The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-02
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Prisoners ArraiGned and the
Charges Read-BOnd Given.

The Prisoners ArraiGned and the
Charges Read-Bond Given.
The Sentinel had posted a bulletin in
the window Of the arrests at IL o'clock
and the sensational news was known
throughout the business portion of the
city by 2 o'clock when court convened.
AS a result the room was crowded,
among those present being the other
jurors. The two prisoners sat before the
bar Of justice, where they were placed by
the officers of the court, and some time
was lost in waiting for Mr.. Burke, who
it was subsequently learned had been
taken home sick, but who was able to
be out later in the afternoon. All the
other attorneys in the trial were present
and there was an impressive silence when
the court ordered the prisoners to stand
up and hear the charges read. Mr.. Corr
then read the charge of contempt, which
was as follows:
Edwin Corr, being duly sworn, on his
oath says that as he is Informed and
verify believes one Alvin Armstrong. a
juror in said court regularly impanneled
and sworn TO try the case Of the United
States vs--Percival B. Coffin, Francis A
Coffin and Albert s. Reed, did, on April
25 1894, after having taken the oath as
aforesaid, and during the trial Of said
sause. corruptly, willingly and knowing
ly enter into an agreement with Francis
A. Coffin, one of the said defendants, by
which said Alvin Armstrong agreed with
said Coffin to hang said jury and cause
the said jury not to return a verdict Of
guilty against the defendant in said
cause, in consideration of $780, to be
paid said Armstrong by said Coffin; that
said Alvin Armstrong so entered into
said corrupt agreement after having
taken an oath TO try said cause and a
ture verdict render according to law
and the evidence, thereby interfering with
the due administration of justice in said
court Wherefore affiant says that said
Alvin Armstrong has violated the order
and Instructions of said court and has
by said corrupt agreement and compact
been and is in contempt of said court"
Charge of Bribery.
Mr.. Kern then read the charge Of brib-
cry as follows: Before me, William
A. Van Buren,, United States commits
sioner, appointed by the circuit court of
the United States for the district of IN
diana, in the Seventh circuit. to take
Acknowledgements of bail, etc, accord
ing to the acts of congress in that be-
half provided; personally appeared this
day John w. Claypool. who, being first
duly sworn, deposes and says that he
has good reason to believe, and does
verify believe, that on or about the 23d
day of April 1894, that Alvin Armstrong
and Frank O. Stannard, whose Christian
name is otherwise unknown, late Of the
said district, at the same district, I'M
lawfully, willfully, knowingly and felo-
niously did then and there confederate,
conspire and agree togetner to commit
an offenSe against the United States by
then and there cOnspiring, cOnfederating
and agreeing to corruptly obstruct and
impede and endeavOr to influence, OBJ
struct and impede the due administration
of justice in a court of the United States
towit: in the district court of the United
States for the district Of Indiana and
did then and there do certain acts to
effect the object of said conspiracy to-
wit: by then and there agreeing with
one Francis A Coffin to corruptly hang
the jury so that said jury should not
render a verdict of guilty in certain
case then pending in the district court
Of the United States for the district of
Indiana, wherein the United States was
plaintiff and Francis A. Coffin ct al
were defendants, in consideration of a
compensation to be paid said Alvin Arm
strong and Frank o. Stannard, by the
said Francis A. Coffin, with intent then
and there to corruptly obstruct and i'm
pede the due administration of justice
in said court"
The Court-"Have you anything to
say?"
Stannard-"We-that is I, have not.
can give bond"
Mr.. Armstrong merely shook his head.
The Court-'Do you want time to pre-
pare your defense and secure the serv-
ices of an attorney"
Both said they did, when the court in
formed them that he would give them
until Monday morning at O'Clock in
which to prepare their case, and in the
meantime they would each give bond I'm
the sum of $4,000. Turning to Armstrong
the court then said:
But as to you, sir, this does not dis
miss you, as you are further charged
with contempt of this court" The eta
ton being read the court announced that
the bond for this charge would be $4,000
and he would give the prisoner until