The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-10-19
FORGING THE CHAIN.|
Only One Link Lacking and That
Is In Sight
RUNNING JURY.BRIBERS TO EARTH.
A Full Confession Made by BaniG Hank
The States Attorney says the
Crimo to Defeat Justice win
Soon Be Exposed.
THE BAILIFF'S STORY.

ShINAtO OCI. ID.--DdlllU HANKS mas mao
full and complete confession Last Friday
when the Jury fixing" disclosures wer'
made and Hanks was arrested, Mr.. Longe
necker did every thing in his power to ge
the bailitf to tell of his share in the con
spiracy but Hanks refused to talk. On,
night In a cell however, the tears and on
treaties of his wife and the advice of Ton
Sennott lifelong friend, changed hi
mind so that Sunday he sent wore
to Mr. Longenecker that he wa
ready to make full confession. Going
direct to his Office Mr. Longenecker or
dered Hanks brought H. On entering the
office the prisoner was greatly agitated
but he soon partly regained his composurs
and then sat down and made clean
breast OF all his connection with the Of
| tense.
1t appeared that he was only q tool in
the hands OF the other men. few thou
sand dollars, $1,000 down and the rest in
promises was the price of his dishonor
Hanks began his confession by telling
how John Graham, whom he had known
for long time, sent for him and offered to
pay him handsomely If he would arrange
to pack tho Cronin jury
~ got 81, 900 in cash, and was told that I
should have 81, 900 for every Juror whom l
could bride to hold out for acquittal," con-
fessed Hanks, the tears streaming down his
| face. THE temptation was great" he
moaned, land being poor man and feel
ing sure, braced up rs | was by Ora
hams smooth talk, that l could do what he
asked without being detected, consented
i have not known happy moment since,
and that was more than month ago
Twice since / undertook the Job have
weakened and been on the point of back
ing down, but every time | wavered and
wanted to throw up tho Job Graham got at
me and coaXed and threatened until my
courage was again screwed up to the stick
ing point"
He added that the juror who could be in
duced to hold out for acquittal or disagree
ment was also to receive 81 900.
Hanks asked where the money was to
come from. Graham assured him that q
prominent lrishman had guaranteed the
money.
His word is good for It," said Graham.
HE has plenty of money, If not his own,
at least at his command"
Hanks accordingly went to work to get
fixed jurors on the panel One of those
Jurors was Konen.
At this stage Of the interview Mr.. LOnge-
necker summoned an officer and sent him
out with warrant to arrest Graham.
Continuing, Hanks told how he had also
bribed Soloman, and, finding that he was
one of the five bailiffs who were to be sent
out to make up venire, gave him the
written list Of jurors who had already been
fixed" part Of them by Hanks and the
others by Graham and his accomplices.
Besides the matter of Jury fixing" Ora
ham also retained Hanks to keep up the
spirits of the men now on trial. Hanks I'M
dertook to tell Dan Coughlin and p. OSulli-
van each day that their interests were be-
ing looked after by a good friend. Hanks
said that he acted on this agreement near
ly every day He communicated with Ora
ham In q saloon under the building where
Graham has his office. Graham told Hanks
how jurors were to be 'rung in" describ-
ing with minuteness the plans to be fol-
lowed
Hanks also confessed that to prevent sus-
picion he furnished Bailiff Cool with the
names OF some membeSs Of the u. O. ID.
1T was part of the policy" said Hanks,
ITO furnish a large number of U. o. ID. men
on the jury, and to sandwich in some of the
fixed jurors. This served double pur-
pose, as Graham told me. 1t diverted sus-
picion and it aroused the bigoted prejudIces
of the Irish in behalf of the prisoners Ora
hams principal told him that the more u
o. ID. men there were summoned the more
money would hot-headed Irishmen sub
scribe for the defense Graham also told
me-" continued Hanks that was not the
only person working for the defense. There
were three others. They were furnished
with lists of the fixed Jurors. l had to
make out my own list That" said Hanks,
with sickly smile, was meant as COM
pliment to me-"
Hanks told much more and it Ia said that
he gave the States Attorney for the first
time, a direct clew to the man whom he
has all along believed to be the dot within
the inner circle"
After Hanks had unbosomed himself to
the States Attorney he was conducted back
to his cell in the Jail, and having consented
to repeat every detail of his confession be-
fore the grand jury, he was taken before
that body and told them every thing that
he had previously impaired to Mr. Longe-
necker, and it was on his testimony, cor
roborated by that Of others, that Graham
was indicted
But one link remains to connect directly
the arch-conspirator in this business with
the. tools made use OF In approaching
veniremen. That link John Graham could
supply, but thus far John Graham has
chosen not to talk Graham doubtless
holds the key to the situation.
We're he to unburden his mind there can
be no question that not only the principal
in this conspiracy would be reached but
also the principal in that other great crime
which eliminated in the murder Of DR.
Cronin.
'One by one the circles surrounding the
arch conspirator are being broken, and so
few remain as to enable us to hear his
painting breath" said a prominent member
of the prosecution to reporter. Con-
tinuing, he said:
I'VE are as certain Of reaching the head
of this business and erasing him from tho
face Of the earth as we are that unless
John Graham squeals he will get ton years
in the penitentiary."
xviii Graham get of II he turns States
svidence?"
''Yes, and as many more as are neces-
sary to convict the arch-conspirator.
Every thing will be done 70 obtain that
end and every thing sacrificed
"will Graham squeak"
Indeed he will There are two cousts
against him, one for bribery and one for
conspiracy to bride, and for each there is
a penalty of five years. Tho evidence
against him 10 so strong that, though nota
yich man. would stake my years income