioner of the general land
office.
That ended the direct Examination OF
Puter and ne was turned over to the defense
for cross-examination. Attorney Worthing-
ton s first question had to do with the hotels
at which Puter stopped when in Washing =
Ar ixaU md 4rrffn
the names of four hotels and also mentioned
one boarding house. and he said on several
occasions he registered under the assumed
name of A. s. Porter or 8. Porter.
A number OF questions were put to the
witness in an effort to fix the exact time
and place where he acquired possession Of