The record-union., 1892-12-06
BRIBERY CHARGED.
Deputy Sheriff Sehorn of Glenn Says
He Was Approached.
An Alleged present. in a Habeas
Corpus Proceeding-PauI o.
Burns Remanded.

| An unexpected bomb exploded in the
Superior Court, Department One, Hon.
A. F. Catlin presiding, yesterday at noon,
and for awhile the atmosphere was blue.
The Paul 0. Burns writ Of habeas cor
pus was on for hearing. Colonel II. J.
Brady of San Francisco, with District At
torney Ryan, appeared for the people.
Burns, as was related in Yesterdays
RECoRD-UNIoN, is the man who was ar
rested by Sehorn in San Francisco on a
charge of obtaining money from the New
York Life Insurance Company by false
pretenses, and who, while EN- route to
Glenn County-where the warrant was
issued-was taken off the train and
brought to this city on writ Of habeas
corpus.
1t appears that when the writ was first
issued Judge Catlin set the hearing Of it
for yesterday noon. On Sunday, how
ever. Burns and his attorneys Major
Anderson and William Sims of this city
and Mr.. Costello OF San Francisco) ar
ranged with Judge Catlin to have the
matter heard Sunday night.
In making his return to the court Sc
norm alleged that about Z o'clock in the
evening he was approached by Paul o.
-1tA - OAi LlAC SJl ttt, ilCdE luG w CSlCIu
Hotel, and informed that the Judge had
changed the hour of hearing the case to
$50 that evening; that he (SehornJ was
expected to be there, and that if he was
not there the case would go on without
him.
The Deputy Sheriff further alleged in his
affidavit that he expressed his surprise
10 burns at this peremptOry change in
the date set for the hearing, and stated,
moreover, that he was entitled to counsel
on the hearing, and could not hope to
lind either the District Attorney or
| Colonel Brady on such short notice.
lie further alleged that thereupon
Burns put his hand in his pocket and Of
fered him $50 to proceed with the hearing
| in the absence Of his attorney. Sehorn
said lie then told Burns, with great indig-
nation, that he could not bribe him for
ten times $50, and Immediately proceeded
to the Courthouse and the chamber of
Judge Catlin and laid the whole matter
before him, The Judge was greatly sur
prlsed to lind that Sehorn had not con-
sented to and was ignorant Of the pro
posed evening hearing.
Sehorn subsequently went to the resi-
| dence OF District Attorney Ryan and mar
rated the circumstances of the alleged
bribery to him.
Colonel Brady of San Francisco ap-
peared as special counsel for the prosecu-
tAOI, anu u4u thS tdlhlDS against the Will
III place OF District Attorney Ryan. The
| attorneys for Burns contended that the
warrant did not sufficiently set forth the
crime Burns was charged with. in order
to hold him, but, after a long argument
on both sides, Judge Catln ruled that the
warrant was good, aud remanded Burns
to Sehorn's custody.
Then the bribery affidavit above re-
ferred to was read, and Burns made no
denial nor protest.
Judge Catlin said that clearly Burns
was guilty Of contempt of court, but he
did not see how he could punish him.
because i'll that case the very thing that
should be avoided would occur-nanely,
delay by Imprisonment. The court there
fore let the matter drop, with the consent
of the prosecution, who wished to avoid
delay.
Burns and Attorney Costello who
was present at the conversation during
which the alleged bribe was offered) We're
interviewed afterward and denied en-
phatically that any bribe of $50. or anv
other sum, was offered Deputy Sehorn ;
that they saw Sehorn and wanted him to
| consent to the hearing Of the matter be-
fore Judge Catlin at $50 O'Clock Sunday
evening, because, as they explained to
him. if Burns was remanded into the
custody OF the deputy, they could leave
for Willows, where the warrant was
! issued, on yesterday mornings train
and appear before the magistrate there in
the afternoon, but that if the hearing was
held at the time set by Judge Catlin yes
terday noon, if remanded, Burns and
the Deputy Sheriff would not be able to
reach Willows until this afternoon.