The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-03-09
TEMPTED BY TELEGRAPH
How BOOdlerS Tried to Bride a
Member OF the Jury.

s.u Itltatl SCdlc
In all the many attempts which have
been made to fix juries there is one
which arises above the commonplace,
says the Chicago Times. In reprinting
the following story Of the famous case
referred to all names and dates have
been omitted
Early in the spring of IS the news
papers began to hint that everything
was not right with Il certain county
board, that contractor commissioners,
and county officers were ieagued to-
getber to rob the county. The first
publications Of these rumOrs were
laughed at by the parties implicated.
They had grown bold in their crime
and covered their tracks we'll.
Suppose the charges are true, what
are you going to do about it?' laugh
ingly queried one.
'Oh, we're all right they can't touch
u.s." said another, as lie poured out a
glass of champagne.
However, the press and people were
thoroughly aroused. A fund to prose-
cute the bOOdlerS was raised and the
best detectives in the country were set
to work. From vague hints the papers
got to definite statements. Then the
boOdlers began to feel uneasy. They
were not yet alarmed, because they
were sure their money and influence
would secure them immunity. 1t was
not so with the outsiders, however,
the contractors, merchants, and others
who were only indirectly implicated
in the affair. They feared that their
regulations would suffer even if their
liberty was not abridged. They began
to talk in order to clear themselves and
in this evidence was accumulated that
was unimpcachable.
Then the boodlers began to be
alarmed. One made confession. An
other pleaded guilty. Everyone i'm
plicated was taking the easiest method
of protecting himself. The day OF
trial finally came. The prisoners real
lied that nothing remained for them
but conviction and imprisonment if an
honest jury was obtained. The prose-
cution realized this fact, too, and made
every effort to obtain talesmen who
were above suspicion. AS fast as a
juror was accepted he was placed
under surveillance, and every attempt
to get at him WAS frustrated When
the twelve men fled into court the
morning the opening arguments were
made the prisoners were hopeless.
Every possible effort to fix mem Der
of the jury had been tried and proved
unava!ling. from that time on the
jurors would be more closely guarded
than ever. The bailiffs and court Of
Ecers were incorruptible They had
been tried and found true to their
trust. Nothing but . lucky tiul1e would
save the prisoners from the peniten-
tiary.
However, the friends of the boodlers
did not despair. Among their numb Der
were aoiac Of the cleveresG schemers
Ia the countcy-men used to evading
the law, men always suspected but
never convicted of crime. 1t was
strange, ,hey thought, if with unlim-
tied money at their command they
could not save their friends A selfish
motive, too. urged them to effort, be-
cause they feared that ii convicted
some of the boodlers might make state
menls which would drag them with
them to prison.
Finally the longed-for lucky fuke
turned up. In reading the examine
ton of one OF the jurors it was noticed
that he said he was formerly tele-
graph operator.
Here was !; way to get at him. Now
if he could be bribed they were all
right
The next day the friends of the pris-
oners took front seats in the courtroom
and scrutinized the jurors closely. The
telegraph operator-cail him Smith,
though his name was longer and more
euphOnious than that-sat where the
rays OF the sun shone full upon him. A
big scaripin-an owls head with ru-
bies for eyes-was the most noticeable
feature OF his apparel This scarfpin
played an important part in the suisse
quent proceedings.
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 offer?
Would the scarfpin be missing? Or
would they have to malse,a higher bid?
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 neclSs to get a good
look at him, but their countenances
soon fell, for the first thing thew saw
was the gaudy scarfpin glistening and
sparkling like the Koh-i-noor. Not
withstanding this setback, however.
Inc consplrators by no means lost hope,
All that was necessary, they thought
was to raise their bid
That night Smith was on the alert
Nota souns: was heard from the aiioin.
ing room, however, until nearly mid.
night Thsn the telegraph instrument
began to .iclS at a furious rate All
the guests # the hotel had retired. and
1nere was { 'solutely no noise but that
made by ,e instrument. Every do,
ana dash WIS borne to Smiths ear like
the defamation of an exploding parcus.
sion cap.
VIII give you fifteen thousand dol.
lars, was the o,t-repeated iasssane.
You will either hang the Jury or
orlng In q verdict of acquittal. III