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Show I RESULT OF CONSPIRACY. Congressman Hermann Denounces Indictment as Persecution. I PORTLAND. Or., Dec SI. Congressman Ringer Hermann, who will leave for Washington tomorrow morning. Issued the following written statement tonight: "The indictment returned against me Is the result of the basest of conspiracies and malicious persecution. I came here I t;pon the advlco and urgent suggestion of my friends two weeks ago, as 1 had been Informed by them that efforts were being made to Implicate me and Senator Mltch- eil in Oregon land frauds, which have been under Investigation and trial and as to which fraud it was rumored I had knowlnglj aided and advanced during my service is Commissioner of the General Iund office. "I knew 1 was free from any Imputation of wrung doing and that no honest witness wit-ness could lnolvc me on that charge Several Inspections were made as to these land entries. Thry had parsed tho approval of tho local land office They had been undsi the careful scrutiny of the Assistant Commissioner, whose testimonv. In the late trials In this city was to the effect that he had found tho evidence satisfactory sat-isfactory "i said 1 believed the law had been com-plied com-plied With had no acquaintance with the lands, no Intimacy or association with any of those to bo benefited, no Interest in the transactions, direct 01 indirect, and had no promise, no consideration, no ln duer.mem and J scorn any suggestion that t ever hesitated to stand by my sworn duty In this or In any other trust Imposed u.'i"n me "I have lx-cn a resident of Oregon since DO) hood and ha'xo been entrusted with many transactions affecting the public Interests, and with my fellow men and In them nil my slnulo endeavor has been to discharge my dutv and preserve my honor hon-or Mistakes may have sometimes been made, and I may have been Imposed upon, but I nm not conscious of having violated my obligation u.s an officer or as a prl-vate prl-vate cltlken. "If frauds were practiced upon the of-flee of-flee the Imposition was as grossly perpe-ir.itr.i perpe-ir.itr.i upon me as Commissioner, as upon others In the office "In view of thso conditions, I nm amaced at the action of the grand Jury and realise this advantage in not knowing the to witnesses who testified against me, or what their statements were mad up of, Of which I had no opportunity to cross-examine or explain. I rely upon my vindication before a trial Jury, before which, as a citizen. 1 shall be protected against mere Insinuate Insinua-te ts, base persecutions and perjured tes-t!mon tes-t!mon "Having remained here expecting to bo recalled before the grand Jury for on opportunity op-portunity of answering any accusation which micht have been marie since my appearance lefore that body, but which courtes was not accorded me, and an Indictment having now been broueht, I now feel It my c! ity to return to my official of-ficial duties 1-1 Washington City, to coum back after the ;erMnti of Congress to meet these malicious and base accusations." |