Perjury Scandal in Walla Walla Naturalization
A local man faces trial for allegedly coaching Russian immigrants to lie to a judge to secure citizenship papers.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The trial of John Adam Schmidt, charged with perjury in connection with the attempted naturalization of nine Russians last June, was taken up in federal court this morning. Witness Conrad Schiffner stated that Schmidt had approached him and other Russians, instructing them to inform the judge they had lived in the United States for five years when they had not. During the hearing in Judge Brents' chambers, Schmidt allegedly interrupted to correct the testimony of one man who truthfully stated he had been in the country for four years, forcing the perjury. Schiffner testified that Schmidt later tried to intimidate him into leaving the city to avoid testifying. 'I lied once, but I will not lie again,' Schiffner declared.
“I lied once, but I will not lie again.”
This trial highlights the historical vulnerability of immigrant populations in Walla Walla, who were often manipulated by political operatives seeking to manufacture votes during elections. The case reflects a dark chapter where naturalization was treated as a tool for local political gain rather than a civic process.
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