Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-10
THE BATTLE BEGUN.
Representative PetrOH ON Trial For Corfu
SOlicitafi0m

THE BATTLE BEGUN.
Representative Petron ON Trial For Corrupt
Solicitation.
In the Petroff trial yesterday the en-
paneling of the jury was not attended with
much difficulty. The following is list
of the jurors Henry Boner, farmer,
Washington Jonas Deible, farmer, Upper
Paxton Frank Ferree, teacher, Lykens
township; Samuel Longenecker, laborer,
Susquehanna S. S. Miller, farmer, Lower
Paxton; John Meyer, farmer, Derry;
Joshua Mowrey. carpenter, Dauphin VIM.
D. Poffenberger, blacksmith, Dauphin
Jonathan Potteiger, farmer, Lower Pax
ton; Christian Smith, farmer, Derry:
WIN. H. Seal, stone mason, Upper Paxton
Warren A. Zollinger, halter, Harrisburg.
Judge Pearson charged the jury not to al
low any person to speak to them relative to
the case, after which he ordered the crier
to adjourn the the court until 2 p. M.
Before the Petroff case was opened at
the afternoon session. Judge Pearson gave
notice that indiscriminate cross-examina-
tion would not be permitted. After short
consultation by the counsel for the COM
monwealth, the district attorney addressed
| the jury on the subject of the bribery Of
members of the Legislature, presenting the
case of the prosecution with ability. He
| referred to the various statutes for the
punishment of bribery and remarked that
| while corrupt solicitation of members Of
| the Legislature is not as degrading as
murder and robbery it was far reaching in
| its perniciOus effects-that it undermined
the very foundation of our government.
He read extracts from Judge PearsOn's
charge to the grand jury last August in
which he described bribery and de-
nOunced it as an offense which should be
punished
J. E. Allen, journal clerk of the House
of Representatives in 1879, was the first wit
ness for the commonwealth. He was asked
whether he remembered the introduction
of bill No. 1O3 in the House, to which he
answered that he did.
Mr.. Brewster objected, stating that this
was not proper evidence.
Mr.. Gowen said the original document
would be produced at the proper time.
The court overruled Mr.. Brewster's OBJ
lection.
The commonwealth proposed to submit
the journal of the House as evidence to
show that bill " No. 1903" had been under
consideration last year. The defense OBJ
jected to its reception, claiming that it was
|
to indicate that the journal was published
by authority. After considerable discus
sion the court said : g. think we will
have to receive the evidence"
The defense next objected to the recep-
tion of the printed riot claims bill, but the
court Overruled it, the defense taking ex-
| ceptiOns, as it did previously.
| Representative Watson, of Mercer county,
was the only witness of Importance exam
ined in the afternoon. Judge Brewster
subjected him to rigid crOss-examination.
His testimony did not differ from that he
gave before the House committee in May
last. He stated in substance that the de-
fendant had approached him one evening
early in March in the LOchiel hotel, and
after asking him how he intended to vote
on the riot bill, said that there was money
in it, and inquired if he did not want to
become rooster" After the bribery
investigation had begun Petroff pleaded
with witness to answer no to all of the
questions propounded by the committee in
order that defendant be not implicated i'll
the investigation.
Mr.. Gowen asked what was understood
by the word "rooster."
To this Mr.. Brewster objected. The de-
fendant's counsel preferred the jury to
| JuOSe OIL tnlS 1Or themselves.
Judge Black deemed such evidence
admissible, and as it was slang thought il
required translation for the enlightment
of the jury. 1t certainly was not intend
ed to mean that the witness should be
transformed into that bird.
Senator Carpenter acknowledged him
self ignorant of the words meaning as
applied in this case could see no objection
| to an eyn1auatiOn
After some further discussion Judge
Pearson decided to permit the explan;.
ton.
The witness then defined \ "roOster to
be legislator who would allow his vote on
bill to be influenced by a pecuniary con-
sideratiOn.
During the cross examination the wit
ness admitted that the statement made be.
fore the investigation committee, that
Petroff had not offered him money, was
true.
When the cross-examination was con.
cluded Mr.. Gowen asked the witness if he
adhered to his statement that he interpret
ed Petroff7s negotiations with him to mean
that money would be paid for his vote OH
the riot bill. This brought on another
battle between the opposing counsel in
which Messrs Gowen and Carpenter
participated for the commonwealth and
Messrs. Brewster, Mann and Herr for the
defense.
Mr.. Brewster said that inference could
not be considered as evidence and vigorous.
ly opposed the admission of such testi'
mony.
Mr.. Gowen spoke strongly in favor OF
his claim and thought it was necessary
that the jury should have the benefit OF
such evidence. He was ably seconded by
Mr.. Carpenter in the same line of argu-
ment.
Judge Pearson then decided that the tes-
timony was admissible, after which the
court djourned until o'clock this morn
ing.
LATEST NEWS BY MAIL.
The Grand Central hotel and Webster
house, Oakland, were destroyed by fire
| last night, Loss. $275. 900.