East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-04-08

Since T. T. Geer has called the edi-
tor Of the East oregonlan. II. b. Plum
mer, Belden H. Grant and everybody
else in reach OF his voice, liars, scoun-
drels and impostors on account of the
publication OF the fact that Geer sold
the office OF superintendent of the
oregon penitentiary for $1,000 and
then failed to "make good" the fol-
lowing fresh and juicy affidavit from
H. B. Plummer, dated in Portland
this week, may be OF interest.
Mr.. Plummer has voluntarily made
the affidavit so the voters of the Sec
ond congressional district may know
the facts in the matter and 1t is only
Just TO the voters that the affidavit be
made public Mr.. Plummer's word is
pitted against that OF T. T. Geer and
the matter is submitted without COM
ment:
State of oregon, County of Multi
nomah. IS.
/. II. B. Plummer, being first duly
sworn according to law, depose and
say: That at present am resident
OF Portland, county OF Multnomah,
state OF Oregon; that previous to To-
eating in Portland / was a resident OF
Polk county state OF Oregon, for some
80 years. serving as sheriff for that
county from July, 1894, to July. 1898;
that Belden II. Grant was my deputy
from July, 1896 to July, 1898; that
or or about March IL. 1898, went to
Salem. situated in Marion county, this
state, T.. T. Geer, then a candidate
for governor. accompanying me on
the return trip to Dallas. Polk coun-
ty, this state. where he was to speak
that night: that on the way over In
my buggy. Mr.. Geer said II he had the
money to put up to carry what he
called Governor Lords precinct. he
was sure he could get the nomination,
and added that he was short of
money; that / made the proposition
to him. II he would appoint me su-
perintendent of the penitentiary,
would put up $1,000 for his campaign
expenses and would pay him 5000 to
be used in Salem as he had suggested;
that l said substantially: "If you
don't get the nomination I lose the
5000 and IL you get defeated l lose
the whole $1,000. but II you are elect
ed I get the penitentiary superlnten-
dency." w
The next morning by appointment
Mr.. Geer came to the sheriff's office,
going into the private office, my depu-
ty. Belden II. Grant, being present,
but before any conversation was had
Mr. Grant stepped out into the main
office. I said, what do you think
about the proposition?" Geer said in
substance, "Well, / have considered
your proposition and II you will help
me in Salem to carry the town and
Lords precinct l am sure of the NOM
nation. I'll take the 5000. and II
am nominated you can pay me $500
more and II / am elected ! will give
you the superintendency OF the peni-
tentlary."
He added that at was good poll
tics" to give me this place." that
took 5000 out of the safe and hand
ed It to him, making a tag for the
same; that afterwards in Salem, the
day OF the primaries and before he
was nominated, paid him $50 more
in the recess OF the Albert Bank; that |
after the state convention at Astoria, |
/ met Geer in Salem on the street, on
April 2S, 1898, and he took me to
DIR. ]. N. Smiths office where he said: |
I'VE will fix things up" that DR..
Smith being busy. we went to the re-
publican headquarters and there
paid him the balance of $3.50 due him
as per our agreement, for which sum
and previous payments, he signed
sort of receipt and contract combined,
which acknowledged the payment OF
the money and stated that II elected
was to have the superintendency of