The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-05-06
A DISPUTED POINT.
Counsel iu the Waller-Wintersteen Case
Disagree as to the cause Of Postpone.
ment Of the trial.

Last week we made an announce
ment concerning the postponement Of
the dynamite case, giving as reasons
therefor the inability Of Mr.. Graham,
of counsel for prosecution, to be here
this week, and also because no Judge
had been found to try the case. A
day or two after the paper was issued
we were handed the following COM
munication:
Editor Columbian.
Knowing that as the publisher of a
newspaper, you aim to secure and
present the exact truth, will you kindly
publish the following:
The case of Commonwealth VS..
Wlntersteen is continued solely he
cause OF the failure of Judge Ikeler to
find a Judge to hear the case at May
term, as by him announced. Mr..
Graham. had no knowledge of the
matter until he was handed a telegram
in Philadelphia containing Judge
Ikeler's announcement The Com
monwealth has been ready at all times
to proceed with the trial. X.
A similar notice appearing in the
Daily of last Monday, led to heated
discussion in court on Monday after
noon between Grant Herring and
Fred Ikeler, each side claiming that
the continuance of the case was ask
ed for by the other, and each one as
strenuously denying the allegation of
the other. Subsequently Mr.. Ikeler
prepared the following letter for the
Press!
"The statement written and pub
lished in today's Bloomsburg Daily,
by L. E. Waller, the prosecutor in
the Waller -Wintersteen case, alleging
that said case was continued because
no Judge could be obtained to- preside,
and without the active agreement of
the prosecution is absolutely false.
"The defendant had expected to 60
to trial on May 8, and the request for
continuance over that date came
solely from the Commonwealth. This
request was made on the ground that
District Attorney Graham could not
be present on the sd, being engaged
at that time in the Wister will case.
Any story to the contrary Is deliber-
ate attempt to falsely represent the
position of the defendant. So much
has been falsely published in the case
against Mr.. Wintersteen that deem
it time to call halt.
Very respectfully yours,
"FRED keller"
The following statements of Grant
Herring and l.. E. Waller have been
handed us for publication in this con
nection.
SOME FACTS.
On April 10 Judge Ikeler assured
me he would have Judge on hand tc
try the Wintersteen case first week ii
May, without any possibility of failure
On April I6 he informed me ht
could not get any judge to try thi'
case although he had telegraphed al
over the state, and Judge Savidge hat
declined. In confirmation of thi
statement to me Judge Ikeler OF
Monday 3rd May stated from thu
bench in the presence of over dQzeI
members of the Bar "that it was utter
ly impossible for him to get any judg'
to hold this weeks Criminal Court"
GRANT HERRING.
The following telegram afforde'
the first information either Mr.. Gra
ham or Mr.. Waller had that the cas-
would not be tried viz:
Bloomsbury, Pa, II April 1897
L. E. Waller, Philadelphia, Pa.
Judge Ikeler informs me Judg
Savidge cannot try cases, and can
get any body else. Have forwarde
letter to Ebbitt House, Washington
(Signed) GRANT HERRING.
The letter referred to in the tel,
gram contained also this statement
"When expressed my disappointmer
at such a condition of things his on
answer was she could not help it ; tn;
he had tried every where to get
judge but could not. | said the cas-
must be tried at this Court and TIL
we had relied on his promise to hay
some one to try It."
l.. E. WALLER.
The postponement of the case f
three weeks does not seem to be
matter of vital importance TO eth
L. Al t1N. rhc