The Perjury Trial of Adam Schmidt
Federal authorities in Walla Walla conclude their case against Adam Schmidt, who stands accused of orchestrating fraudulent naturalization for Russian immigrants.
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, was resumed in the United States court this morning. Witnesses for the prosecution included Henry Swartzkophf, Henry Hamburg, Conrad Reil, and County Clerk A. A. Hauerbach. All of the Russian witnesses stated that they had been approached by Schmidt since his arrest and urged to leave town until after the trial had been concluded. To one witness, Schmidt had said the case had cost him at least $3000 so far and he had $10,000 more which he would spend in his efforts to secure an acquittal. George J. Guthridge testified that the men had been brought to the city clerk's office on the evening of June 20 for registration. County Clerk Hauerbach testified that on the same night, about 13 Russians were assembled in Judge Brents' chambers to become citizens, accompanied by Schmidt, who testified that he had known them for five years. Schmidt had signed his name as John A. Schmidt, Adam Schmidt, and J. A. Schmidt to the different affidavits, not using the same signature in all cases. The federal government finished its case at 4 o'clock.
“To one witness Schmidt had said the case had cost him at least $3000 so far and he had $10,000 more which he would spend in his efforts to secure an acquittal.”
This trial highlights the intense scrutiny and legal barriers placed before immigrant communities during the turn of the 20th century. Schmidt's alleged 'fixer' role and the subsequent perjury charges provide a rare glimpse into the shadow bureaucracy of naturalization in Walla Walla.
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