Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-10

PENDANT that the name OF his son. Schiller
Hermann, appeared in connection with a
homestead entry Vile he was commits
sioner. United States Attorney Baker
questioned Mr.. Hermann as to the details
of his connection with the Roseburg, Ore,
land office, as receiver. in 1SI1-s3.
What was the term for which you were
appointed?' the prosecuting attorney asked
Il think it was during the pleasure OF the
President" the defendant answered.
WAS 1t not specifically for four years.!
II am quite sure it was not.
And you were removed from office!
Yes
How many acres of government land
did you acquire while you were receiver?
Several thousand.
The defendant then identified his sigma
as government exhibits. on which his name
appeared as 'B. Hermann"
As to Violation of Law.
Did you know You were violating the
law when you took up sections of the pub
lie domain while holding place as a goy-
eminent clerk in a branch land Office
Mr., Baker queried.
Il did not" the defendant asserted.
You were lawyer at that time?"
Yes"
"And were you not removed from office
because of your dealings in land?'
Il was not. Mr.. Baker: l have already
the election to the Senate of John H.
Mitchell in the autumn campaign in 1872,
and he had another man put in my place
Several documents designated as land
scrip were identified by Mr.. Hermann as
having been purchased ly him while he was
receiver in the Roseburs office. He was
asked If he did not know dealings in scrip
We're prohibited by law to attaches of the
land service Mr. Hermann again entered
emphatic denial
Sensation of the Trial.
Probably the sensation of the trial oc-
CURED with the introduction by the gov
eminent of a telegram of date of July
-, 1902 The defendant identified as his
signature the .Binger Hermann signed
to the message, and the dispatch addressed
to F. p. Mays, Portland Oregon, was read
to the jury, follows:
Fifteen patents timber land entries for
warded Roseburg land office. l recon-
mended withdrawal original strawberry
mountain and later additions to Secretary.
He has approved same
On direct examination Mr.. Hermann had
testified that he had never had any bust
ness cations with Mays. had never writ
ten him communications nor had inter-
views with him: that Mays had no interest
in the Blue mountain reserve that Hermann
knew Of and that he wished the jury and
court to understand that statement to be
as strong the English language could
make it.
MI. bdkeT Eedu tile statement from the
record AMI asked the defendant if. when
he made it. he did not think all traces of
the telegram had been destroyed in the de-
struction of his letter books Mr.. Hermann
would not admit this. He said he now re-
membered the telegram and explained that
1t must have been sent either i'll answer to
Geographic request from Mays or. more
likely. because Hermann knew Mays as a
leading public man of Oregon and simply
wished him informed of the action taken.
Public Service of Mays.
Mr.. Hermann at this point emphasized
the public service of Mays. saying he had
served as United States attorney, in the
state legislature. and was the leader of the
bar of the state. and had signed a petition
for the creation of the reserve. Under such
circumstances. he said. it was likely he had
given him the Information. MIR. Hermann
said he did not remember having sent
the same information to any else in
Oregon. although he sand ne gave it to the
public press.
Mr. Baker placed in evidence the inforse-
ments of Mr.. Hermann and Senators Mitch
and Dolph on petition for the appoint
ment of Mays United States attorney,
after which Mr. Baker remarked:
He was fired from that position, was he
not for Chinese frauds?'
Mr. Hermann admitted that Mays had lost
the position
a regu,atio of the land Office forbidding
the giving out of Information in advance.
and also another forb.ddng any officer or
employe or members Of their families from
acquiring government lands. were placed in
evidence by Mr.. Baker