The Portland daily press., 1882-12-21
THE DICKSON CASE.
The Accused Makes His Defense.

WASHINGTON Dec. 2O-The defense began tax.
ng their testimony in the Dickson case before the
police court today
Mr.. Cuppy sid to the court that if it believed
there was necessity for their putting in any testi-
mony they were ready to go on. The court declined
10 give ani intmaton of Its opinion at the present
time aud the defence called the defendant, wm.
Dickson, to the stand. He said be h lived in this
CITY since September, 1862. He had never tried to
Iiilnuence Juror MeNelly in any way. Speaking of
the occurrences in the jury ronu the witness said
that when they retired September 9th last the
Jury desired to read certain por ions of the indict
,hent which had not been read to them. After
lunch it Was agreed that the first ballots should
not be regarded as formal. They resulted in four
voting not guilty to all of the parties and eight
voting guilty A formal ballot was taken and TTnr
ner was acquitted McNelly, with some warmth,
tola OF the attempt to influence his vote through
MS relatives. W illness told him he had made a
grave mistake in not laying the entire matter be-
fore the court. Juror Mccarthy refer ed to state
ment ln the Post of that ming reporting an at
tempt to influence him and explained the circum-
stances. Juror Holmead followed Wi another
statement and Juror McL ain, actuated by sense
OF curiosity, witness supposed inquired of him as
to the facts in his case Witness declined to read
his paper until the jury had authorized il. vote
was taken with the result that ten voted for read
ing and one against it, witness not voting. Witness
believed that all opposition had been withdrawn
before he read the paper. After reading Mcneil
ly said: sThat paper should not have been read ;,
TO which remark, Holmead replied: ssYou are the
man who started this thing" McNelly then aues-
toned it's truth and witness solennly asserted that
it correct recital of the facts The paper read
in the Jury room (Which witness held in his hand)
was prepared at so, the night # August 23d, at
his house. He informed Judge Wylie of the at
tempt the following morning, After the. return Of
the verdict witness asked the judge if he should
make affidavit as to the facts but the Judge ad-
vised him not 10 do so, saying the entire subject
would be 1udiclally investigated On the day fol-
lowing september 2) witness heard that Assist ant
District Attorney Moore inv. stgating the sub
ject. Went three times that day to see m without
success. Referring TO the time when he first in
formed Judge Wyiie of the attempt upon HIM wit
ness said the Judge appeared to be dszed by the iu
formation. Recovering, he used some strong Ian
guage condemnatory of the attempt and then re-
guest d witness TO enquire carefully and ascertain
ii other jurors had been approached.
He promis Ell TO do SO but the occasion OF their
next eing he had no information to communis
cate. He subsequently learned from Holmead that
Fall had been &C ing in peculiar way. Then Don
ip an told him of man who approached him and
exhibited MOI ey. Doniphan told The man: "sou
are following a da' gerous business. You will get
your elf into ouble. want nothing to do with
you" Several other jurors spoke of being followed
and spotted but as that also the experience of
the witness he took little notice of it.
Dickson gave in uetail his sion of the CONVEX
sation at Drivers between himself and Bowen and
deniei specifically having used the language at
iributed t, him by Bowen in his story. Adjourned
till tomorrow.