The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-23
MUST WAIT FOR A JURY.
trial of the Raymond Clouett Snug
CLING Cases POSTPONED.

inc Raymond Clouett-La opium case was
called IN the United States court yesterday but
was temporarily knocked out in the first round
by an objection urged by William II. White one
OF the attorneys for the defendants to the effect
that the panel of the petit jury, having been
Hleu up with persons selected from the city of
seattle alone, and not from the body of the entire
Northern division of the district of Wilmington,
had not been selected according to the proyis.
ions OF the United States statutes Judge Han
1ord sustained the objection, and there being
bnt seven OF the regular panel of the jury pres
ent which had been selected from the entire
division, and it being impossible to get enough
Jurors from the several counties comprising the
Northern division for a week or more the case
was continued until January -
Inc three defendants, Charles Raymond, Mel
son Clouett and III. M. Labelle, were indicted for
selling and facilitating the sale of struggled
opium. In the latter part OF September a fifty
pound package of this drug, prepared for smok-
ing, was struggled into the United States from
vancouver and brought to Seattle for sale by a
sm'lggler employed for that purpose by Joseph
Manseau, an ex-member of the Canadian
mounted police. Manseau followed his yalu-
able package ON the next steamer and on reach
ing this city took possession of the opium which
was carried III a common satchel. Being some
what green at the business OF selling smuggled
goods and not kpowing where to dispose OF his
contrabrand package to the best advantage in
seattle, Maflseau sought the advice of several
persons who were conversant with French, his
native tongue, and entrusted them with his
secret.
Clouett then member of the city police force,
overheard one of these conversations and ac-
eordlng to the theory of the prosecution. entered
into conspiracy with Raymond, another police
man. and Labelle, who was to lead Manseau
into the ambush prepared for him. Labelle car
ried the satchel and Manseau accompanied him,
feeiing highly elated at the prospects of profit
able sale. But just when his hopes were bright
est, an officer OF the law, whom the prosecution
says was Charles Raymond, overlook these two
men and arrested them. Iabelle handed the
satehel to Manseau and walked away Manseau
pleaded piteously for liberty and his valuable
package OF opium, and then tried to bride the
officer OF the law. The officer scorned his at
tempts at bribery, but seemed moved by his APP
peals for pity and told him to "drop the satcheI
and skip" The opium had cost Manseau $3.50 in
vancouver and was worth about 81 900 in Seattle;
but rather than lose opium and liberty both, he
abandoned the satchel and hastily departed.
Time passed. and no report of the captured
opium having been made to the custom officers,
Manseau became suspicious, and related his
story to his friend Wilson, now city detective,
who formerly served with him on the Canadian
police. Wilson reported the matter to the GUS
tom officers, and the arrest of these men fol-
lowed, and Manseau was made prosecuting wit
ness by the government
Whether the three men had conspired to seize
the smugglid opium under color of the law,
then captured and sold it and divided the pro-
ceeds, remains to be seen, bnt it is on that
theory the grand jury indicted them and on that
theory they will be put upon trial.