was present whom the clerk declared in our presence was an attorney for the Northern Pacific, and he seemed to manifest considerable interest when the subject of the corporation's selections came up.
On the day following my visit to the General Land Office, I was called as a witness in the Hermann case, and was on the stand at intervals for three days. About three or four days after my first visit, I returned to the General Land Office, still accompanied by Kerrigan, and was asked by Assistant Commissioner Dennett what was wanted this time.
"I desire to finish up the work for which I was given an order several days ago," was my response.
After questioning me very closely concerning the nature of the business, Dennett went into Commissioner Ballinger's private office, and upon emerging therefrom, after quite a long conference with his chief, told me that having testified already in the Hermann case, I would have to get a new order from Baker.
I thereupon returned to the latter's office, and at 11 o'clock the next morning came back to the General Land Office with a new order from the United States Attorney, requesting him very plainly to give me what information was required relative to the Northern Pacific lieu selections, adding that it might be necessary for use in the Hermann trial. The order was delivered to a clerk, who took it in to Dennett.
Dennett came out and questioned me about it, asking me what I wanted the information for. I replied that I was a witness in the Hermann case, and might need the information sought to strengthen my testimony. Dennett then said that he would have to see the Commissioner about it, so taking the order, he went into Mr. Ballinger's office, and upon his return, informed me that the matter would have to be taken up with the Secretary of the Interior, and for me to come back at 2 o'clock that afternoon.
About half an hour later I met the clerk in the hallway of the Court house where the Hermann case was in progress. He held in his hand the same envelope I had given him from Baker. Deputy Marshal Kerrigan, who had formerly been a member of the Portland detective force, called my attention to this fact, and will corroborate me upon the point. The clerk went into Baker's office, and we heard them wrangling over the matter for several minutes, with the result that Baker told the clerk in unmistakable language that the Commissioner would have to let me have what I wanted.
At the hour appointed, Kerrigan and myself went back to the General Land Office, and into the same room we had been before, where we again noticed the Northern Pacific attorney. He endeavored in every possible way to ascertain what I was doing, even going to the extent of audacity by peering over my shoulder while I was at work on the lieu selection records, and I had to move in order to avoid him. Page 385
