Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-03
The Contumacious Witness Gases
Finally on Trial.
EXTENDED ARRAY OF ABLE LAWYERS
The Court Adjourns Until Monday
With Little Done.
A JURY SECURED TODAY

Criminal Court No. l was we'll filled this
morning when the case of the United States
against Elverton r. Chapman was COM
menced before Judge Cole. This is the
famous case of a "contumacious witness"
who refused to testify before the Senate
committee in May Of 1894, when an effort
was made to get at the bottom of the
charges of bribery and speculation on the
part of Senators in connection with the big
sugar deals. Chapman, who is a broker,
refused to answer certain specific questions
that were put to him by the special COM
mittee of the Senate. He was indicted by
the grand jury, and after many legal de-
lays the case finally came up for trial to-
day.
The defendants in these cases are all men
of prominence and are plentifully supplied
with legal backing. When the case was
called this morning Mr.. Chapman was rep
resented. in part. by Lawyers Jere M. Will
son and Nathaniel Wilson. The specific
charge against him was violation of Sec
ton 1902 of the Revised Statutes Of the Uni
ted States''
Mr.. Jere M. Wilson waived the reading
OF the Indictment, which is a very long and
impressive document, and entered plea Of
not guilty. The regular panel of the jury
was then called and the first twelve placed
In the box were examined on their "voir
dire"
Among the interested spectators in the
court room were Mr.. John w. Macartnev
the well-known Washington broker, and
MIR. John Shriver, the Washington corre-
spondent Of the New York Mail and Ex.
press. against whom similar indictments are
pending. With Mr.. Shriver was Mr.. r. E.
A. Dorr, the publisher of the New York
Mail and Express, who has come on to be
present at the trial as an evidence that tine
Ia n 70 and tn f1,a
matter.
Many Lawyers.
As showing how much in earnest the
paper is. 1t is only necessary to say that it
has secured the services Of Judge Ditten-
hoefer, one Of the most eminent members Of
the New York bar, to defend him when his
case comes up. -
Mr.. Nathaniel Wilson is the attorney for
Mr.: H. Q. Havemeyer. Judge Shellabarger
and ex-senator. Edmunds have also been
engaged as counsel in these cases, and all
Will be on hand when the taking of testi-
mony begins next Monday morning With
such an array of talent Us this, 1t goes with
out saying that there will be a big legal
fight. and many a shot fired before any of
the defendants ever lands behind the bars
In case Of conviction the penalty is both fine
and Imprisonment.
The Law Quoted.
Section 102 Of the Revised Statutes of the
United States, under which the case against
Broker Chapman is brought, reads as fol-
lows:
Every person who. having been sum-
moned as a witness by the authority of
either house of Congress, to give testimony
or to produce papers upon any matter un-
ger inquiry before either house, or any
committee of either house of Congress-
willfully makes default. or who, having
appeared, refuses to answer any question
pertinent to the question under inquiry
snail. be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by fine of not more than
u 600 nor less than 500, and imprisonm.nt
In common Jail for not less than one
month nor more than twelve months"
The proceedings in court this morning,
occupied but a few minutes, the bulk of
the time being devoted to the work of Sc
the defense took advantage of their right
to challenge In but one case.
The Jury Chosen.
The jury as finally selected was as fol-
lows: John A. Butler, j. L. Bowie, Ed
ward F. Joy, James H. Richards, John E.
Champion, A. S. Taber W. P. Campbell. F.
w. Kneesi. Gustav Fluger, Thos. Martin,
Chas. Wilson, r. T. Bailey.
District Attorney Birney then arose and
stated that he had been Informed that Mr..
Edmunds was unable 20 be present un..l
Monday mornr 6, and that the defense de-
sired postponement until then. He inter-
posed no objection. Judge Cole asked him
il he would make his opening speech to the
jury today, but Mr.. Birney thought il
would be better to postpone it until Mon
day and the court then adjourned.