The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-08-19
SENATOR REOPENS
land GRAB CASE
Member OF the Federal Inquiry
Committee Seeks Evidence
Against Prosecutors
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Stone explained that he was here as
member of the committee appointed by
the upper house to investigate third
degree methods and other practices
which tended toward unfairness in fed
eral proceedings. The other members
OF the committee had been unable to
come to California The Perrin case,
In which Perrin and Benson had been
accused of conspiring to Obtain govern
ment lands by fraud, was first given
consideration. 1t was taken up on
list of charges preferred by DR.. Perrin.
Devlin on the Stand
Devlin was on the stand all afternoon.
He said that the case had been handled
by his deputy, A. P. Black, and recited
the history of the proceedings.
With few preliminaries, Stone began:
"A letter written by DR.. Perrin states
that William j. Burns went before the
grand jury and said that President
Roosevelt wanted Perrin indicted Did
you ever have any intima ton that Pres
ident Roosevelt was interested in this
prosecution?"
None whatever replied Devlin.
Not at. ALP" questioned Stone
Not at ALL" repeated the witness
Not in any shape or form?" persisted
the senator.
Not in any shape or form.
Have you ever heard of this charger"
Just as rumor that was spread
around. but I do not know where it
came FROM
Garfield, or Ballinger
Then came the inquiry as to the in
terest of Garfield or BaIlinger.
while on a visit here during the
trial. Mr.. Ballinger, who was then in
the land office called at my Office said
Devlin, land told me that the interior
department regarded the case as an i'm
portant one
Did you examine the contract be
tween Doctor Perrin and Benson? Did
you regard it as an Illegal contract?"
asked Stone.
Il don't think anybody questions now
that it was an Illegal contract re-
piled Devlin.
.Sinct Doctor Perrin acquired no
land under the contract queried the
senator, "the complaint charged an of
tense more technical than substantial
did it not?'
That is a mere matter of words"
retorted the United States attorney
that conspiracy would be a technical
rather than substantial offense."
No Personal Motive
Had you any reason special of your
own to prosecute these men?" was the
next question.
Not at ALL answered Devlin. II
did not even know Doctor Perrin. 1t
was merely routine in the office"
But since Doctor Perrin had Ari-
iona scrip with which he could have
acquired these lands, where do you find
the motive, the criminal intent, in en-
tering into an illegal contract to OBJ
tain what he could have acquired other
wiser" inquired Stone
The way I figure it," was Devlin's
answer. "he could save from $4,000 to
$4,000 under the Benson contract"
At this point Perrin broke into the
proceedings.
There was no profit under the con-
tract. and neither you nor any other
man can show that there was a profit
Get it right. Here is the record. Be
honest"
Il want to get it just as right as you
90, responded the witness.
No, you don't; no, you don't" cut in
Perrin once more. There was no profit
under the contract Smell has testified
so; Benson testified so. why don't Won
admit it. l want you to know 1t. I
want you to confess. 1 want you to
confess that yot have done me a
gross"
PERKINS, OUTBURsT SUBSIDIES
Perrin was stopped and the proceed
ings resum ed.
1T is charged that a spurious con-
tract was laid before the grand jury"
stated Stone
AS | understand it, replied Devlin,
what Mr.. Perrin calls a spurious con-
tract is the same contract that Mr..
Perrin himself furnished to u.s.
There has been forgery broke in
Perrin. Let us get the original copy
of the contract and I will show you
We will trace it and find who is guilty
When l told Judge Morrow that there
had been forgery, he held up his hands
and said, My God, is that true?
Attention was then directed to the
charge that detectives had been en-
ployed to shadow the jurors. Devlin
answered that it was necessary to
keep unauthorized persons from speak
ing to the jurymen, and that five men
had been employed for this purpose in
the Perrin case, with the sanction Of
the attorney general. He added that
he believed 1T necessary for the gov
eminent to have some means of gather
ing evidence in regard to Jurors.
Yes cut in Perrin again. land you
got several members of your clubs on
the jury"
Attorney Henley complained that he
had been unable to obtain the needed
documents in the case from the federal
officials at Washington. Senator Stone
expressed the view that all papers de-
sired would be forthcoming The hear