The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-10-13
Exposure of a Conspiracy TO Corrupt
the Men Who Will Try the
Cronin Suspects
The Story of One of Those Who
Was offered Money for His
Vote
Court Odic.rs and Well Connected out
siders In the Plot--Some Arrests and
More 10 Follow.

CHICAGO, Oct. l2.-One of the boldest,
most corrupt and infamous plots ever
lined by States Attorney Longnecker's right
hand man, Mills, this afternoon. The con-
spiracy not only includes county officials,
but outsiders of high standing, and several
arrests have already been made, but more
will follow before morning. Not content
with the bribery of men, an attempt has
been made 10 drag even innocent 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 commissioned by the states attor-
ney to talk TO reporters, "that this plot has
not been disclosed because it would have
defeated justice had the information We
possessed been made public. We cannot
now give any names or details, but the out
line Of this conspiracy can now be given.
1t will be remembered" continued the Mt.
torney, 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"
II is understood. though not stated by
Attorney Mills, that the name of the venire-
man attempted TO be bribed is George
Stachappatt. He is foreman for L. V.
Page a. Co.. oil merchants in this city.
Thursday afternoon" said Mills, "a
very prominent citizen of Chicago entered
the court room and privately communicated
to the counsel for the state that his fore
man, the venireman in question, before be-
ing called 10 the jury box. had been ap-
preached by bailiff of the court with an
offer of a Thousand dollars TO vote for the
acquital of the defendents. He says This
is not a cock-and bull story. and bring il
before you in the interest of public JUS
tice.' 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 u
bribe, and the moment he sHw the foreman
he recognized him as 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 counsel for
Office and repeat his statement in full. The
man. with tears in his eyes said: II in
wolves friend, but If II involved
order The gist Of his statement
to counsel. which he subsequently gave
to the states attorney, is as follows: In obedi-
ence to a summons he came to the court
house. Tuesday afternoon sat in the ante
room, but was not called. He came again
Wednesday morning, staid in the ante-room
again and at 1890 o'clock a man came from
the court room into the ante-room who was
an old friend Of the venireman. The fact
also appears that the wives of the two men
were friends before they were married.
The man who came from the courtroom 10
the venireman suggested that they go out
and have cigar While there man from
the courtroom said To tho venirman: Do
you want 10 make money!
The venireman innocently answered;
Certainly, do
Very well, you get on the jury and stick
for an acquittal and YOU will have 81 900.
The contract and arrangements can be
Carried out with your wife. II can be ar
ranged that she shall wear certain colored
dress if the money is paid her on
certain day. If the money il not paid her
on that day, she Is TO wear n different col
ored dress. and the contract is 10 be off,
"The venireman turned reproachfully 20
his friend and said, j am not that kind of
man. whereupon the bailiff replied, i am
working for the court He then pointed 20
q buggy standing outside and remarked,
That is my horse and buggy
AT the noon adjournment the venireman
went back to his place Of business, and sub
sequently returned TO the court house at 2
O'Clock, after which he was detained and re-
turned TO the Jury box, where he remained
until 4:30 o'clock, when he WIS excused for
cause. He left the court house. in
tending 10 return TO his place Of
business, but on leaving the court
house he met on the steps leading TO
the sidewalk the man who had attempted 10
bride him. The man turned 10 him and
said. Where were you this noontimeY |
looked eyerywhery for you. They said TO
me, said his friend we will make il 5000.
and damn him make him do it,
1T was too late, however, the yenireman
had been excused for cause, but he nj once
returned To his place of business, having re-
preached the man for putting such low es-
innate upon him, and reported 10 his en-
ployer, n prominent citizen, what had taken
place, who the following day reported IL 90
the prosecution. Pursuant TO appointment
the venireman went 10 the statep-attorney.
and having made "A full statement of every
thing that took place, was requested 20 step
into the ante room and the bailifl was sum
moned. He proved TO be one of the bailiffa
OF the criminal court, who, during the trial
or the attempt to procure jury, has been
IN charge Of one of the five prisoners,
Couphlin. The bailiff was questioned
clio ely by the states attorney and his asso-
ciates but professed profound Ignorance
until the veniTemau was called from the
ante-room. Tue yenireman WIS requested
TO repeat the statement he had made which
he did. whereupon the bailif nude COM
plcte confession In which he implicated
several prominent persons and also mother
bailiff.
Attorneys for the prosecution, together
with Chief Hubbard and others, nj once
went 10 work on the case. and have dis
closed one of the most deliberate attempts
10 corrupt q jury and 20 defent the law Of
Illinois which has yet come 10 the public at-
tention.
1--WE have had confessions this very day."
said Mills nj n subsequent interview later
this afternoon. "These confessions are
from six 10 eight in number. They are all
solute. giving us the whole miserable con-
spiracy. They reveal most damnable
organization against the law ~ the
lnnd. A conspiracy against the iurispru-
dence Of this country that will startle the
continent when IL is thoroughly known; a
Of vast ramificntions, Of unheard
Of audacity, u conspiracy involving men
whose names will be a surprise 10 the coun-
try, IL Is no exhggeration when | say that
you cannot magnify the damnable outrage
of this conspiracy. In the taking on Of DIR.
Cronin and the manner in which il was
DONE the whole world was startled. This