Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893-07-20
THE SCHOOL BOOK CASE.

1t will be remembered with what a
thrill of indignation bordering on horror
it was learned three years ago that an at
tempt had been made to bride L. H
Leach, member of the state board of
education, to induce him to change his
vote so that Barnes reader and Whites
or Robinson's arithmetic might be SUBJ
stituted for Franklyn's readers and
WentwOrth's arithmetics as text books
for the state. The amount of the bride
offered was $4,000 and it was IN the form
of a check drawn by G. 0. Eames and in
favor of G. E. Laughton, lieutenant gov
einor, and Endorsed by him. The par
| ties alleged to be implicated in the bri-
berry were J. w. Womack, G. O. Eames,
r. l.. Edwards and M. G. Sullivan. In
dictments were found in Thurston coun-
ty, and the case came on for trial before
Judge Campbell OF Tacoma. The indict-
ments were demurred to on the ground
that Mr.. Leach was not an officer as
could be bribed within the meaning OF
the statutes. AS a matter of fact, Mr..
Leach as an individual could not be brib-
ed; but the supreme court held, after
Judge Campbell had quashed the indict-
ment, that he was an officer within the
meaning Of the statute in that behalf and
sent the case back for trial. It will be
three Yeas in August since the indict-
ment was found. The prosecuting attor-
ney in the case at that time was w. A.
Reynolds Of Chehalis. The witnesses
were: G. 0. flames, L. H. Leach, E. S.
Ingraham, G. A. Noble, B. r. Bryant, E.
P. Ferry, B. w. Brintall, L. E. Follans-
bee, G. A. Tiffany, r. L. Edwards, d. G.
Parker, M. G. Sullivan, Chas. J. Thomas,
Chas. E. Laughton, Bertha M. Denton,
@. NJ. Barton and w. X. Elsing. The
whole state felt great degree OF satis-
faction when news went out that the
supreme court had sustained the indict-
ments and that the bribers would be
brought to trial. The matter was, how.
ever, allowed to drift along and nothing
was done until yesterday, when the cur
tain was rung down upon the last act in
the farce. The Olympian, referring to
the case when the supreme court handed
down its judgment, said that sensational
Developments might ke expected. We
certainly have had the sensation, al
though it has come in all unexpected
shape. The dismissal OF the cases is
supreme outrage upon the people of the
state, and the reason given for the fiasco
is an insult to the intelligence of citizens,
and sad blot upon the fair name OF
Thurston county. Here was a case where
the most fragrant bribery was charged,
bribery attempted upon one OF the high
est functionaries in the state, and yet
after the prosecution has been allowed to
drag its slow length along for three years
it is dropped for the alleged reason that
the trial would cost something, We are
prepared to admit that it would have cost
something; but not nearly as much as
the failure to bling the accused to trial
will cost the state in self-respect. 1t is
scandalous and disgraceful ending to
scandalous and disgraceful affair. Prac-
tically rich and influential violators OF
the law are told that they have only to
use their money and influence to delay
the proceedings Of our courts, and get
the witnesses against them scattered, to
secure immunity for their crimes. There
never was a better opportunity to prove
that in this state there is the same law
for the rich and the poor, and it has been
thrown away. Will the prosecuting Off
Ger of Thurston county have the hardi-
hood hereafter to prosecute criminal for
anything? Can he look a criminal in the
face and move that he be tried? Every
unfortunate who 10 brought before the
bar of the court of Thurston county to be