The record-union., 1891-10-30
INDICTED FOR LIBEL.
Farmer Reed VIII Have to be Tried
by a Jury,
Result of Farmers Alliance Speech
Accusing the Supervisors of Ac-
cepting Bribes.

rived at the Courthouse yesterday fore
noon, he was notified that the Grand Jury
desired to make a partial report.
The Judge repaired to the courtroom,
and taking his elevated seat, awaited the
coming of the investigators. They soon
filed in and took seats in the jury-box.
The news had evidently got out about
the Grand Jury's intention, as the court
room was soon crowded with spectators,
who waited breathlessly for what was to
transpire.
REED INDICTED.
'Well, gentlemen" said Judge Catlin
to the jurors, ''have you any communica-
ton to maker"
''We have" Foreman Stevens arose
and handed a package of papers to the
court. The latter inspected the papers
and then excused the jurors.
It was not long before it was known
that the Grand Jury had found an indict-
ment against William NJ. Reed. the
FlOrin farmer, who during an enthusias-
tic speech before the Farmers Alliance at
Calf recently stated that the three mem
Ders Of the Board of Supervisors who
voted to repeal clause in the liquor
license ordinance had received SIS, 900 for
their votes.
The report of the Grand Jury to Judge
Catlin was brief, being in sustance as fol-
lows: eve beg leave to report that we
nave found q true bill of Indictment
against w. NJ. Reed for libel, which bill
OF Indictment we herewith report and
present to your honor"
The indictment itself is an interesting
Indictment. 1t gives a full history of the
case against Reed.
THE INDICTMENT.
Following is the wording of the Grand
Jury's document: Nv. NJ. Reed is ac-
cused by the Grand Jury of the County
of Sacramento, by this Indictment, Of the
crime OF libel, committed as follows:
The said w. NJ. Reed, on the - day of
October, 1891, did III the County of Sacra-
mento, and before the finding Of this in
dictment, willfully and unlawfully, and
with malicious intent to injure Andrew
BLACK, NJ. Miller and Thomas Jenkins,
and with intent to impeach the honesty
integrity and regulations of said Black,
Miller and Jenkins, procure to be pub
lished in the WeekIy cat Gazette, a
newspaper, a certain false, scandalous
and detamatory libel in the shape of a
printed article of and concerning the said
Black, Miller and Jenkins, in words and
figures as follows: The Board Of
Supervisors of this county are not a jot
% better than our Doodle legislators of
the last session (meaning certain MEM
lature of the State of California, against
whom charges of corruption in office
were alleged and circulated). Three
members of our county board meaning
Black, Miller and Jenkins) have been
bought and sold (Meaning thereby
that the said Black, Miller and Jenkins
did, in their official capacity as members
of the Board of Supervisors,
CORRUPTLY AND FELONIOUsLY
Receive bribe for the purpose of infiu-
encing their official action respecting
matters officially pending before said
board). He the said defendantJ openly
accused three members of the Board of
Supervisors meaning Black, Miller and
JenkinS), who voted against the passage
of a certain ordinance recently (meaning
thereby that certain amendment to Sec
ton /, OF Ordinance % of Sacramento
County, abolishing the necessity of the
application and petition in said section
mentioned, of receiving $4,000 for
their votes. He (the said defendant) cited
his authority for this damaging accusa-
ton, which is felonious in its nature, in
this language: i know what | am talk
ing about. Mr.. Nevis, of the Eagle Win
cry, is my authority. He told me that
three members of the Board of Super
visers who voted against that ordinance
were SI5, 900 better off than the day before
the vote was taken. (Meaning that Black
Miller and Jenkins had feloniously re-
Ceiyed said sum of money in considera-
tiOn OF their having voted in favor OF said
amendment to said ordinance). He told
me also that he collected The money him
self, in aid of the liquor interest tmean-
ing thereby that said Nevis collected
SIS, ,000 for the purpose of cOrruptly infIu-
encing Black, Miller and Jenkins to vote
in favor of said amendment to said ordi-
nance.)"
GIVES BONDS.
Reed appeared in court shortly after the
Grand Jury had retired. He was accom-
panied by one of his attorneys, Grove l..
Johnson. The latter asked what the
amount Of the bail would be- and Judge
Catlin fixed it at 1000. Mr.. Johnson
considered this rather high, and Judge
Catlin reduced the amount to 81 600. The
bond was promptly given, J. T. Camp
and NJ. +. Johnson being the sureties
Meantime Justice Of the Peace Henry
was wondering why the attorneys and
witnesses in the Reed case did not put in
an appearance in his court. 1t will be
remembered that in addition to laying
the matter before the Grand jury. the ac-
Cused Supervisors had Reed arrested for
criminal libel. This case was to be heard
by Justice Henry, but was continued
from time to time until yesterday.
But Judge Henry's mind was soon set
at rest. Deputy District Attorney Buck
ley. Attorneys Grove l.. johnson and
others fled into the courtroom, and after
some whispering Mr.. Buckley addressed
the court.
CASE DISMISSED.
ST viii state to the court,' said he.
''that the prosecution is ready to proceed,
but the Grand Jury of this county has
few moments ago made partial report
finding an indictment against the de-
fendant in this case for the same alleged
libel as alleged in the complaint here.
This, as / understand, takes the iurisdic-
ton OF the matter away from your honor,
and upon that ground / move that the
proceeding before your honor be dis
missed. He has given bail for his APP
pearance under this Indictment
Just enter in the order that the de-
fendant announces himself ready to 90
on with the case, - said attorney Johnson.
land also we ask an order discharging
and releasing the bondsmen. We have
given a bond in the Superior Court and
that would naturally release the bond
here.n
Judge Henry then made the necessary
order and the parties left the courtroom