The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Sensational Episode in the
Plouf-Dempsey Case.
VERDICT GIVEN FOR DEMPSEY.
House ofthe Good Shepherd to BE Sued
by Mrs. Msgee-A Partnership
Contest-The Blotter.

The case OF J. z. Plouf VI r. n. Dempsey ter.
minated disastrously for the plaintiff yesterday,
snd n the many spectators who for several DAYS
Eve sat taxing In the evidence had been able
q foresee its sensational end. they would have
remained little longer, even after the case had
b.eu given to the jury. After few witnesses
had testified in defense OF Ploufs character the
,ury retired but had only been in their room q
few minutes when they were called In by the
iudge who wished TO correct an instruction.
They finally returned with . verdict for the de-
lerdant and were about to retire when Judge
Osborn stopped them.
His honor said that he intended 10 say some
thing to the men VINO sat before him which he
did not desire to be construed a. q reflection ON
any one, but Information had come to him
which made him feel that, - q public Officer
be must question the jury He then caused
them 10 be sworn and asked them II any mem.
Der OF the jury had been approached by any per-
son or persons connected with the case either
directly or indirectly. There was dead silence
for a moment, when William Phillips, the fore
man, said that some man whom he did not
know had on Tuesday asked him how tho case
was going. and he had replied that he had moth
inz TO do with it. One OF the other jurors said
that some person Ind made remark to him a.
10 what was going on in court, but no question
ing made it appear that the Juror had been ap-
preached about the case for any improper pur-
pose.
The court then said that a. long a. he had the
honor of sitting on the bench in King county il
was his aim that justica should be done in an
honest and enicient manner, and that he would
not extend mercy to any man who tried to tam
per with juror, or TO any juror who would al
low himself to be tempered with. The courts
should be held sacred, for in them were deter.
mined the questions affecting the highest liber.
ties Of the people. their rights OF person and
rights OF property. He wanted no man to i'm.
sgine that this proceeding was intended to cast
any reflection, and then he dismissed the court.
Judge Osborn did not say 20, but the cause of
his so closely questioning the jury in the case
was information given him by Bailif George H.
Smith Tho latter said that the Plouf case had
for the summer vacation. Some one had intro
duced him to Pl0uf. and he asserts that Plouf
approached him, saying:
"who will be the juryr'
"That cannot tell until the jury 10 drawn"
replied the baiiiG
"You will know before the case 10 tried, won't
your said Plouf.
''Of course" said the bailiR
"weli. tell you." the doctor Is said TO have
said. Il want to tx two or three of these fell
lows"
Then, the bailif said. he went on to talk in a
very iewd manner about Mrs. Dempsey. Baiiif
Smith stated positively that on Tuesday Dr..
Piouf approached him and said: 81 want you
to circulate freely among tho Jurors and express
your opinion OF the case In . free and open
manner" Mr. Smith reported these remarks to
Judge Osborn, and he was instructed TO watch
the with the utmost caution.
Dr. Plouf was interviewed concerning the
allegations against him and emphaticaily denied
their truth. He said that the bail6 would not
dare make such q charge to his face, and that IL
any attempt had been made to fx the jury 1t had
been made by the other side.