The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-22
DECLARES GOVERNMENT
PROMISED IMMUNITY
Startling Statement Made by
Puter, Convicted in Oregon
Land Fraud Gases.

WASHINGTON. March 21.-Again
S. A. D. Puter testified for the govern
ment in the Hermann trial regarding
fraud and bribery in many land deals,
Just as his cross examination was clos
ing Attorney Worthington for the de-
fense asked:
"Were you ever promised immunity
by any representative OF the govern
ment for your testimony?'
"To a certain extent [ have been, -
was the answer,
Puter explained that after he had
been convicted in the case for which
be is now serving D. two-year sentence
IN Oregon he had gone at once to
United States Attorney Heney and of
fered TO tell him all he knew about
land frauds. He had. many conferences
with Heney, as result OF which the
witness testi6ed
a witness for the government he would
not press those other indictments
against me, but would have them dis
missed when the time came. -
Puter said he received no special
tavors IN Jail. but was locked in cell
as any other prisoner. He was wit
ness for the government in land fraud
cases in Oregon last September, and
Attorney Worthington read from his
testimony at that time statement that
he regretted he did not know moro
10 ten about the Blue Mountain forest
reserve deal, He said that Mavs had
not let him in on that deal, as had
been promised.
Tried to Bribe Jury,
Did you try TO bribe the grand jury
that indicted your asked Mr.. Worth
ington.
~ did - was the answer
The witness explained that he had
given man named BroNnells $50 to
influence two of the grand Jurors TO
see that ''true bill - was not returned
against him. This effort failed
We're You engaged in criminal oper-
a'lons after your conviction and prior
TO your sentence?' was the next aues
tlon Of the cross-evaminer.
Yes, 10 a certain extent That is.
! was dealing in a great deal of state
land with alleged fraudulent title. -
Questions by Mr.. Worthineton de-
veloped that Puter had not been asked
about the correspondence he had with
Hermann. by the United States attor.
neys, until last January, although the
witness said he must have told Henev
about the letters. also the Government
attorneys would not have followed the
matter UP by coming TO him in iail
United States Attorney Baker said
at this point, that a search was being
made for the letters written to Her
mann by Puter which had been referred
to. Mr.. Baker produced one letter writ
ten by Puter to Hermann. taken from
the files Of the Office, but which re-
lated TO the timber claims This was
put in evidence by Mr. Worthington
who, altering reading 1T, turned to the
witness and asked.
Was that deal crooked, too
Admits Crooked Deal.
The witness assented with nod Of
different character than the other
matters. 1t was a timber claim.
Mr. Worthiugton dwelt some time on
the statement of Pnter that he had.
while in Washington in 1902, regard
ing the "eleven- seven = claims, talked
to Assistant Commissioner Richards.
To the direct question. whether Her
mann had not told the witness that the
matter had been turned over TO Rich
ards. and that he would attend TO the
matter, the witness answered IN the
negative.
Regarding the two $1,000 bills which
The witness said Yesterday he gave the
late Senator Mitchell TO fix things re-
oarding these claims, Mr.. Worthington
brought out the statement that the wit
ness got them from Charles Chaffee,
president of the Wisconsin National
bank of Milwaukee The witness also
said that he had registered at various
hotels in Washington under assumed
names.
Court was adjourned until Monday.
- U ~,