The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-01
A STRANGE MOVE.
Made by ex-Foreman Dickson.
THE TRIAL OF THE BRIBERs COM.
NENCED.

THE TRIAL OF THE BRIBERS COM.
NENCED.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-The grand jury
came into the Criminal Court this morning
with number of indictments, presentments
and dismissals, and after going through the
form of prosecuting them placed the following
communication in the hands of Justice Wylie:
E. S. Hutchinson, Foreman Of the Grand jury:
Sir,-I was drawn as juror upon the regn-
lar panel of the March term of the Criminal
Court, and at the sacrifice of my business in
terests and personal health reluctantly accept
ed the service and faithfully performed the
unpleasant duty assigned me until the end of
the term. In June the star route case came
on for trial, and Notwithstanding my earnest
protest was accepted and sworn as juror
to try the case upon law and evidence. Dur
ing the progress OF the trial was approached
by an agent of the Department. Of Justice
named Henry A. Bowen, who represen ted to
me that he was authorized to see me in refer
ence to the case. He made dishonest propo-
sition offering to pay $25, 900 to influence the
verdict. The following day, August 4, he for
warded card to my address making an APP.
pointment. | Immediately reported the trans
saction to Judge Wylie aud informed him of
what had transpired. The crime is of that
character which affects the rights and liberties
OF the citizen and is OF such Importance that
respectfully but earnestly request that your
honorable body should investigate the charge
and that may be summoned before you to
present the facts supported by corroborating
proofs.
am, sir, very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM DICKSON.
His Honor read the paper through twice and
turning to the foreman said sharply, "Did
you say that the grand jury received this
paper?"
Eyes, sir, /" he answered.
"Do You know by whsm it was written?"
Nothing more than it was received"
1T is highly improper communication"
said the judge, "and you should take no no
tice of it. 1t is paper coming from party
who insists on being brought before you for
the purpose of yindicating himself. We have
no Official knowledge as TO who signed it. The
court will direct the clerk to file the papers in
open court, and that rule issued to the per-
son whose name appears to have been written
to the paper to show cause why he should not
be punished for contempt"
"When shall the rule be returnable?" asked
the clerk
Tomorrow morning at 10 O'clock" sharply
answered the judge.
The grand jury then retired and the regular
business OF the court was resumed.
MThe rule was served upon Dickson by Dep
uty Marshal Williams during the afternoon
The first of the jury bribery cases, that
against Arthur Payne (colored), came up in
the Police Court at noon today. Governor
Wells and Mr.. Ker, for the government, were
in attendance promptly. Payne was attended
bv his counsel Padgett Newman Davis and
Claggett Mr.. Brewster Cameron, Col. Robert
g. Ingersoll. Juror McLain and others who
have been connected with the star route trial,
were within the bar. Col. Ingersol started the
proceedings with a statement to the court that
il he had beentsubpened to produced a num-
Der of affidavits of the list submitted to him.
He said he had affidavits from VIM. Brown
and man named Laws. These he handed to
the clerk, after explaining that the complaint
was founded upon sections 5404 and 5499, r.
S. Gov. Wells pl oceeded to read the warrants
and Browns affidavit for the information of
the court The defense entered plea of not
guilty. Gov. Wells then offered in evidence a
certified copy OF the record in the star route
case Tor the purpose OF showing the circum-
stances connected with the empanelling of the
jury. Juror VIM. Knox Brown was then
called to the witness stand and he was asked
to state what relations he had with Payue in
connection with his verdict in the case. The
witness said he had received note from
Payne which he had destroyed, asking him to
grant him an interview. At the interview
Payne told him he was sent by man named
Fall, lawyer on ID street, who was prepared
to offer him $2500 for his vote in the star route
case. Payne handed him written agreement
for his signature. He remembered the Ian
guage of this agreement but could not posi-
lively identify the handwriting.
Gov. Wells then read the agreement and
showed it to the witness Payne told him he
said that 1t was copy, and that Fall held the
original. He never conversed with Payne
again on the matter, while he was on the jury.
He never received any money for his vote. On
Sept. 24th he had another conversation with
Payne. Witness told Payne that it he'd come
to his knowledge that Fall was trying to have
inn t1ank nko off owff ofof hat L
gone to Fall by witnesses direction. He asked
Payne If he would do this, and Payne answer
ed that he would not make any such affidavit.
In the course of the conversation Payne ac-
knowledged he had made this proposition
to him. Upon cross-examinaton by Mr. Da-
Wis. the witness said he was informed through
an anonymous note on the evening of Sept
23d, that Fall was working up this scheme, He
had destroyed the note, and did not know the
sender. The witness did not believe that they
had any intention OF paying $2500 for his vote
Dut ne did believe it was job to send him to
the penitentiary. Mr.. Davis here made
searching examination of the witness's past
career; he had been a school teacher, he said,
but was now keeping store for his father. The
witness said his father owned the store, and
the witness stocked the store at an expense of
$780, borrowing $1G0 of that sum upon note
endorsed by his father.
The original affidavit, known as the Inger-
soil affidavit was then produced, aud the wit
ness was examined upon its subject matter.
The witness denied that Falls name had been
mentioned in the affidavit, and when the doc
ument was exhibited to him containg Falls
name in interlinsation, he said he thought it
had been inserted after he swore to the affida-
Wit, which he said was in Col. IDgersoll's hand
writing.
1t was not true that he used Falls name on
that secession and so much of the affidavit
as stated Marin (another juror) was to be iD-
huenced was untrue. In his conversation
with Payne the witness made appointment for
the following Monday his object was to find
out the man who was behind Payne. He re-
garded Payne as the dupe of this man. He
believed the written agreement had been
destroyed. Witness denied that he ever offer
ed Payne $3.50 for the written agreement. The
cross examination failed to bring out anything
new and A B. Williams was called to the
stand to answer snbT Tena calling upon him
for The afidavits of Nelson and others. He
said he had returned Nelson's affidavit to Mel
son. The reason for so doing was that he did
not believe this was an honest prosecution and
for protection Of the witness (Nelson) who
would be called before the court he had done
this. Witness acknowledged he had deliber-
ately for the purpose of evading the subpoena
given the affidavit to Nelson. He did this be-
cause he wished to compel the government to
bring Nelson into court. The witness made
this declaration in a cool defiant manner ch arg
ing Gov. Wells with having dishonest purpose
in calling for the papers. He acted entirely
upon his own responsibility in this matter. In
gsrsoll knew nothing of his purposes; declined
to tell where Foote was and in answer to an
implied threat from Gov. Wells to have him
punished for concealing the whereabouts of a
fugitive from justice, he said the charge
against Foote was only misdemeanor: he
lWilliams) could not be forced to give such in
formation.
Subpenas were issued for Ingersoll. Nelson
and Baker Clark in Col Ingersoll's employ