Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-12-19
The Bribery Cases.

Judge Hazen refused to quash the bribery
indictments, and the first case, that OF
the Com. VS. W. d. Wallace, Esq. was
taken up in the New Castle Court last Sat
urday morning. The entire day was oc-
cupied in trying to select jury.
On Monday the jury was completed and
Messrs A. +. Smith, DR.. Mcconnell, a. i.
Marshall and others were examined as wit
nesses, and Tate was called but refused to
answer on the ground that his evidence
would criminate himself.
On Tuesday. Tate persisted in his refus-
al to answer questions, the matter was
argued for hours and Judge Hazen finally
decided that he should answer.
He was then asked
..Did YOU. Mr. ShafIer and Mr.. Downing
have conversation with Mr.. W. ID. wal
lace on a side street on July 3f'
AZ refuse to answer, as my answer might
have tendency to criminate me-" re-
sponded Mr. Tate.
He persisted in his refusal TO answer,
and, the Court made the following order:
Whereas. The witness, John Il. Tate,
being witness in the case now on trial.
| having stated that certain answers to ques
| tions might tend To criminate him, the
| Court hayirg heard arguments, and having
decided that witness shold answer, but
| that answers so given could not be used
against him in criminal prosecution, ne
| still refusing to answer, the Court adjudg-
| ing him guilty of contempt therefore, the
| Court doth now commit him to the county
| iail until such time as he will purge him-
self Of said contempt" Tate was then
placed in jail.
r. J Downing another of the Beaver
county delegates under indictment, was
the next witness called. He stated that
| he had been a delegate to the convention,
and had met Mr.. Wallace on the street
several times.
"Did Mr. Wallace ask you to vote for
Alexander McDowellY" 81 decline to
answer, for the same reason as was given
by Mr.. Tate" responded Mr. Downing
Here the acting District Attorney said:
IT here is no use proceeding further, he
will not answer"
The Court-Thomas J. Downing, do you
persist in not answering for fear the answers
will tend TO criminate your
Mr. Downing Yes.
"Do YOU know that the Court has ruled
that the answers given by you cannot be
used against you IN any criminal prosecu-
toni"
"Yes sir"
Judge Hazen then committed Thomas
Downing to Jail until he too would purge
himself OF contempt. He was placed in
Jail with Tate at once.
Edwin Shaffer, another Of the Beaver
delegates, under Indictment for bribery,
was called and refused to answer all ques-
tions for the same reason that the others
had given. After informing the Court that
be persisted in his refusal, he also was sent
to Jail with his two friends.
On Wednesday morning Tate, Shatler
and Downing were brought into Court,
when they persisted in refusing to answer,
and were sentenced by the Court to pay a
fine of 5000 each, and be imprisoned in the
County Jail till March 10, 1891.
The trial of Wallace was continued, but
as the prosecution had relied on the
evidence Of the three imprisoned men to
convict him, the case fe'l through, andthe
| ury divided the costs between the pro-
secutor and dependant.
The cases VS. the three imprisoned men
were continued till next term.