Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-04
KEMBLE 81 90. IN
COURT
An able and upright Judge.
Bribery must be punished.
Addition, Division and
Silence" under par.

Gus to public morals and to the general
administration of the government of
the country. ~ speak of it, gentle
men," said he, "as crime which
strikes almost at the foundations of
society, because if, instead of having
fair, honest, proper legislation, accor-
ment of the legislators, we al to haYe
them bought over to vote for measures
or vote against measures which the
public requires, or which are injurious
to tie public either the one or the 9TH
er then say it is dangerous to socie-
ty at large, and we should most care
fully guard against anything of that
kind. 1t is not merely person solici-
ting, but the person agreeing to receive
or actually receiving, that ought to be
held up TO public scorn and contempt
by being indicted in the Criminal
Court"
The Judge then quoted the constitu-
tional provisions against bribery and
the law in pursuance thereof, and said:
Amy open address, persuasion, or
coaxing would not come within the act
but the moment any Office, money, ar
ticle of value, or promise Of advantages
is offered, it brings the act within the
statute. In order to make the offence
charged here you have only to inquire
was there an offer or endeavor to infll-
ence any member Of the Legislature by
offering or promising them money,
promising them anything of value,
promising them any advantage of any
Office, any advantage of any kind? Was
that doneP If so, it would be an at
tempt to solicit them to do what is il
legal, and is an attempt to bribe and
unlawful solicitation. All that is ne.
cessary to be proven is that the accused
solicited members of the Legislature to
vote in q particular way, under prom
Use of procuring money for them or Of
fering to give them money, telling
them where money could be procured,
or that they could have money by doing
so and so. Bribery has long been pro-
hibited in Pennsylvania, and yet, TO
the scandal of our State-I hope it is
false, hope it is only scanlal-it has
been urged, and Sal hundred and hun
dreds of times, that such and such a
bill was procured by bribery. 1t de-
means our State, it brings us into con-
tempt with other countries, brings us
into contempt with our sister States,
causes us to be bellttled abroad, to be
belittled at home Injuries the legisla-
tive body with the com munity. The
very suspicion that they take bribeS is
an injury to society il general, because
they are led to dIstrust the laws that
such Legislature passes and to disre-
gard them entirely. Therefore it is a
high offence against society, and one
that should be most carefully guarded
az ainst by courts and juries, punished
inflexibly and without any hesita
tion."
Judge Pearson also instructed the
Grand Jury to proceed against mem
bers in whose cases no indictments
have been framed, but whom the evil
dence submitted to the jury duplicates
in corrupt solicitation of members of
the Legislature or of accepting or
agreeing to accept bribe. ''In this
way' he said, ''neither the persons
charged in the indictments nor the
members of the Legislature themselves
can escape punishment. You cannot
act upon newspaper reports. You have
no right to act upon resolutions of the
Legislature. You act upon the e7i-
dence produced before you, and that
alone and if it makes out a case of
either bribery or receiving a bribe a
gainst the person who is charged, find
a true bill. If it is against others who
are not charged, make a presentment
of them to the District Attorney so
that the whole matter shall be properly
and fully investigated in court, so that
we may get at the bottom of these
things. Sometimes committees of the
Legislature examine such subjects.
They have not the same power the
courts have in compelling the attend
ance and testimony of witnesses.
Sometimes they are not very anxious to
find out what has been done; some
times they are not very willing to ex-
pose whether they have been guilty Of
receiving bribes. They don't want to
tell anything that takes place. But we
want 30 find out everything about it.
We want to get to the truth of the
matter, and get to the bottom of it,
and see who is guilty and. who is not
guilty, or whether any person is guilty,
or whether it is mere general slander.
If the Commonwealth produces wit
nesses to show the truth of the allega-
tions made in the indictments find
true bills, without the least regard to
whom it will strike without the least