Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-09
THE RIOT BILL BRIBERY CASES.
The Surprisins Pleas of the Defendant

| Harrisburg Patriot.
If bombsheII had burst in the court
room yesterday afternoon the people who
had assembled there could not have been
much more surprise than when the coun-
sci for w. H. Kemble, Charles B. Salter,
| w. F. Rumberger and Jesse r. Crawford
entered pleas of guilty. There had been
talk for several weeks that the defense had
surprise in store for the prosecution, but
it was generally supposed by those who had
heard these predictions that some unpro-
tected point of the commonwealth would
be attacked. That pleas of guilty would
be entered was known only to the counsel
for the defense, the accused themselves,
and few confidential friends. The cOun-
sci for the prosecution were apprised of the
prospective movement only about an hour
before it was carried into effect, and the
information was SO unexpected that they
gave it very little credence.
1t was expected that the Salter case
would be called at the morning session,
but the absence of the Philadelphia cOun-
sci of the accused caused pOstponement
until p. m.
| Messrs. Brewster, Mann and Cassidy, of
Philadelphia, and General Albright, of
Mauch Chunk, arrived at 11:4O, and later
in the day Hon. w. H. Armstrong, of
Williamsport. These with Messrs. Lam
berton, Herr, Hall, Weiss and Long, of
this city, constituted the force engaged for
the defense.
| When the court met at 2 o'clock con-
siderable number of people had cOngre-
gated in the temple Of justice. All the
defendants counsel were in their seats and
apparently ready for action, but Salter was
nowhere to be seen, a fact which caused
some speculation on the part of those who
had knowledge of the intention of the de-
fense. Judge Black, Senator Carpenter
and Col. F. Z. GOwen had not arrived,
but all the other counsel for prosecution
were in their seats. After the lapse
quired of District Attorney Hollinger
whom he proposed to try first. The name of
Charles B. Salter was announced For 4
few minutes there was a painful silence,
| which was relieved by one of the counsel
for the defense handing the district attor
ney the indictment for corrupt solicitation
on the back of which was the word
"guilty." The paper was handed to the
court. A similar plea was entered in the
cases of Crawford, Rumberger and Kem-
bic, the latter, however, being accompanied
with a statement to the effect that the
defendant was innocent of the charge of
| offering money to members of the Legisa
ture for their votes for the riot bill.
While the pleas in the cases of Salter,
Crawford and Rumberger were accepted
without comment Judge Pearson doubted
the legality of the Kemble plea coupled
with the qualification.
Mr.. Simonton asked that the plea
be stripped of the protestation of inno-
cencc.
Mr.. Herr then addressed the court. He
said We would like to conform to the
suggestion of the court and proceed strictly
in accordance with the law and at the same
being in a false position. To make this
plea ineligible it must be understood that
some time ago Kemble was a witness be-
fore an investigation committee and his
testimony in regard to these things would
subject him to conviction under the act of
Assembly. 1t is not his disposition to deny
but in fact to reaffirm what he said was
true, but there are reasons in his breast
founded upon facts to prevent him saying
without some further qualification that he
is guilty under this bill of Indictment
While we deny that we are guilty of per-
jury as expressly laid down, it SCENE to me
the plea is sufficient to require him to suf-
fer the penalty of the law, therefore we
put in the plea of guilty. We also file n
paper setting forth the fact that we pro-
test, in spite of the plea, that we are guilty
of corrupt solicitation towards these par
ticular persons. We believe this works no
one injury at all and no harm to any per-
son. This plea is not to be construed as
An admission on the part of said defendant
that he did corruptly offer any money or
thing of value unto any or either of the
:,,@ I'll: T..
much like the finding of verdict OF not
guilty but pay the costs.'
Judge Pearson having decided that the
plea would have to- be entered separately
Mr.. Herr filed a paper, of which the fol-
lowing is copy.
Commonwealth VS.. w. H. Kemble. |
Now, March 8, 1880, defendant pleads
guilty and by leave of the court files this
protest that the plea is not to be construed |
rs an admission Oh the part of said defend
ant that he did corruptly offer any money
or thing of value, unto any or either of the |
persons named in the Indictment
The court did not decide what should be
done with the plea, but was to come to /
conclusion this morning.
ChiStian Long was next called for trial.
but his attorney said his mind was affected
and his physical condition greatly impair
ed. This could be proved by his physi-
clan and other persons. The district at
tOrney did not press a trial, and Judge
Pearson gave the defendant until to-day
to show that he was unable to appear in
court.
The names of Representatives Drum and
Knittle, witnesses against Representative
Smith, of Philadelphia, were called, but
there being no response the district attor-
ney informed the court that he was not
to try any case. After the list
of jurors had been called over the court
adjourned until this morning at 9 o'clock.
The grand jury in January found true
bills against Kemble, Salter and Craw-
ford, for perjury, to which the defendants
have not entered pleas of guilty, but it is
doubtful if they will be pressed to trial on
these charges-at lease not until some of
the cases of corrupt solicitation have been
disposed of.
The prosecution generally express salts
faction over the plea of guilty in the cor
rupt solicitation charges. Representivc
Wolfe gives the defense credit for good
sense in the course they pursued as it pre-
vents unpleasant disclosures. He consid-
ers the result thus far as a vindicatiOn of
those who started the investigation into
the alleged attempt bribery of members
and says it will teach lobbyists that the
legislatures cannot be debauched with i'm
punity.
What it Means.
NJ. p. II. to the Times.
On the whole. however, l am in
,lined to think the victors would rather =,
nave fought it out. The conviction of these