Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-14
ANOTHER HALT CALLED
TRIAL OF Ringer HERMANN
GOES OVER TILL MONDAY.

After very brief SESSION OF Criminal
Court No. 1 this morning another halt was
called in the trial OF Representative BinEer
Hermann under indictment for destroying
thirty five letter-press copy books Of records
OF the general land ONCE Of the Department
OF the Interior. When Justice Stafford
ordered an adjournment yesterday It was
with the question of granting a motion Of
the prosecution to file an amended bill Of
particulars undecided. although the court
had oyerruied an objection to the motion
on part Of the defense. It was specifically
stated by Justice Stafford that the court
had the right to grant such a motion.
At the opening Of court this morning
United States Attorney Baker asked per-
mission to address q few additional Ques-
tions to the witness. DR.. Harry 8. Re!ger
Of Oregon, former private secretary to Mr..
Hermann. who was on the stand yesterday
when the question Of the admission Of GER
tain letters In evidence was raised The re-
quest was granted and the United States
attorney passed q stenographer's note book.
numbered exhibit 10 in the case. to DR..
Reiger. The book was identified by wit
capacity as secretary to Mr., Hermann. and
he was asked to read from the contents to
the jury.
Statement to Court.
o. Objection was made by Attorney Wor-
Ellington. and in answer the United States
attorney stated to the court:
"As I understand 1t. your honor ruled
yesterday that at this time we cannot offer
in evidence the actual letters which we
claim were copied into the destroyed books
and 1t Is our purpose now to offer these
stenographic copies of letters, which surely
cannot be construed as being practically
pages of the books, to show that the writ
ten letters were on government business
and not on the private business Of Nh
Hermann. And. further, we desire to show
that In the everyday conduct Of the rou-
tine Of the Office OF the commissioners Of
the general land. Office, these letters were
copied into the books which this defend
ant is charged with destroying.
Justice Stafford expressed the intention Of
not passing upon this new point at the
present time, and instructed the counsel
amended bill of particulars. which was
the rock by which the proceedings were
halted yesterday.
Formal Motion Read.
Without further preliminary United
States Attorney Baker read the formal
motion Of the government for leave to
file an amended bill Of particulars and to
further amend the bill from time to time,
as additional letters of the correspondence
of the commissioners Office of the general
land Office are secured from witnesses who
have been summoned to testify in the case.
To the motion he added an affidavit, made
by himself. giving legal form to his verbal
explanation of yesterday. to the effect that
he had made the original bill of particulars
to the defense as complete as was possible
with the information which was in the
hands of the government at that time
January, 1909. Mr.. Baker also affirmed
that nearly all Of the letters, which it is
desired to offer in the case, came into his
possession within the past few days.
Attorney Worthington Of Mr.. Hermann's
counsel asked the court for time to pre-
pare an affidavit in answer to that Of
the United States attorney and to examine
the seventy-two letters which were ap-
pended as part of the United States at
torney's statement.
- On that account, and because of the i'll
ness Of one of the jurors. Justice Stafford
directed a recess until next Monday morn
ing at 10 O'Clock.