The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-20
JOHN s. RUSSELL GONE.
He Is a Necessary Witness in the
Harper Case.
THE TRIAL WILL NOW BE In
SEPTEMBER.

Fears of Disclosures That Might Come
Out In the Trial.
There was sensation in the city yes
terday when it was known that ex-City
Clerk John S. Russell was not to be found
and that the members of his family did
not know of his whereabouts. Mr.. Rus
sell is an indispensable witness as to GER
tain material facts in the Harper case,
such for instance as the number Of the
ballots sent to Ward 1 on the day of cleo
ton, and the number returned. Without
Mr.. Russell it is necessary to postpone
the case until he can be found.
1t is needless to say that comment on
Mr.. Russelps course are very severe.
When he made clean breast of what he
knew of the frauds last March. with the
admission that he had concealed them
for several days, his offence was con-
doned in the minds of many by his final
repentance. 1t was generally thought
that he had maintained his long silence
because Of strong party pressure brought
from quarters where there vast lively
interest that Harper should be screened
1t now appears that he has probably
yielded again to the same pressure, and
has made a fugitive of himself in order
to put off still further the revelations of
the facts in the ward affair.
The persistency with which Harpers
defenders and apologists have evaded all
proceedings which would bring out any
facts is remarkable and must convince
every fair minded man that there is much
more to the Han per case than ''blunder''
in counting.
At the preliminary hearing in the
Municipal Court, where an honest cause
would have insisted on full hearing,
Harper's hackers had him waive an ex-
animation, thus taking away from the
government all opportunity to make an
examination. And now, after Harper
has been indicted by the grand jury and
his case is about to be brought to trial,
the leading witness is spirited away.
The small clique of Democrats who have
been beneficiaries of the Harper frauds
OF who have been concerned in apologize
ing for them, were of course in high
feather over the baking of the govern
ment. They even went so far as to in
sinuate that the government was not
anxious to try Harper and to criticise the
County Attorney for not putting Russell
under bonds to appear in court. 1t is
true that in cases where vagabond and
disreputable people, or people not known
to have habitations hereabouts, are wit
nesses, they are bound over to appear,
and in case they cannot give bail, are con-
fined in jail until the trial. But Mr.. Rus
sell was an old resident of the city, with
home and property here, and no prose-
cutting officer would have been justified
in binding him over.
A rumor was started yesterday that
Mr.. Russell had gone to the Worlds
Fair, but the sheriff, who has been look
ing for him, finds only that his relatives
do not know where he has gone.
Since the disclosures of last spring.
Mrs. Russell has been suffering from ner-
vous prostration, and she has also gone
away. 1t is thought that they are to-
gether. Of course this fact does not ex-
cuse Mr.. Russell, since he could readily
have announced to the government Off
cials his intended departure, and come
to some understanding.
There was an opinion in some quarters
yesterday, that Mr.. Russell will never re-
turn to Portland. The clique that have
apparently brought pressure upon him
before, will be as ready to do SO again,
since they will be desperate whenever
the case of Harper approaches solu-
ton.
But the government will continue to
press the case as vigorously as ever, and
whenever Mr.. Russell returns, his case
will be so arranged that he will have to
testify. So long as he remains away,
there is no way of getting him. Even if
it were a murder case his attendance
could not be compelled.
In the Superior Court yesterday after
noon, County Attorney True, having sent
for Mr.. Clifford, counsel for Harper, ad-
dressed the court as follows:
Nay it please the Court
In the case OF State against Thomas r. Har-
per, assigned for trial next Monday, the govern
ment is obliged to ask for continuance to the
September term, for the reason that John s.
Russell, an important witness for the govern
ment. is absent from the city and state.
After the grand jury had reported an indict-
ment IN the case, subpoena was issued by me,
as county attorney, for Mr.. Russell and other
witnesses. The subpoena for Mr.. Russell was
put into the hands of the sheriff for service
Diligent search was made for Mr.. Russell by
the officer, and the subpoena was subsequently
returned with the Endorsement by the sheriff
that he was unable to find Mr.. Russell within
the precinct. Subsequent inquiries from the
family of Mr.. Russell elected the information
that he left the city Tuesday or Wednesday,
May 9th or 10th. The grand jury reported the
indictment ON Thursday, the 18th. From the
same source it has been further learned that he
is not expected to return to the state until the
middle of June or the first OF July, and that his
present address is not known AS Mr. Russell
is a material witness for the state the govern
ment does not consider it safe or prudent to go
to trial without him. respectfully request the
Court to continue the case until the September
tarm haya notified Mr. Clifford and m 70