The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-13
HERMANN S TRIAL
ON IN EARNEST
Prosecutor Heney Opens With
What He Expects to Prove
\ Against Defendant.
M.GONGRESSMAN CHARGED
WITH BIG LAND FRAUDS
to Grab School
Lands in Districts to Be Re-
served Alleged.

II
p,elimiparies brushed aside the trial of
Ringer Hermann, former congressman,
.isrred IN the federal court here with
conspiracy TO defraud the government
sf part of the public domain, began IN
,arnest today. The !'Hear, ye; hear,
ss!'' of the bailiff had scarcely died
iray when Francis j. Heney arose and
began the delivery of his opening ad
dress.
The famous prosecutor bewed close
10 the line throughout his brief state
4 nent OF the government Is case, lie
spokc calmly. only now and then wax
Ipe eloquent or indulging IN his famed
1 pvective.
The defense 8 position was outlined
1 by Col. A, S. WortbiDgton of Washing,
4 ron. D. c.. who denied as a whole and
\ znatim the charges in the indictment.
/ He went over the long public career of
n Hormann, spoke Of the esteem In which
4 he was held by those who had had busi-
I ness dealings with him, of his scrupulous
/ integrity in business affairs and scout
I'd inc idea that he had cold bloodcdlv
4 and deliberately plotted with others 10
Il defraud the government and the people
\ ia whose interest he had spent a life
1 OF labor
Heney's Address.
II Francis j. Heuey, in opening lhe
4 prosecution OF Binger Hermann spoke in
Il paFi IS follows:
"Gsntieulen OF the jury, We expect
4 70 prove that in 1904 II, was known IN
1 Oregon that timber spectators were tax
II Inc advantage Of the creation of Tor
Is, reserves by securing advance inlor-
n nation as 10 what land would he in
ruded in the reserves. and by thereupon
Il procuring a large number of persons 10
make applications for tho school lands
Ming within the reserve and convey the
\ siorcssid school lanos 10 the specula
crs for small sums.
II .As carly as July. 1901. the time al
Shich Mr.. Bineer Hermann became com
missioner Of the general land office aJ
Washington, oregon newspapers pub
Dshsd sensational articles explaining
Commissioner Of the general land office
II csIed attention 10 these frauds in his
Il yeport on the general land office.
In sgPtsmbe,, 1901 Bineer Hermann ann
II irto 2 conspiracy with Franklin Mays.
LIZ X. Jones and others 10 assist them
IL the creation OF forest reserve in
sourheastern Oregon. Mays and Her
nsnn met In the office Of Henry Mel
|itum. United states surveyor general,
|ppd discussed the proposition in the
|fgssence OF Mcldrum.
Id Thereafter Hermann returned TO
Washington ana Mays and Jones, in ac-
ordance with the suggestions made by
|Fermann. procured petitions for the ere
zion of the reserve.
In March. 1902. Hermann officially
|tTected Ormshy, superintendent Of for
|si reserves in Oregon. 10 investigate
|pJ make report upon the matter and
lind him the aforesaid petltions. In
HE meantime Mans and Jones had con-
II fnusd 10 secure school lands within the
||tisss OF the proposed reserve. MAYS fur
III rlshed ormshv with man outlining the
t<tf-- ia RI he desired
N "ornsby recommended the creation OF
liz reserve TO include 4',sso acres OF
NJ khcol lands which had been secured by
NJ Mas and Jones. These lands were all
4 ecured hy employing men at from 90
senls 10 s. apiece 10 sign applications
ios state school lands in blank.
III Expected Big Profits.
Zach applicant for state school lands
szs authorized 70 purchase $50 acres
and he was only required 10 paw 10 the
state 25 cents per acre as the first pay
Iment Consequently MAYS and Jones
we're only required 10 pay the state bout
N20o0 10 secure control Of practicsIly
1900 acres of the best timber lands IN
,he Emitted States. II the owners OF the
fihooi lands wanted TO sell them for e%-
Range purposes they were worth at tina
Be-. MAYS and Jones stood 20 mnke
net Profit ot At least 81 per acre. Thsv
had calculated on securing all OF the
fhool lands within the proposed reserve.
II
sSeoo9" NJ making a net profit OF about
''Hermann aided and abetted in every
Esy possible lie Was at that time a
faniing receptive candidate for the po-
Hon Of United states senator from Orc
II pn and MAYS was a state senator and
'onss member Of the assembly
III Mays and Jones have already been con-
iii ylcisd. Hermann would have been tried
III ~ the same time with MAYS and Jones
lut for the fact that he had previously
III ttar,sd q promise from Mr.. Heney that
y would not be tried in Oregon until
ts Sss first tried in Washington. u. e.
lndeE another Indictment. in April. 1906.
snsn the san Francisco earthquake
V|tsned Mr.. Henay home.
III Attitude of Defense.
Colonel Worthing,ou called attention 10
PC Tact that In the manifold duties oi
|,,mmissoner OF the general land office.
ItTmsnn had something else 10 do than
devote his entire attention 10 the crea-
UE. work Of the office. nc said. is done
Ir clerks regularly employed for such
sork. and that there are many letters and
HEuments 10 which the commissioner
yes his signature. which in tho very
use 10 reed
, N fnsm6ered that his client did not with
esS these lands from entry. but merely
III rcennDcnded their withdra val.
III A., ,,qinSel also called attention 10 the fact
HT.t IS customary for the commissioner
he general land office 10 maize trips
Mpection TO land offices throughout
ounlry and confer with persons hay
4 business with the land office.
Ill nj ~ likely In September. 1901 as coln.
III Us,,rT me government has stated. Her
III Il ~ M on one of his trips 10 his home
III sosseDlrS. ore. and while in Port
II Tr ulu have a talk about tho creation
M uE reserve with Mays, Jones. SoreR-
III .hh perhaps others.
~. proposal TO create This reserve was
IL hshS thing. Worthinctou said. Fvcu as
II ps,'isre as in 1900. prominent citizens ot
| II e,,s91 onn nf them former United
III a Senator Joseph Simon. had protest.
Vsme Near Choking TO Death
IL HNttlc boy, the son of Chris d Peter.