Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1905 — JOHN H. MITCHELL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JOHN H. MITCHELL.

United States Senator Under Indictment for Fraud. The sensational developments in connection with the land frauds in the Northwest were not wholly surprising,

though they were a shock to the people 'at Washington and elsewhere who had no idea that Senator John H. Mitchell of Oregon was. so deeply involved as to render his indictment possible. Mitchell is under indictment by' a federal grand jury for conspiracy to defraud the govern-

ment of the United States, and Congressman Bingor 11. Hermann, formerly land commissioner for the United States, is similarly indicted. United States District Attorney Hall has been removed from office by the President on the charge of shielding persons who have done wrong. Other—indictments will follow and it is promised that the affair will be ns sensational as the postoffice scandals. For several years there have been stories in circulation to thq, effect that such a move was coming. Secretary Hitchcock lias been conducting an investigation and says that now that indictments have been found there will be a vigorous and fearless prosecution. Mitchell is charged with accepting money to the amount of thousands of dollars to use his influence on behalf of various parties with Binger Hermann, at that time land commissioner, to patent claims which the latter, it is claimed, knew to be illegal. Hermann is indicted for these fraudulent transactions. Senator Mitchell, who has for many years been one of the foremost men of the Northwest, declares that he is innocent of wrongdoing, that perjury has been used against him and that ids honorable dealings in the matter will be clearly established. lie is about 70 years of age. a native of Pennsylvania and his right name is John Hippie. Shortly before the Civil War he had family trouble for which he was not to blame and went West, changing his name to John H. Mitchell. lie practiced law in California and Oregon and as long ago as 1872 was elected to the United States Senate, making him in point of priority of service one of the veterans of the Senate. He was defeated for re-elec-tion in 1870 and in 188.7 was again elected, as well as in 1801. In 1807 he was defeated, but four years later was again chosen, his term to expire in 1007. Binger Hermann was long a member of Congress before lie was made land commissioner by President McKinley.. He was again elected to Congress a few years ago after retiring from the land office. He has been prominent in Oregon politics for forty years.

J. H. MITCHELL.