The evening world., 1889-09-13
COETz ACQUITTED.
A Jury Finds the Alderman Not Guilty
Of Bribery.
He Went on the Stand and Denied
the Reform Clubs Charges.
II Took the jury Little More Than an
Hour to Reach tho Verdict.

At the resumption Of the trial this morning
Of Alderman Christian Goetz. of the Eighth
Assembly District, ON the charge Of bribing
a voter at the last election, Judge Cowing, Of
Part H., General Sessions, told the witnesses
present that they must retire from the court
room.
1t was after II O'Clock when Lawyer Abe
Hummel, Goetz's counsel. begau his opening
argument for the defense OF his client.
He referred to his clieut rs a foreigner who
had come to this country and made a leputa-
ton as o good, law-aDiding citizen. He de-
clared that there could not justly be- any
Inference as TO his clients guilt from the tes-
tinony given, and for that ronson he had
asked for a dismissal of the charge against
Goetz.
The Reform Clubs detectives may have
Inferred that Goetz had offered Lewis n bribe.
Int MIR. HuInmel sad lie would prove that
Goctz did not offer n bride. and would show
that Detective Ramsay WAS mistaken when he
declared that GoetZ had offered q bribc to
Lewis.
Officer James Cowen. OF the Eleventh Po.
lice Precinct, VAS the first witness called for
the defense. He has been ON the force over
eighteen years, and WINS on duty lat Election
Day ut the polling place of the Nineteenth
with another officer, since deceased. He saw
Lewis and heard hin challenged, but did not
hear R1msnv or any one else charge GoetZ
with bribery. He did not So Goetz use any
money to influence voters.
MIR. Jerome asked him if he had had any
conversation with any OF johnny O'Brien's
relatives, and he sad No" laugningly.
George Murray, who was chief inspector of
street, where the alleged bribery took place.
testified that h. remembered Lewis being
challenged by n man named Ramsay. hut
that the latter did not then charge Goetz with
bribing Lewis.
Alderman Goetz WAS next called TO the stand
in his own behalf. and i'll answer to his coun-
sci said he WINS forty years of age, and came
TO this city from Bavaria in 1865. He had
been m Alderman two terms.
On election day he was Mt all tho thirty-One
polls in his Assembly District. and never
said his pockets wee lined with money, and
he wa gong to carry the election.
.WitnesS's election m Alderman cost him
about 500. lie swore positively that he dI
not attempt to bride Lewis nor any ono else.
nor offer any money TO any voter to cast his
ballot for Goetz.
On cross examination Mr.. jerome asked
the accused If ho had not used g.. 100 to
secure his election NJ Alderman. and ,he
witness smiled and said No" emphat,callv.
Goetz snid his printing cost him $500. his
polling booths, 1875: uniforms for his ticket
men, S175, and he expended some money in
visiting the thiTty-One polling PAGES in the
Eighth District. making about 300 in all
which the election cost him.
Lawyer Hummel then closed his case and
said that he was willing 70 submit the case 10
the jury without argument.
MIR. jerome summed up for the People and
Judge CowlnE, afier a brief charge. gave the
case to the jury Mt 2 o'clock.
At 3. 90 the jury came into the courtroom
and said they had agreed upon q verdict.
They found the accused not guilty.
Alderman GoetZ was at once discharged,
and eft the court room, receiving on the way
the warm congratulations of his friends.