The record-union., 1891-12-03
FARMER REED.
His Counsel's Challenge of Grand
Jurymen.
Lawyer johnson Holds that Messrs.
Black, BeckIey, Gardner and
Heinrich are Biased.

Judge Catlin yesterday heard argu-
nents on the motion by Grove L. John
son, counsel for W. NJ. Reed-the Florin
farmer who is charged with having IL
beled Supervisors Black, jenkins and
Miller-to set aside the Indictment.
The members of the Grand Jury were
called into the courtroom and many of
them examined by Mr.. johnson, who
sought to prove by their own testimony
that they entertained a bias and prejudice
against Reed before they indicted him.
Among the Grand Jurors is John Black.
the father of Supervisor Black, and three
others-Messrs. P. r. Beckley, William
Gardner and &. Heinrich-who are said
to be members of the Liquor Dealers
Association. These jurors Mr.. johnson
challenged.
In his argument he claimed that Juror
Black could not have been free from
prejudice against the man who was alleged
to have ibeled his (Black's) son. and
neither could those who were members of
the Liquor Dealers Association be free
from prejudice in the same direction, be-
cause the money to which Reed is said to
have referred as having been paid to the
three Supervisors for their votes, must
II" . SOaiiN liOLil luS Liquor DedIetS' AS
sociation.
The association, said Mr.. johnson, did
raise money to carry on its opposition to
the liquor ordinance. and that money
could have been used for the purpose
which Reed said it was used for. Hence,
three members of the Grand Jury were
personally implicated in the charge at
tributed to Reed. At least one of these
members (Heinrich) attended a meeting
of the Liquor Dealers Association at
which resolution was adopted condemn
ing Reed tor his alleged utterances.
| These men must have entered on the ex-
animation with opinions formed and ex-
pressed against the accused.
"Men," said Mr. Johnson. "wbo are
| accused of bribing' public officials, are
sitting in Judgment on the man who ac-
cused them of bribery! If anyone was
bribed. ii was by money contributed by
these three Grand Jurymen, as members
of the Liquor Dealers Association -
Counsel lnterposed other objections to
the indictment, namely-that the names
of the witnesses We're not indorsed on the
Indictment as required by law; that Reed
was himself witness before the Jury;
that no case was then pending against
him before the Grand Jury. as no COM
plant had been filed nor arrest made.
The jury had right to inquire into the
matter. and to make a witness of Reed,
which it did.
In concluding, counsel said that if the
Grand Jury desired to punish someone
it should have indicted j. j. Campbell,
publisher of the Gait Gazette, for haying
published the libel.
District Attorney Ryan replied briefly.
He called the courts attention to the fact
that each and every member of the Grand
! Jury who had been examined testified
under oath that he had not entertained
any bias or prejudice against Reed, and
was still free from it, He combated the
IDEA that Grand Jurors were necessarily
prejudiced against Reed because they
happened to be members of the Liquor
Dealers Association, whence the alleged
brlbe was said to have originated.
Judge Catlin said his mind was not
quite clear as to some of the points raised,
and would take the matter under advise
ment. From some Of the remarks
dropped by the Court it was inferred that
he was inclined to the opinion that there
was some ground for the challenge as to
Juror Black, at least.