The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-28
STORY OF THE NOTE.
Frank Mussetter Explains His
Connection With 1t.
NO ATTEMPT AT coNcEALMENT.
Asked by Mitchell to Hand the Letter ia
Midget ut Close OF Butte
Trial.

Yesterday morning two men entered Judge
Humes' courtroom, and in Q moment were in
earnest consultation with his honor. The two
men were John 7. Mitchell aud Frank 8. Mus
setter. who were charged by the Democratic or.
gan. the Telegraph with having attempted to
influence one of the jurors I'm the Butts criminal
libel case. The conversation lasted bat q few
minutes, and as the gentlemen turned to leave
the courtroom. PosT-ISTgLLrGENCER reporter
asked II they had been summoned to appear be-
fore the court to answer to any charge OF con-
tempt
Not summoned. no. sir" quickly and EN-.
phatcally responded Mr.. Mussetter. 1--WE waited
on Judge Humes to learn whether or not he In.
tended to make any investigation Of the charge
made by Judge Rochester. Twas anxious that
such an investigation should be made i'll order
that might prove that there was nothing repre-
bensible-much less criminal-in the entire
transaction. But Judge Humes merely laughed
At me, saying that Judge Lichtenberg thought
the same rs he tHumes) did-that there was
nothing TO the affair at all"
what are the facts in the casef' asked the
reporter.
''simply this Mr.. Mitchell called me out of
the courtroom during the Butts trial and asked
me II was going to remain until the con
clusion OF the trial. / replied that l was.
Thereupon he said that he mad to go to Tacoma
at O'clock to attend the state convention and
requested that deliver note TO Mr.. Midget,
one Of the jurors, when the trial was over.
Mark you, when the trial was over. agreed to
do 30, and he wrote the note then and there.
This conversation occurred in the witness room
before half dozen or q dozen persons who
were there as witnesses. There was no attempt
at concealment or underhanded work what
ever.
Il put the note in my pocket and went back
l,.Sz I,
tired and concluded to leave. then took @
note up to Judge Humes, stating that Mr. Mitch.
ell was compelled to go to Tacoma and had left
q note for one OF the jurors. The judge glanced
at it, remarking that he had no objections If the
counsel on 10th sides were willing. / imme-
diately stepped to Colonel Munday, and showed
1t to him. He, too. glanced at ii, and hanted 1t
back then waited until Judge Rochester was
not engaged. and handed 1t to him. He re-
fused, and returned the note to me.
Shortly afterwards there were a few moments
Intern ssiOn in the trial, and Rochest r. Num-
day. White and myself were talking over the
matter, and Rochester laughingly remarked
that he didn't think would attempt to do him
up in that manner He didn't mean it then,
and 1t was not until afterwards that the thought
occurred to him what use he could make Of the
note. l replied to him that the note was not in
tended by Mr.. Mitchell to be delivered until
after the trial was over.
About fifteen minutes after the intermisson
Judge Rochester came to me and asked for the
note. gave it to him, and then he called Niesz,
White and Mundsy. and the three went up to
Judge Humes. Rochester laid the note before
the court. and Judge Humes told him that he
(Humes) had already seen 1t.
AFTER the trial was over / asked Judge
Rochester If he were going to try to make po,it-
ical capital out of this and give it to the news
papers. He replied that the Telegraph already
l.~I ~.sl A. m
davit. setting forth the whole facts, showing
that there was absolutely no intention of doing
anything wrong, and that the whole thing was
merely for political effect. And tell you right
here that / arm thoroughly convinced in my
own mind that neither Judge Rochester, the
discoverer of the alleged attempt at corruption;
Mr.. Durie, the editor of the Telegraph; Mr..
Young, chairman Of the Democratic city cam
paign com mite; Mr. Eilicott, chairman of the
Democratic executive committee; Judge White.
the old wheel-horse of the party nor any other
Democrat believes that / made any such at.
tempt.
why should 1? Ihave been O friend of the
man who was on trial A year ago was one of
his bondsmen. wanted to see him acquitted.
Is it likely, then. that would attempt to do
anything which would have had o tendency to
convict him? No; and Butts himself knows
this, for he went to Mr.. Durie that same night
and told Mr. Durie that was his friend. and
that he knew that wouldn't try to injure him,
and urged Mr.. Durie not to publish anything.
"But IN this case the Democratic managers
were stronger than the will OF the sturdy
Scotchman, and the stuff was published Mus
setter was piiloried as traitor to his party
corrHpter OF public morals, perverter OF jus.
tice, bad man generally, supporter OF Mayor
White, and in league with the devil and the Re-
publican party-all in the hope of gaining
lew votes
Now, the truth of the matter is that l am not
supporting Harry White at all. am, and have
been for some time past, an active and ardent
supporter of d. b Ward and have been endeav-
oring to bring about meeting between Mr..
Ward and the president of the Western Central
Labor Union and other labor leaders.
mo, sir, you may rest assured" said Mr. Mus
setter in conclusion, that if this were not q
time OF political excitement, nothing whatever
would have been thought of this thing"
what do you say about the affair, Mr.. Mitch.
ell?" asked the reporter.
frank (Mussetter) has told you the literal
truth as 10 what occurred when gave him the
note. / didn't have the remotest idea that il
would reach Mr.. Midget before the trial was
over. short time ago Paul Henry asked me
to recommend to him someone for assistant Sec
Rotary Of the Republican committee That day
happened TO think of Mr.. Midget. / couldu't
think OF his name, knew so little of the man.
nor did l know where he was. asked r. NJ
EuSGhtAtc Al lac AucN MIL, anu knew Wn6re ne
was. Mr.. McEniire informed me that Mr. Mud.
get was doing duty as juror. l didn't even
know in what case. / certainly didn't know
that Butts was on trial. And If | had known it
it would not have made any difference.
so went up to the courthouse thinking that
might possibly be able to see him, but he was
in the jury box. The only man in the court
room that knew was Frank. called him out
and had the conversation with him which he
has related TO you.
II regret that such a thing should have been
published about me, for every man, woman or
child who knows me, knows that would never
be guilty OF any sucn an act. OF course the
Democrats have taken it up merely to make DO
Etical capital. but If they are so hard up as ali
that, God help them. don't think the Teleoraph
has wiliully tried TO lnjure me- and am CON
WINGED that If | could ha We seen Mr. Durie prior
TO any publication that could have shown nim
that was utterly inocent OF any Intention to
influence Mr.. Midget for or against Butts for
didn't know the man was being tried until
went mp 20 the courtroom. The charge is ut
terry without foundation whatever and think
that Mr. Dune. who has 50 often been uniustlv
attacked himself. ought to have investigated
the mat er thoroughly before casting such I
grave accusation at me-"
Got All the Time He Wanted.