Show SW SEN GEARIN ARGUES IN CASE CAS PORTLAND Or Feb Peb 1 10 Former Former United States States Senator John M. M 1 Gearin made madl the tle opening plea pica today for the acquittal of former Congressman Binger Binger Bin Bin- ger Hermann of the charge charge of conspiraCy acy icy to defraud the government of ol pubic pub lie Hc ic lands government Senator Gearin whose reputation as asa asa asa a speaker is widespread attracted almost almost al al- ai- ai most as many spectators to the federal fed fed- eral cral courtroom as did ibid Francis J. J Heney HeIer yesterday Gearin u urged the jury to ec try and keel keep the issue before them clear He said that the charge is 15 conSpiracy conspiracy con can to defraud not wanting to be United States senator He said that the Blue BluA Mountain reserve was an old oltI ole proposition when in 1901 the tho government govern ment ale alleges es the conspiracy was formed As Prosecutor declared hone Hene yesterday yesterday yes yes- Senator Gearin today declared that the whole fabric of the the case ease stands or oy falls fans according to the truth Froth or falsity falsity fal fal- sity sit of If the evidence of Henry surveyor ex-surveyor general of Ore Oregon on testified that a conspiracy had been heen formed between Hermann and Mays Maya in in his office in September 1901 1901 The TH speaker went on at great Ireat length to 10 elaborate his belief belef that Meldrum influenced by hopes or by fears had fabricated fabri the conspiracy story he lie related related re reo re- re in his evidence He lie Il br branded as unreliable the testimony of Valk t the tile general land office clerk who testified to giving Hermann lermann the tho so called cler Citi Citizen CitIzen Citizen Citi zen zen letter leter in 1900 which describes the fraudulent methods of western land speculators |