Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-25
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Sums Up From Standpoint of the
Prosecution.
COUNSEL FOR DEFENSE RESTS
Soon Time for Jury to Say Whether
Accused is Guilty or Not
Guilty.

afternoon was making the Hllal summing
uP argument to the jury in the case of
Ringer Hermann, formerly representative
in Congress, and prior to that commissioner
of the general land office. accused of de-
strOying number of letter-press copy
books the property of the government.
Attorney Worthington for the defense con-
ClEdrd his remarks shortly after IL o'clock
this morning. Mr. Baker is expected to fin
ISL tomorrow morning. and the charge to
Gle Jury will then be made by Justice Stat
ford
] h." duty of the government will soon
b- at an end. United States Attorney
Baker said in his closing address to the
jury. and 1t will then be your duty gentle
men. to say whether this defendant is guilty
or not guilty of the charge contained in the
Indictment"
counsel referred to the reference Attorney
W o' ttlngton had made to the law in the
case. asking the jurors to follow closely the
law laid down by the court. and for them
To notice how far counsel for the defense
WIS away from the law as he had In
terpreted it, Many weeks he remarked.
nave been consumed by the trial of the
case. and Yet IT Is to he disposed of in the
same manner as any other case
Mr. Baker told Of the political life of the
defendant. and said his whole ambition was
to be United States senator from the
fitts q: Oregon. In order to attain that end
domain in that state. but he was not giving
up any of his own money to increase his
chance for getting into the upper house
Of the national Legislature
THAT is the man You have before YOU"
counsel said
Mr. Baker went on to say that Herman
was man who had been in politics since
1873 according to his counsel. and he is a
man who enjoyed the confidence of two
Presidents of the United States. Witnesses
had been produced in court to show the
good character of the defendant.
Reputation, Not Character.
Il beg your pardon. gentlemen" Mr..
Baker quickly said. II mean they We're
brought here 20 show his good reputation
And that is all the law permits Mr.
Worthington Interrupted to say.
Continuing. United States Attorney Baker
said that MIR Hermann was necessarily
man Of good reputation. Presidents, he
argued, do not appoint men to office unless
they have good reputa tions.
And now. he stated YOU are being
asked 10 find the defendant guiltless be-
cause of his good reputation.
Mr.. Baker referred to the testimony of
the witness. Muller, and also what was
said upon the question of reputation by
Senator's Simon. Fulton and Teller. After
the defendant had made lamentabe fail
upon the witness stand. counsel de-
clared the character witnesses showed an
Improvement. He referred TO Justices NC
Keuna and Gould. whose testimony. he
stated. was such would enlighten the
court.
Counsel for tine government further said
that Mr. Worthington had commended his
client for having his relatives appointed to
Office lie said lie was certain that no other
public official had ever employed so many
o. his relatives as did Binger Hermann.
He employed them all. the attorney for
the government stated.
Mr. Baker announced that he expected to
convince the jury that tue defendant eX
pected lie would be acquitted because of his
dual CapaCity-as the comm ssioner of the
general land office and private citizen.
He told OF the signatures to papers at the
time the defendant was receiver of public
moneys at ROSeberg. Ore. signing the name
"R Hermann" and appendil.g the sigma
ttre VI Ringer Hermann as a witness to
Tire first signature.
Remarkable Man.
Ringer Hermann" he said to the jury
IS a remarkable man: not because he for
gets or remembers. but because his memory
IL - convenient 1t fits in and dOvetails
just where ii vii do the most good. Refer
en-e was made to Mr.. Worthington's roll
a. dishonur-" thirteen lars. periurers and
thieves Mr. Baker quoted. He said that
after hearing the story OF the defendant it
be- dme necessary to add one name TO the
Ipii OF dishuuur-
And Why Mr.. Baker remarked. Be
Caus" he deliberately and unqualifedly told
you fHlseh"uds while upon the stand. and
Suu KNOW IT,
Referring to the failure of the defendant
t. bring certain witnesses here from Ore
gou. NJ. Baker said they were not brought
because Ringer Hermann feared they would
te! the truth. Portions Of the testimony of
the defendant We're read 10 the jury and
the comment made that the defendant
Joined issue with none of the witnesses who
appeared on the roll of honor. Counsel
Eurd that Binger Hermann knew il would
no have been well for him 10 have contra
diyte! all the witnesses. He knew that
wholesale denial would not be believed and
he therefore formed the two rolls 1t was
then necessary for him to contradict those
whose names appeared upon the "dishonor
roll ~ thirteen and not TO contradict those
Whose names appeared upon the honor
roll"
'Our a ius more in the long list of this
MAS dIsAuUor3be acts Nj. Baker stated
Il don know whether the witness Robert
$40 was the last of the II not. but his
name placed there. He came here in
purs. .tUCr oi a subpoena issued from this
court and he was denounced as being guilty
uf betrayal OF his trust