Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-06-19
The Chambers Trial.

The Iron County Circuit Court convened
here in special session last Monday for the
purpose of disposing of the noted Cham bers
murder case, brought here on a change of
venue from st. Louis county, The readers
| of the REGISTER are somewhat familiar
with the facts of this case, but brief out
| line just here will not be out OF place.
The defendant, Bartholomew NJ. Cham
| bers,w at one time president of the Butch
er's and Drover's Bank of st. Louis. That
institution failed, and Mr.. Chambers was
broken up. He let every thing go toward
squaring up the accounts ofthe bank. Since
that time the noted lawyer, Frank J. Bow
| man, had been very active in trying to hold
| Chambers "to the wall, until October 21st,
| 1889, he went with a deputy sheriff to the
home of Chambers mother In St. Louis
| county to levy on some property. Having
been "hounded around" by Bowman when
ever an opportunity presented itself, and
seeing him with the deputy sheriff, who had
come to levy on whatlittIe property remain
ed, was more than he could endure. He
seized shot gun and gave its contents to
Bowman, the shot taking effect in his head
and face and killing him instantly. Cham
ber> surrendered to the authorities and was
taken to Clayton, the county seat Of st. Louis
county. He waived preliminary examit a
ton and was held to await the action of the
Grand Jury which was in session the follow
ing November. He was indicted for muir
der in the first degree and the day was set
for his trial. In the meantime, his attorney,
Chas. =. Johnson, filed petition, asking
for change of venue, He set forth. in his
petition that prejudice against him was so
strong he could not have fair trial any
where in that, the Nineteenth Judicial Cir
cult. After hearing the arguments and
cons idering the same. Judge Edwards of
that Circuit ordered the case to Iron Coun- |
ty in the Twenty SIKH Circuit, presided |
over by Judge John l.. Thomas.
Mr.. Chambers was brought here by the |
sheriff of ST. Louis county and placed in Jail
early in December. He Immediately applied |
10 Judge Thomas for his release under bail.
There was some doubt as to whether this
was hailable case. However, Judge |
I homas ordered sheriff Whitworth to take
at De Soto, where he sat in chambers. Hay-
lllS all VI the tNltlGHCe III tue case anu
weighed the matter carefully, Judge Thorn
as decided that Chambers was entitled to
bail and fixed the amount at fifty thousand
dollars. A number of his St. Louis friends
had come to De Soto, and bound themselves
10 the State of Missouri for that sum in case
Chambers did not appear at court.
At the regular term Of court, this case was
aid over until this special term. Besides
the regular panel, the Sheriff has summoned
fifty extra jurors for the case.
Chambers is represented by Messrs. John
son and Hereford OF ST. Louis and Messrs.
Edgar and Zwart of Ironton; while the
interest of the State is looked after by Pros
:utinc Attorneys John r. Warfield of St.
louis county and ]. s. Jordan of this county.
The whole Of Monday afternoon was occu-
pied in Selecting forty qualified jurors, from
which number Will be selected the twelve
Who are to sit on the case. The defense
hen claimed the forty eight hours allowed
~ law in which 10 make its challenges, and
n consequence the court dismissed the jur
RS until Thursday morning when the names
# the twelve retained TO try the case will be
nnounCed.
Owing to the prominence Of all parties
nd the legal talent on both sides, the case !
will be watched with intense interest. 1t is s
bought the case will last till the latter por |
ion of the week.
The benefits Of vacation season may be ,
realty enhanced, if at the same time, the >
Hood is being cleansed and yitaliZed by the
se of Ayers Sarsaparilla. good appe-
lite, fresh Figor and buoyant spirits attend
he use of this wonderful medicine.