The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-23
A CHANGE OF VENUE ASKED FOR.
II. B. Afbertson and His Friends Give
Their Reasons Therefor.

TACOMA, Oct 22-lSpecial- Judge Burke
and Colonel j. c. Haines, OF Seattle, today filed
with the superior court several afiidayits in
support OF a motion for a change of venue in
the case OF r. B. Albertson, charged with COM
pilcity In the Fidelity bank robbery. Argument
on the motion was postponed until next week
pending the preparation by Prosecuting Attor-
ney W. II. Smell OF counter affidavits. In the
meantime the matter was left in the hands of
NJ K. Smell b Messrs Burke and Haines.
In support of the motion the affidavits of
r. B. Albertson, A. c. Bowman, his stenog-
rapher during the preliminary hearing George
Hyde Preston, one of his law partners and
K. II. Goldie are submitted. In his affidayit
Mr. Albertson says he does not believe he can
have fail and impartial trial in Pierce county:
that since September IL all the daily newspapers
of Tacoma, where the preliminary hearing was
held, have at intervals published false and
preiudiced statements both in their editorial
and IN their news columns concerning him and
tending TO show that he had some guilty con-
nectlon with Edward Albertson and F. "
Chandler, who have been charged with grand
larceny by the Fidelity Trust Company,
and tending thereby to show that he
was an accomplice in the crime; that
the afiant is informed and believes that
the crime with which he is charged in the in
formation is that of being accessory in said
crime OF grand larceny from the said Fidelity
trust Comp any; that he is informed aud be-
Aiefes tnaI tne statements ana accounts pub
llshed in said daily newspapers have been
widely read throughout Pierce county, and that
IN consequence thereof a large portion of the
people OF said county have received false re-
ports OF the facts and circumstances concerning
the charge made against him, and have been
preludlced thereby against him, and he believes
he cannot have fair trial in said Pierce county,
and he, therefore, demands to be tried in
another county in this state.
In addition to substantially the same state
ments as are made by Mr.. Albertson, Mr.. Pres
ton includes clippings from Tacoma newspapers
which are considered prejudicial TO Mr.. Albert
son case. He also shows up the falsity of the
clippings in detail. Mr.. Bowman gives a YER
batin report of Mr.. Aibertson's testimony
garding the letter which Chandler requested
him to deliver to Mrs. Edward Albertson.
Mr.. Godie refers to the facts concerning the
trial, and sets forth fully the charge that Ia
coma newspapers have infamed the minds of
the people OF Pierce county. and have created
sentiment OF hostility against Mr.. Albertson,
and further, that the Tacoma newspapers have
discussed the matter in such a way as to create
the impression that Mr.. Albertson is guilty. The
testimony of Mr.. Albertson given at the prelim-
mary hearing, Mr. Goldie swears, was misstated
and falsifed, and in one instance it was charged
that Mr. Albertson confessed completely in the
crime.
Under the circumstances Mr. Albertson's Ia
coma friends believe the motion for a change of
venue should in justice be granted and that 1t
will be granted.