Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-03-13

Sutherland saYs HEe Gave the $4,000
Judgment Note Under Duress.

Wilkes BARRE, March 8.--Anothel
and sensational feature in the case
against Fl. E. Switzerland, of Halle
ton. charged with sending indecent
matter through the nails came to
light yesterday.
Switzerland, as already reported
was charged with sending through
the mails printed circulars libeling
Rev. John Donohoe, now presiding
elder Of the Danville District of the
Methodist Church. He was ar
rested Saturday. February %, in
Hazleton by Deputy United States
Marshal Barring and brought to this
city.
On Monday he gave judgment
note for $4,000 to Rev. John
Donohoe, $4,000 of which was as
signed to Marshal Barring, and on
Tuesday the case was practically
Withdrawn, and he was discharged
on his own recognizance.
Yesterday, Hon John Lynch, at
torney for Mr.. Sutherland, made an
application to Judge " oodward,
sitting in Chambers, for a rule to
open this Judgment for $4,000, on
the ground that the note had been
extorted from him by threats and
coercion.
Mr.. SUTHERLAND'S STORY.
In support of his Mr.. Sutherland
made affidavit to an extraordinary
story, which, if true. makes the
whole case look very much like a
conspiracy to blackmail. His story.
under oath, is substantially as fol-
lows: On Saturday, February %,
the arrests were made. Marshal
Barring and Detective James
O'Brien went down to Hazleton
armed with warrant. They ar
rested Sutherland and George Maue,
editor of the Sentinel, in the even
ing, allowing them no time to cons
municate with friends, but dragged
them off to the train. In utter de-
fance of the law they refused to al
low them to enter bail at Hazleton
Both Sutherland and Maue demand
ed to be taken before United States
Commissioner Hill, at Hazleton,
and stated that they were ready to
enter bail to any amount for a
further hearing or for appearance at
court.
But Barring refused to allow any
thing Of the kind. The two men
were hustled off to the station and
put on board a train. They were
separated and not allowed to see
each other again.
Barring stuck close to Sutherland.
In going to the station Mr.. Suther-
land had met 9. w. Kline, promin-
ent Hazleton attorney, and told him
he was under arrest. MIR. Kline
stated that he would telegraph to
John Lynch to meet Mr.. Suther-
land at Wilkes Barre and look after
his interests. Barring and O'Brien
heard this, and Sutherland never
got chance to see Mr.. Lynch.
At the Wilkes Barre station they
were taken away separately. George
Maue was escorted at once to Com
missioner Hahn's office, where he
was admitted to bail for further
appearance on the following Tuesday
There was no testimony taken.
Nothing could be secured from Mr..
Maue, and no attempt was made to
induce him to settle. But very diff
ferent was the treatment of Mr..
Sutherland. He was taken by
Marshal Barring from the train to
the residence of Mr.. Barring, on
South Main Street, and up to third
floor room. Here Barring enlarged
upon the enormity of his crime, and
told him that he would be sent to
the penitentiafy for many years, all
his property taken from him, and
his family ruined and disgraced for
life.
Then Commissioner Hahn and