Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-18
ACCUSED OF JURY FIXING.
w. d. Moore Presents Startling A1ndayits
In Criminal Court-Ex-Mayor Liddell
Involyed-Attorney Porter's Explicit De-

In Criminal Court-Ex- Mayor Liddell
InvoIyed-Attorney Porter's Explicit De-
njnl.
Criminal Court yesterday by presenting an
affidavit made by Joanna May Clark in re-
lation to the case of assault and battery in
which Hannah Clark was the prosecutrlx
and ex-Mayor Robert Liddell the defendant.
Mrs. Clark deposed that while waiting to be
called before the grand jury she heard Mr..
Liddell say to one Townsley, "Swear she was
drunk and stick to it." She also AYERS that
Townsley so swore, and that the bill was
| ignored by reason thereof Mr.. Moore also
presented an affidavit made by Hannah
Clark substantiating her mothers testi-
mony.
MI. Moore then made graphic statement
of the fracas in which Mrs Clark was elected
by ex-Mayor Liddell from the latter's Office,
and claimed that the grand jury had as
sumed the functions Of a traverse jury in
trying the case. and charged that things
looked crooked.
Judge White asked some questions, said
| he was astounded that Mr.. Liddell should
have been permitted to remain in the grand
jury room, and that he would have the case
sent back and reconsidered.
Mr.. Haymaker, Assistant District At
torney, said he had not seen anybody but
Attorney L. K. Porter in the room. Mr..
Portsrasked to have the case disposed of as
quickly as possible.
The Court rose to his feet and said with
| some warmth that Mr.. Porter had no bust
ness there, and any member of the bar who
did that should be disbarred. He again
expressed his amazement at Mr.. Liddell's
presence in the grand jury room, and said
that he would refer the case to the next
grand jury.
Last evening ex-Mayor Liddell, accom-
panied by his attorney, Mr.. L. K. Porter,
visited The DISPATCH Office for the pur-
pose of making statement about the events
Of the Gay in the Criminal Court.
Mr.. Townsley is a night watchman in my
employ. IsimDly want to say that was not in
grand jury room as charged, and didn't coln-
municate with either the grand jury or the
Assistant District Attorney, Haymsker. was
simply there to escort our engineer and Ioremen
who were to testify before grand jury. WAITED
in the waiting room until l found the case
couldn't be called, when l leftfor home. They
had to wait. l deny every charge made by them
completely. am very much astonlshed at a
charge of jury-fxing, and can only ascribe it to
the grand jury at all, and it could not have
been his testimony upon which the case was
ignored. 1 propose to make an information
against Hannah Clark ano her mother for
perjury and against W.D. Moore for subornation
of perjury, and until the case is tried ask a
suspension OF opinion. l propose to probe the
thing to the bottom, as l am tired OF being
misrepresented."
Mr.. Porter was indignant at what he
termed the unwarranted assumptions made
in the case, and last evening secured the fol-
lowing letter from Assistant District At
torney John c. Haymaker:
PITTsBURG, October II, I8S9
In relation to the statement made by Judge
White in the Criminal Court this morning in
the case of the Commonwealth versus Robert
Liddell, ignored by the grand jury, in justice to
L. K. Porter, Esq, desire to say that two or
three days before the case was heard by The
grand. jury Mr.. Porter called on me in the
waiting room which is separate from that occu-
pied by the grand jury, and requested simply
that an engineer who had charge of a large
engine be heard as soon as possible in the Lid
dell case. AS it was almost impossible for him
TO be away from his engine this witness was
subp9naed by the Commonwealth and made
similar request; this was on Friday and the
case was heard on the following Monday or
Tuesday. Mr.. Porter made not the slightest
reference to the facts or merits of the case, nor
did he say anything about the prosecution Of
his client. know that his sole purpose was to
relieve the engineer from any further delay
and not to obstruct the course of justice. Mr..
Porter's reputation is well known, and think
can safely say that he is far above doing any,
thing calculated to tarnish the reputation of
member of the bar. Yours truly.
JOHN c. HAYMAKER,
Asst. Dist. Atty.
PITTsBURG, October II, 1889
am the engineer referred to by Mr.. Hay
maker, and it was at my request that Mr..
Porter went to see MIR. Haymaker, myself
being with him. The conversation was as stated
by Mr.. Hsymaker. 1t was Friday morning.
two or three days before the case was finally
called. We jointly requested that my testi-
mony be taken, as had left my engine and was
uneasy to get home Mr.. Porter said nothing
to Mr.. Haymaker or myself about the facts of
the case, nor did he express any opinion. This
was the only time Mr.. Porter was there, and
was responsible for that, as it was matter of
kindness to me. will be qualified to this, and
further will say after waiting until the case
was heard was never called as witness. This
conversation took place in the waiting room,
at which time the grand jury was locked up in
another room. CHARLES MCDONALD.
Mr.. Porter said in regard to Judge
Whites comments upon the case:
What Messrs. Haymaker and Mcdonald
say Is correct in every particular. What did
was not wrong, and owe no apology to Judge
White, Mr.. Moore or the public. If Judge
Whites keen sense Of moral rectitude sees in
these charges any cause for disbarment let him
prefer charges at once and do his duty as
Judge If ! am right let him then make the
apology that in justice 1 am entitled to. In
this case he cannot hide behind his judicial er-
mine and publicly slander me: II he was mis-
led by the exaggerations of MIR. Moore of
course it is pardonable, but it is difficult for.
me to believe that man whom have admired
and esteemed could have said what he did with
out sending for me-"