St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-08
THE MARKHAM TRIAL.
The Itasca County Legislator APP
pears in Court.

The ltasca County Legislator Ap.
pears in Court.
Another trial which bids fair to be-
come sensational one was begun yes
terday forenoon in the district court
before Judge Hicks. The trial is that
of Joseph NJ. Markham, the legislator
|, from ltasca county. who is charged with
attempting to secure bribe at the time
of the session of the last legislature.
The case is familiar to almost every
person in the state who reads news
papers. for at the time of his indict =
ment there Was loud comment on the
merits of the case on all hands. There
was bill before the legislature for
chang in the system of scaling logs
and 1t will be remembered there was a
bitter fight i'll the body of Solons hav-
ing the matter under consideration, The
bill provided for the adjustment of the
old fee system and the placing of the
Office on a salary basis, the leading lum-
bermen OF the state objecting to allow
Ing the surveyor general TO make an
nually So, 900 out of fees. The bill went
to committee of which Mr.. Markham
was member. and it is alleged that he
endeayored TO secure money for his vote
and influence The Indictment in the
case charges the following:
Joseph NJ. Markham. then and there
being duly elected and qualified men,
Der of the legislature of the state of
Minnesota, to-wit: member of the
house of representatives, duly ele cted
and returned from the Fifty-third dis.
trlct, did willfully, unlawfully, wrong
fully, corruptly and feloniousIy ask for
brlbe, to-wit: the sum of 81 POO from
standing that his, the said Joseph NJ.
Markham's official vote and action as
member of the legislature as aforesaid,
should be Influenced thereby in the
following manner, tOwit: in favor of
certain bill then pending before the |
legislature relating to logs and lumber"
There is second indictment against |
Mr.: Markham of similar character. |
This one charges him with having |
asked $1,000 from H. c. Akeley, the |
well-knoWn lumberman of this city.
The case was set for 10 O'Clock yester- |
day morning, and Judge Elliott was to |
sit OH the bench. When the attorneys |
in the case made their appearance in |
court room their was no Judge, and it |
was aScertained that Judge Elliott was |
ill. The other judges had their hands |
full, so the case waited until IL O'Clock, |
when Judge Hicks concluded small |
mater or lltlga alton ana took the bench. |
Assistant County Attorney Peterson
must try the case alone, the other
attaches of the county attorneys office
being busted with other cases. Mr..
Markham has formidable array Of
legal talent. His attorneys are George
T. Wilson, ex-attOrney general, A. 3.
Choate, OF this city, and Frank B.
Kellogg, of st. Paul.
1t took until 80 to impanel the jury,
and then the preliminary arguments !
were made. The trial proper will begin
this morning. The following compose |
the jury:
Frank Murch, grocer's clerk; H.
Bailey, a copfectioner; Charles Axtell, |
collector: Daniel Dougherty, Patrick |
McGinty, Arthur j. Menard, J. G. Wall |
in, John j. Judd, all OF Minneapolis: |
William Harmon. st. Louis Park |
farmer; K. B. Dickey, of Wayzata; |
Adolph, Brooklyn farmer, and John |
5. Swenson. Golden Valley farmer.