The Washington herald., 1907-03-06
SENATORS ON STAND
Carter, Fuller, and Teller i'll
Binger Hermann Case.
OREGON SURVEYOR TESTIFIES
Henry Medium Relates COnverHa-
tiOn in Reference to the Blue
Incident Brought Out in COure of
TestimOny-ArGue over Evidence.

Senator Carter, Of Montana. and former
surveyor general OF Oregon. Henry
Medium. testified yesterday afternoon in
the case of the Government against
Rlnger Hermann. who is charged with
destruction Of letter-press books. the
property OF the government.
Senator Thomas II. Carter, Of Montana
was the first witness after the recess. He
had been Commissioner Of the General
Land Office from March l. 1891. until the
middle OF July, 1892 He identified two
copy books containing letters dictated and
signed by him while Commissioner He
stated he had left them in the Office when
he left that position, together with other
effects. and that these books and other
things had been sent him by Commits
sioner Hermann prior TO March. 1901
There were three Ietter-press books. one
OF which he had used while a member Of
Congress. Senator Carter said he re-
turned two Of the books 10 the land office
In September 1896. because. on looking
them over, he found they contained
official business matters pertaining to the
land Office.
senator Carter Returns Books.
Senator Carter stated he had forgotten
the incident Of the return of the books
until he ran across them at his home in
Helena, Mont, while going through a
mass of papers for the purpose of getting
rid Of them. On examination he adj
mi'ted that he looked through this mis-
] s..fa
ference with Hermann as 10 the latters
indictment for destroying his CHermann's)
alleged private books. Senator Carter
promised to return the one ether book
which he had not sent back TO the Office.
and which ne admitted might contain on
cial letters. He also stated that there was
nothing suggestive OF fraud in the letter
written him by Commissioner Hermann.
notifying him OF the return to him Of the
letter books.
Henry Meldrum. former surveyor gem
eral Of Oregon, United States Land Office.
was next called. on cross-examination 10y
Attorney Worthington. Of counsel for Her
mann. Medium described again at length
the alleged conversation in his Office in
Portland, oregon, between Hermann. b.
T. Mays. and himself in reference TO the
establishment Of the Blue Mountain re-
serve. He said there had been nothing
secret about the conversations, as four
or five other men were present when Mr..
Hermann and Mr.. Mays entered, and the
conversation for a time was general
There was no suggestion at that time or
at any time Of an Intention or desire TO
defraud the government Of its school
lands Ii was on the contrary. expressly
said that those who got il would have TO
pay for the land. After the others had
gone. Mays explained 10 Hermann his
idea OF establishing the Blue Mountain
forest reserve.
/ Told Medium How to Invest Money.
/ Nj. hermann said there was an ad-
verse sentiment in Oregon as to estab-
/ lishIncnt OF the reserve and to do it he
would have 10 eliminate a number OF
claims and satisfy some settlers. Mays
said that could be done. Hermann said
he would assist by securing an increased
appropriation for Oregon for reserves
/ In q later conservation had with Her
mann, Medium said Hermann suggested
/ to him that ne could make money by IN
| vesting IN school lands in the Blue Noun
I -
| planned how. nut that was not necessary.
Medium said he had no money, but
would try TO interest friends in which he
was unsuccessful. This ended their COM
munications in reference 10 the Blue
Mountain reserve. said Medium.
| Medium then took up the mass Of let
/ ters he received from Hermann, and said
/ that nearly all were official and had been
entered on the books of his Office in Port
| land. but that he had received about one
letter a month from Hermann on per-
sonal and political matters. one Of these
letters referred 10 the appointment Of q
| Mrs Sllverstein. formerly an empiOye Of
/ the Oregon Land ONCE. in reference to a
/ reappointmeut. When he wrote Mr. Her
mann that such could not be done, he
said that Hermann wrote him sug-
! costing the use Of Mrs. Silverstein's name
| in the making OF land entries from which
she would derive fees amounting TO $500
or 800 and that this might satisfy her.
Mrs. Sflverstein declined and that ended
! that,
Tells of JossIin Incident.
! At the morning session Senator Fulton,
| upon request of District Attorney Baker,
testified in regard to the Burke-Josslin
incident. Senator Fulton related as to
/ his being retained by Josslin in 1889 10
/ look after his interests. Josslin having
been arrested. Senator Fulton stated that
this was before he was Senator. Reply
/ ing TO Mr. Bakers question as to whether
| he had asked the reappointment of Mr..
Hall as United States attorney, Senator
Fulton most emphatically declared he
had not. and challenged the district at
/ tOrney 10 produce any evidence 10 that
/ effect.
| Senator Teller, who happened TO be IN
court was called by the defense and tes-
tilted to the good reputation of Hermann.
Mr. Teller testified as regards the Gus
! ron, pravafIinp in the Interior DeDaTf-