Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-12-03
BRIBERY GASES.

BRIBERY GASES.
MOTION TO oUAsH sALTER's IND1CT-
MENTs sUsTAINED-THE ILLEGAL
JURY PLEA EFFECTIvE-sIMILAR Az
TIoN PROBABLE IN ALL THE OTHER
cAsEs-sENAToR CARPENTER is IN
SUITED AND REsENTs 1T.
HARRrsBURa, Nov. 26.-As was fore
shadowed yesterday the Court TINS al
ternoon quashed the indictment against
ex -Representative Slater, charged with
having offered money to members OF
the Legislature for their votes for the
a. 600 900 Riot claims bill, and with
having afterward committed perjury oy
swearing before the Legislative Com
mittee that be had corruptly approached
nobody,
Although the prosecution had engaged
such distinguished lawyers as Judge
Black. of this State, and Senator Car
penter. of Wisconsin, it was evident
after the defense had shown that "a
persons participated in the findings
that the Court would set aside the in
dictments. The prosecution relied up
on the record, which showed that only
% grand jurors had been sworn, but
the evidence showed that one more was
on the jury, and that the one supposed
to have been excused took part In the
deliberations of the body. The Court
overruled all the motions OF the defense
to uuash the indictments except that
relating to the defective grand jury,
At the conclusion of the decision
Judge Pearson says:
II am very sorry to have come to this
conclusion, because it is not trying the
case on its merits, and these men escape
their trial at this time escape on what
might be called substantial technical
tiles"
The Judge also indicated that the in
dictments against the eight others ac-
cused of corrupt solicitation OF members
of the Legislature, and two others ac-
cused of a similar offense and perjury,
would fall with the decision.
Judge Black quickly rose to his feet
and challenged the attention OF the
Court by the announcement that when
the next case was called the Common
wealth would either contradict the tes-
tirnony offered by the defense relative
to the numerical defect of the grand Ju-
ry, or reject all testimony,
This was surprise to defendants
counsel, who had supposed that they
could go to their homes, as the Judge
had indicated that all indictments in
the bribery cases had been quashed.
Mr.. Cassidy became very indignant,
said Judge Blacks proposition was a
subterfuge, and asked the Court to enter
Judgment in all the cases. If, however,
the Commonwealth was ready to pro-
ceed with the argument on the other
bills the defense was prepared for the dis
cussion.
There was considerable confusion,
lawyers congregating near the Judge
and the audience moving toward the
legal disputants. The defense firmly
maintained that the distinct under
standing was that the judgment in the
Salter case would be the judgment in
all the others, and the prosecution
contending that they had differently
understood the matter. Many sharp
and some impertinent remarks passed
between the lawyers, after which
Mr.. Armstrong moved that the indict-
ment against w. f. Rumberger be
quashed for the same reasons on which
the Salter indictment was quashed, and
supported his motion with q short
argument.
Mr.. Carpenter said the Common
wealth was ready for trial in that case.
Mr.. Armstrong said if the case was
called the defense would go over the
same ground as in the Salter indict-
ment.
Mr.. Carpenter said the Common
wealth were better prepared in the
other cases and wanted to be heard.
Mr.. Cassidy moved that all the other
indictments be quashed, on which Mr..
Carpenter said the Commonwealth
wanted to be heard.
Judge Black said if the Court was
prepared to quash all these indictments
without hearing witnesses for the Com
monwealth, who would swear to a
totally different state of facts from those
presented by the defendants witnesses,
then the. e.counsel for the Commonwealth
want it to appear on the record, so their
skirts might be clear
After few more remarks of the
same tenor the District Attorney called
up the case of the Commonwealth
against Mr.. Leisinring.
Gen. Albright said his client was
not present; but he could have him here
in few hours.
Mr.. Herr characterized this proceed
ing as trifiing with the Court, and said
the Commonwealth counsel should
put in writing what they could prove.
During the discussion Judge Brew
ster made some remarks, which Senator
Carpenter took as an insult. He repli-
ed that his honesty of purpose had
never been questioned in court of
justice, that Judge Brewster's treat
ment might be courtesy in the month of
a Philadelphia lawyer, but it would not
pass current west of the Allegheny
mountains.
This very sensibly subdued Judge
Brewster, and he apologized.
The Court finally agreed to have a
session on Friday afternoon beginning
at o'clock, to try the case of Alexander
w. Leisinring, President of the First
National Bank at Mauch Chunk, who
is alleged to have offered to divide with
two members of the Legislature from
his county the expected profits from
speculation in Pennsylvania Railroad
stock, which would enhance in value on
the passage of the Riot bill.
In the event of the Court deciding
all cases in favor of the defense, the
Legislative Prosecuting Committee