Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-10-18
BRIBING JURORS
Another Foul Plot in the CrOnin Case
Exposed.
The Defense Attempted to Bribe the
Yeniremen.
Innocent Women to Have Been Drag
ged Into the Plot.
Five Thousand Dollars Offered to Vote
Against Hanging.
Two Bailiffs Complicated in the Dia-
bOlical Piece of Work.
Names of Those Engaged, it is Said
Will Startle the World.

VIII Startle the World.
CHICAGO, Oct. 12.-One of the boldest
most corrupt and infamous plot ever
brought to the notice of the public was
outlined by States Attorney Longenecker'
right hand man, Mills, this afternoon.
The conspiracy not only includes county
officials but outsiders of high standing and
several arrests have already been made but
more will follow before sunset this eve
ming Not content with the bribery of men
an attempt has been made to drag even in
nocent women into the plot and thus gain
the end which the friends of the defense
have been working on for the last five
months.
States Attorney Longenecker desires
me to say said Mills, who was commits
stoned by the state 5 attorney to talk to re-
porters, that this plot has not been dis
closed, because it would have defeat
ed Justice had the information
not now give any names or details, but the
outline of this conspiracy can now be given
to the public 1T will be remembered, "
continued the attorney, that on last
Wednesday afternoon an honest young
man who is employed as foreman in a
large establishment in this city,
was examined and excused for cause.
(It is understood though not stated by
Attorney Mills that the name of the We
nireman attempted to be bribed is George
S. 7. Schappat. He is foreman for E. V.
Page & Co., oil merchants of this city,
'On Thursday afternoon said Mr.. Mills,
"a very prominent citizen of Chicago
entered the court room and very privately
communicated to the counsel for the state
that this foreman venireman in question,
before being called to the jury box had been
approached by a bailiff of the court with
an offer of one thousand dollars to vote for
the acquittal Of the defendants. He says:
This is not a cock and bull story and |
bring it before you in the interest of pub
lie justice" He then went away and the
next morning one of the counsel for the
state went down to the factory of the man
whose foreman had been offered the bribe
anf the moment he saw the foreman he
recognized III him a man whose honesty and
independence had impressed itself upon
the counsel for the state while he was sit
ting in the jury box. The man made
full statement and was requested by the
counsel for the state to come to the state s
attorneys Office and repeat his statement
in full The man, with tears in his eyes,
said 1T involves q friend, but if it in
volved myself | would uphold law
and order" The gist of his statement to
the council, which he subsequently gave to
the states attorney, is as follows: In
abedlamCe to q summons he came to the
court house Tuesday afternoon, and sat III
the ante-room, but was not called. He
came again Wednesday morning and stay
ed in the ante-rOom again and about half
past ten o clock a man came from the court
room into an ante-Chamber who was an
old friend of the yenireman. The fact
also appears that the wives of the two men
were friends before they were married.
The man who came to the court room to
the venireman suggested they go out and
have cigar, while there the man from the
court room said to the venireman: DO
you want to make some money! The
venireman innocently answered, Certain
ly do"
Very well, you get on the jury and
stick for an acquittal and you will have
one thousand dollars The contract and
arrangements can be carried on with your
wife. 1t can be arranged that she shall
wear a certain colored dress if the money
is to be paid her on a certain day If the
money is not paid her ON that day she is
to wear a different colored dress and the
contract is to be off. "
The venireman turned reproachfully to
his friend saying: Il am not that kind of a
man" Whereupon the bailiff replied:
Il am working for the court. He then
pointed to a buggy standing outside and
remarked: That is my horse and buggy.
At noon, adjournement, the venireman
went back to his place of business and
subsequently returned to the court
house after which he was
detained and returned to the jury box
where he remained until half past four
o. clock when he was excused for cause.
He left the court house intending to return
to his place of business, and on leaving the
court house met on the steps leading to
the sidewalk the man who had attempted
to bribe him. The man turned to him and
said: Where were YOU this noon?
looked everywhere for you.
They said. I'VE will make it FIVE thousand
and damn him, make him do it. 1t was
too late however, for the venireman had
| been excused for causel but he at once re-
turned to his place OF business, having re-
preached the man for putting such low
estimate upon him and reported to
his employer the prominent citizen
what had taken place. who, the following
day reported it to the prosecution. Pur-
| suant to the appointment of venireman
attended at the state attorneys Office,
and having made full statement fevery-
thing that took place, was requested TO
| step into an anterooId and bailiff was
sum noned. He proved to be one of the
| ballIffs OF the criminal court who. during
| the trial, or attempt to procure a jury. has
| been In charge of one of the FIVE prisoners
i-Coughlin. The bailiff was questioned
| closely by the state attorney and
| his associates but professed pro-
! found ignorance until the venirman
was called from the ante-room. Tn
venirnan was requested to repeat the
statement he had made, which he lid,
whereupon the tailiff made complete con-
| fession In which he imp icated several
pro1ainent persons and another bailiff.
/ The attorneys for the prosecution, together
| with Chief Hubbard and others. at once
| went to work on the case and have dis
| closed one of the most deliberate attempts
to corrupt the jury and to defeat
| the law of Illinois which has yet come Ia
| public attention I'VE have had confess
sions here this very day, said Mills at a
subsequent interview late this afternoon,
these confessions are from SIX to ten IN
number. They are absolutely giving us
the whole miserable conspiracy. They
reveal the most dannable organization
against the law of the land, a conspiracy