Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/186

 "The prosecuting officer, Francis J. Heney, filled the newspapers of the United States with press dispatches from Portland ten days before the Grand Jury met. to the effect that 1 was involved in land frauds. I immediately left Washington for Portland to answer any charges made against me before the Grand Jury, and I wired Heney that I desired the privilege of going before the Grand Jury to answer any charges against me.

"On my arrival in Portland, I made a similar request of the foreman of the Grand Jury. I was told by Mr. Heney that I could go before the Grand Jury. Upon my appearance there. I was told by Heney that no evidence had been submitted to the jury against me. I then said that if there was no charge against me to answer, I was still ready to submit to any examination. This I did for two hours and a half, and answered promptly all questions. I was not advised as to what the charge against me was. and assured the jury that I was ready and willing to answer any other questions which either Heney or any member of the jury might wish to ask me, and especially did I desire the privilege of answering any charges that might be made against me by any witness.

"Having been assured that no such evidence, up to that date, had been submitted. I then remained in Portland, and for four days after that, and receiving no word from either Heney or the Grand Jury, the latter being- in session all the time, I left Portland last evening for my post of duty in Washington.

"If an indictment has been returned against me, I am prepared to meet it before a trial jury immediately, and, in this connection. I defy the prosecuting officer to produce against me one particle of evidence worthy of a moment's belief which in any manner improperly or criminally connects me with any land frauds, or with any confessed criminals.

"I demand a trial at the earliest possible moment, and I will return to Portland whenever I can be assured by the prosecuting officer of an immediate trial.

"I denounce this prosecution against me as the result of a most damnable and cowardly conspiracy in which Secretary Hitchcock and this man Heney are the chief conspirators, their motive being partly revenge and partly politics.

"This man Heney is a California Democrat, who is trying to blacken and destroy the character of leading Oregon Republicans. That there has been land frauds in Oregon, I do not deny, but speaking for myself, I do deny, in the most positive and unqualified manner, that I have been in any wise, either directly or indirectly, connected therewith, or received any benefit therefrom."

NOTE: The above speaks for itself. Senator Mitchell, however, in making this statement, evidently had in mind that the money paid by me was handed him in two $1000 bills, and not by check or draft; therefore no documentary proof could be presented in evidence against him by me. He failed to reckon on his transactions with Fred A. Kribs and the services rendered him, for all of which Kribs settled by check, and which cancelled checks, being placed in evidence, together with an abundance of other evidence submitted at the trial, resulted in Senator Mitchell's subsequent indictment and conviction.

Senator Mitchell continued on his way to Washington City, and lost no opportunity to denounce and villify me while being interviewed en route by Associated Press representatives, which resulted in my being advertised throughout the United States as the defamer of his character and the one responsible for his indictment.

The public, in the meantime, was very much divided as to the guilt or innocence of Senator Mitchell, some contending that there was probable cause for the indictment, while others were very positive that such was not the case; that Mitchell was a man of established character, and altogether above reproach, and besides, was too acute as a lawyer to permit himself to become entangled in a shady transaction that might ultimately mean ruin.

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