The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-05
WRONG MAN BLAMED.
Alleged Jury Briber Was Gates,
Not Edwards.
A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
Wilder Corrects Mistake-Gates Sur.
renders and Gives Bond-Way's
Trial Continued.

CASE yesterday Dy the discovery tDat UeOIgc
Nj. Gates and not J. 8. Edwards was the
man who approached F. J. Wilder. He
was not arrested till late in the day, and
awaiting his arrest, the case of Eugene
Way. the other man accused, was contin-
ued till next Saturday.
Judge Osborn took up the case at $50
O'Clock in the morning. sending for Assist
ant Prosecuting Attorney Mcbride to APP
pear on behalf of the state. with Judge
Burke to assist him. Attorney Hart an
nounced that his client, Eugene Way. was
present. and demanded speedy trial: in
fact. he asked that the case be taken up
and settled then and there. Sheriff WOOL
cry said that as yeti. S. Edwards had not
been arrested. Thus it became apparent
that it would be impossible to pursue the
investigation until later day, for Ed
wards was the main reliance of the prose-
cution. as it was not certain that the other
man mentioned by Juror Reisinger could
be identified. and nothing has yet been
shown against Way, other than that he
might have thrown out some hints to one
of the jurors.
Attorney Hart then pleaded for a trial
that very day. and said that his client was
ready to answer any charges, and that 1t
was serious matter TO bring such accusa-
tons against a man without being able to
substantiate them.
Judge Burke replied that according to
the testimony Edwards had addressed one
of the jurors on behalf OF Way, and that it
would probably be impossible to do any
thing to the latter unless Edwards could
be produced. Under these circumstances,
as long as there was a reasonable chance
of finding Edwards, he would request the
court to continue the case.
Hart then said that he noticed that the
affidavit against Way was signed by G. P.
Converse, and asked Judge Burke who he
was. how he came to sign it. and whether
it was with his Judge Burke's) approval.
Judge Burke replied that Converse was
chief clerk TO the general manager of the
Seattle & Montana Company, and that he
had signed it with his approval, as Mr..
Shelby was not in the city.
Hart then began to argue that there was
not particle of legitimate evidence to
eliminate Way, and that the only thing
that had been shown was that he had re-
marked in conversation that the property
was worth 100000. Judge Osborn inter-
rupted by saying that there was CROUCH
evidence to justify the court in instituting
the proceedings, and that even what it
was claimed had been said by Way could
hardly have been uttered with pure mo-
tives. Moreover the evidence would nee
essarily be apt to be weak. he continued,
as that sort of work was not likely to be
done in the full light of day. Judge Os-
born then added that fair determination
of the case could not be reached until Ed
or1S ~
tanned whether or no he had left the state.
Judge Burke replied that the state would
be ready as soon as Edwards could be
found or his flight established, but Hart
claimed that it worked a hardship to his
client and wished the case tried on Monday
at the latest. Judge Osborn remarked,
however, that his client was out on bail
and that it was part of his duty as q good
citizen to wait until the whole affair could
be carefully investigated. He then con-
tinued the cases until next Saturday. say.
ing that that should afford ample time for
making inquiries.
During the afternoon Judge Osborn
issued a warrant for the arrest of G. NJ.
Gates, bookkeeper at Considine's theater.
upon charge Of tamperhng with the jury,
and at O'Clock he received word that
Gates was in the hands of Deputy Sheriff
Mcdonald and was attempting to find
bondsmen. Judge Osborn waited for him
until nearly 6o'clock and then left for
home, sending word for Gates to come to
his room at 1880 to have his bond ap-
proved.
Before the time appointed Gates, accom-
panied ny his attorney. John Wiley. and
Sheriff Woolery, appeared, and when Judge
Osborn came in Wiley stated that his
client had surrendered himself upon learn
ing of the warrant, and was prepared to
give bail for his appearance in the sum OF
$780, as required. He then read the bond,
which was regular in form and which was
signed by 7. Il. Daily and Peter Chiodo as
sureties. The judge approved the bond,
directing the sheriff to take it and return
it with the writ next Saturday.
In the afternoon prior to the issuing of
the warrant tor Gates it appeared that
Juror Wilder had made & mistake, and
that George NJ. Gates was the man he
meant when he accused J. S. Edwards.
Gates had been former partner of J. s.
Edwards in the firm of Edwards & Co.,
which was dissolved ten months after the
fire, aud he was identified by Wilder at
about o'clock yesterday evening. The
causes which led to the mistake
on the part of Mr.. Wilder are
that Wilder knew J. S. Edwards
we'll, and never suspected him of being the
man who approached him, but he always
supposed that J. S. Edwards name was
J. W. Edwards, and J. s. Edwards was
the other member of the firm of J. S. Ed
wards d Co., real estate men. His mis-
take is the more easily explained from the
fact that he says that Gates called upon
him and presented a card bearing the
name of Edwards Il Co. lie says that he
went with Gates 10 see some houses and
always spoke to him as Mr.. Edwards
supposing him To be the other member of
the firm. and when he said that J. S. Ed
wards approached him he meant Gates.
when he knew by tina; name.
Ii. II. Edwards. son OF J. :. Edwards,
was seen 81 about o'clock and said that
he was very muca astonished 10 hear that
Wilder had used his fathers name in the
matter. and started out TO find Mr.. Wilder.
As he said that the latter knew that Mr.
Edwards was in the East and in fact had
talked with him about purchasing his
ticket. Thereupon he went out TO find
Mr. Wilder and the matter was satisfac-
torily explained.