Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-29

Smith sat In the adjoining room almost
paralvzed with doubt and amazement
This accounted for the apparent un-
concern of the prisoners during the
trial Their friends had secured tel
egraph operator willing to do their bid
ding, had engaged the room in the ho-
tel next to that occupied by the jury,
and had placed the operator with his
instrument there They had made
sure that smith could be bribed, their
only doubt being the amount Of money
necessary for the purpose. Even that
did not give them much concern, AZ
they could command almost any sum.
The difficulty that beset them for q
time was their inability to devise .
scheme by which they could learn
whether or not Smith accepted their
offer. The big owls head which the
juror wore for a scarfpin finally set
tied that matter, however.
IF you accept this Offer" dinned the
instrument into Smiths ears, do not
wear your scarfpin when you come into
court tomorrow"
The next morning the boodlers'
nerves were keyed to the highest ten
sion. Would Smith accept this offer2
Would the scarfpin be missing2 Or
would they have to make higher bid2
The thought that they could not buy
him at any price had never entered
their minds The first man to appear
as the bailiff escorted the jurors
into court was Smith The conspira-
tors craned their necks TO get good
look at him, but their countenances
soon fell, for the first thing they saw
was the gaudy scarfpin glistening and
sparkling like the Koh-inoor Not
withstanding this setback, however,
the conspirators by no means lost hope.
All that was necessary, they thought,
was to raise their bid
That night Smith was on the alert
| Not a sound was heard from the adjoin-
/ ing room, however, until nearly mid
night Then the telegraph instrument
began to click at furious rate.
"Will give you fifteen thousand dol
lars" was the oft-repeated message,
'if you will either hang the jury or
bring In a verdict Of acquittal "If
you consent will place the money In
the hands OF your wife and will ar
range signals between you SO that you
will be assured that she has the
money"
For an hour or more this message
was repeated until II seemed TO Smith
that the sound of II would drive him
crazy. Arguments were then being
made In the case and it was necessary
for him to make up his mind soon. APP
parently, however, the offer made no
impression on him, for the next morn
ing the scarfpin appeared in his cravat
as usual
At sight OF the pin the conspiratora
for the first time became alarmed
Judging the juror, perhaps, by their
own peculiar standards they had reck.
oned that fifteen thousand dollars was
enough TO buy him, body and soul.
Time was now precious. The next day
the case was to 60 TO tlse jury. Ar
engagements would have to be made
that night or not ut all Another con-
sultation was held that evening and II
was decided to offer Smith thirty thou
sand dollars. This was thought TO be
so large sum that he could not posi-
bly, refuse.
Accordingly the operator was again
sent to the hotel and again the instru-
ment licked out its tempting offers TO
the juryinan. But again the offers
were useless, for Smith appeared the
next morning wearing his scarfpin as
usual. That morning the case was
given TO the jury who retired 70 de,
libcrate upon the verdict, leaving the
prisoners with very little hope.
Their friends, however, did not give
up the battle yet. BY dint OF hard
work they raised fifty thousand dollars
and sent the telegraph operator to make
a final appeal TO the juror.
Before his arrival, however, one OF
the bailiffs was nosinR around the
corridor off which was the room which
was used by the jury. BY lucky mis-
take he opened the wrong door and
went into the room where the tele-
graph instrument was placed His
suspicious were at once aroused. He
had heard u faint clicking sound the
night before, but could not make out
what IT was
"Who occupies room 1852" he asked
of the clerk in the Office.
"A travelling man." was the reply.
whats the telegraph instrument
there for9"
Didn't know II was there"
without telling the clerk his suspi.
cions the bailiif went TO the room and
removed the instrument
A few moments afterward the opera
tor appeared on the scene. II was too
late. The game was up. The instru-
ment was gone and there was not time
TO procure another 1t was not only
too late for the consplrators to make
another offer. but Smith could not then
accept the offer already made, as he
had no assurance that the money prom
ised would be forthcoming. The Jury
took hours to decide upon a verdict
which II was said at the time was not
reached without considerable trouble.
The faces OF the prisoners blanched "a
the jury filed into court, as they, too,
knew the game was up
How the verdict was rendered, how
the sentence was passed, and how the
prisoners, after long delay, we're sent
70 prison TO serve three years, and how
since their release from durance some
of whom have waxed fat and rich and
naughty, the whole world knows
But would Smith have accepted the
offer Of fifty thousand dollars had the
operator been able to make it2
The ccnspirators TO this day declare
that he would.
One thing. however, Is certain
Smith Is still comparatively poor man
and bears a good reputation. Chicago
Timas