Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-22
GOES OVER TO MONDAY
RECESS ORDERED IN THE HER
MANN TRIAL.
Frank Testimony Of Witness s. A. d.
Puter in Relation to Alleged
Land Frauds.

AFTER conference between Justice STAFF
ford and District Attorney Baker and At
torney A. 8. Worthington, of counsel for
the defense. at the end of court yesterday
In the trial Of Binger Hermann, it was
again agreed no Friday session should be
held and the case will be resumed Monday.
The government expects to conclude its
presentation of evidence Tuesday or We'd
nesday.
Witness s. A. D. Puter continued on the
stand until court adjourned. Following the
close of The Stars report and just as his
cross-examination was ending, Attorney
Worthington for the defense asked:
Were you ever promised immunity by
any representatives Of the government for
your testimony
ITO certain extent have BEEN" Puter
answered.
Puter was then allowed to explain that
after he had been convicted in the case for
which he is now serving a sentence Of two
years In the Montonomah county Jail. In
Oregon, he had gone at once to United
States Attorney Heney and offered to tell
all he knew about land frauds. He had
many conferences with Heney, as result
of which, the witness testified: "Heney
told me If became witness for the gov
eminent he would not press other indict-
ments standing against me, but would have
them dismissed when the time came
Receives No Favors in Jail.
Puter said he received no special favors
in Jail, but was locked in a cell as any other
prisoner. He has, he said served nearly
year of his term. He was witness for the
government in the land fraud cases in Ore
gon last September. and Attorney Worth
ington read from his testimony at that time
a statement that he regretted he did not
know more to tell about the Blue Mountain
forest reserve deal, and said Mays had not
let him in on that deal, as had been prom
ised
Did you try to bride the grand jury that
indicted you?' asked Mr.. Worthington.
Il did, was the answer.
The witness then explained that he had
given a man named Brownell $50 to inf1u-
ence two of the grand jurors to see that a
true bill' was not returned against him.
Were you engaged in criminal operations
after your conviction and prior to your
sentence?" was the next question of the
cross-examiner.
Yes, to certain extent. That is, was
dealing in a great deal of state lands with
alleged fraudulent titles
Questions by Mr.. Worthington developed
that Puter had not been asked about the
correspondence he had with Hermann by
United States attorneys until last jan
uary although the witness said he must
have told Heney about the matters, else
the government attorneys would not have
followed the matter up by coming to him
in jail
District Attorney Explains.
United States Attorney Baker said
at this point that a search was being made
in the land Office for the letters written
Hermann by Puter, which had been
ferred to. Mr.. Baker produced one letter
I, d. II x.Ir1
the files of the office, but which related to
two timber claims This was put in evil
dence by Mr.. Worthington who, after
reading it, turned to witness and asked:
Was that deal crooked too?"
The witness assented with a nod of his
head, but explained that 1t was of a differ
ent character than were the other matters.
1t was timber claim.
Testimony Misunderstood.
There seemed to be a general misunder-
standing of section of Puter's testimony
yesterday to the effect chat Charles Chat
fee, president Of the Wisconsin National
Bank Of Milwaukee gave him three or four
$1,000 bills as part of loan, and two of
the same bills were later used in the bride
alleged to have been paid to Senator Mitch
ell" Matters went so far in the apparent
effort to contradict this testimony that a
oiSpdl was pIIHleu ILLS morning from
Milwaukee stating that no such person as
Charles Chaffee connected with the
Wisconsin National Bank.
Examination of the record of the trial this
morning showed that Puter stated he Sc
cured a loan of $1,000 from Charles Chaffee
of Rhinelander. Wis; that Chaffee had an
account at the First National Bank Mil
waukee, and Puter took Chaffee's check to
the Wisconsin National Bank where he
was known, and there received the cash.
including the $1,000 bills