The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-05
GOVERNMENT USED IMPROPER METHODS, ATTORNEY CHARGES Detective w. J. Burns Is
 Savagely Attacked
 by Lawyer CONDUCTED CASES
 ON POLITICAL LINES Witnesses Intimidated and Forced to Testify Falsely in Oregon Land Fraud Cases - Two Other
 Petitions for Pardon

Washington, June 4.-The causes which controlled President Taft in granting an unconditional pardon to Willard N. Jones, convicted in the fa- nous oregon land fraud cases, became known today, and 1t was learned that, based upon the same charges of un- fair and improper methods by the United States governments prosecution of the alleged frauds, which stirred the country six years ago. applications for the presidential pardon of two other men are being considered by the de- pertinent of justice.
 Franklin P. Mays and Hamilton H. Hendricks are seeking pardons on the ground that they likewise were denied their constitutional rights. Mays in- dicted with the late Senator Mitchell. and former Representative Hermann, was convicted. of conspiracy and sen fenced to four months imprisonment and to pay fine of s1o,ooo. Hendricks was convicted of subornation of per jury and sentenced to IS, months and to pay a fine of $500.
 Not Yet to Taft
 Consideration of their appeals for executive clemency will be based upon the investigation which resulted in Jones' pardon. These cases have not yet reached the President.
 "The Oregon land fraud prosecutions were conducted almost wholly along political .lines," and "a veritable reign of terror existed" were the charges submitted to Attorney General Wick ersham In a brief by Henry H. Schwartz, former chief of the field division of the general land office and James S. Easby Smith, attorneys for Jones on the par don proceedings. H k# 4& ca
 The methods of Detective William J. Burns who developed the governments case. and others of the prosecution, were severely attacked in the brief The whole jury box list of over 800 names. from which the grand and petit jurors were drawn, was determined and selected, it was alleged, by the govern ment prosecutors and detectives, and the political enemies and associates of Jones along political lines, with the purpose and result of securing men who were prejudiced and who would con- vict."
 Witnesses Intimidated
 The brief also charges that witnesses were lntln1ludieu lHtO SlsiHB ldlSo ttS- timony against Jones under threat of indictments; that witnesses were so threatened by a member of the grand jury and by government detectives in the presence of their families, and that in various cases then being tried num- erous persons were indicted and com pelled to give evidence against other not true in fact and there after such indictments were dismissed.
 It was alleged that Burns and the political enemies of Jones and other defendants investigated, interviewed and then selected or rejected men in making up the jury box In 1905" from which the Jones jury was drawn. The government, 1t was charged, procured copies of the jury list before they were placed in the box. Alleged records of the reports of government detectives or agents upon the qualifications of the men whose names were in this list are cited. Some of these are alleged to refer to the politics and religion of prospective jurors and contained such as "convictor from the word go; would convict Christ" and yellow dog democrat who would con vict any republican on sight
 Men regarded as unfavorable, 1t was were referred to by that most obscene of all obscene epithets."