The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-18

COURT !
The Case Against County Officials POST
pOned Until January.
PHIL. CONNELL ARRIVED HOME
The West Mahanoy Township Case, Now
Being Tried Before Judge Bechtel-A
Verdict May be Reached by
Saturday Night.
P~orrsvr1LE, Nov. IS.

PoTTsvILLE, Nov. IS.
A special telephone message to the HERALD
yesterday afternoon, shortly after the last
edition went to press, conveyed the impor-
tant news that Phil. J. Cornell, the missing
ex-Clerk to the County Commissioners, had
been captured in Philadelphia by Coal &
Iron Policeman David L. jenkins, and that
the much.sought ex-chief clerk would arrive
in Pottsville about $50 O'Clock. He mys-
teriously left Pottsville on September 9th
last, and until yesterday apparently no one
knew Of his whereabouts.
Immediately upon his arrival yesterday
Cornell entered bail in the sum of $4,000,
with w. II. Huntzinger and d. L. Esterly as
secureties. To a reporter Mr.. Cornell said
his home coming was voluntarily, and added:
II left home for Atlantic City on September
9th, with a severe attack of hay fever; find
ing no relief at the sea shore l boarded a
train for Boston, and remained in that city
until last Thursday, when 1 arrived in Phil
adelphia. While in Boston I was very sick
and when l became better 1 then realized in
what a state had left my business, and felt
so bad I decided not to write home or ac-
quaint anybody of my whereabouts.
Finally l made up my mind that it was
time to come nome aud 1 started. l reached
Philadelphia on Thursday. The following
day 1 saw in the Ledger that two true bills
had been found against me-. On Sunday l
wrote to District Attorney Bechtel and told
him that if I was needed at this term of
court, I would come on, but if the cases
we're not called I would prefer to stay in the
city and recuperate my health.
II had secured a room at It'll and Button
wood streets and left there yesterday morn
ing for the purpose of going down to the post
Office to see if District Attorney had written
to me. l turned into 3sth street end was
walking along when / met Officer jenkins
and Luke Nash, a former Councilman of
Pottsville. We passed the general greetings
and l told them where l was going and why.
Mr.. jenkins said he had a warrant for me,
and told him l was ready to come home. So
here l am aud 1 am ready to give any infor-
nation that / can to throw light on the cases
now pending"
Mr.. Cornell spent last night at his bome in
Girardville. It is not known whether he
will be a witness against the Controller and
the County Commissioners, although many
rumors are aloat in reference to the ex-clerk
turning states evidence.
III CASES GO OVER.
District Attorney Bechtel and W. j. White
house, ESQ., counsel for Controller Severn,
held a consultation in the library at the
court house this afternoon, and reached an
informal understanding in reference to the
cases against the County Commissioner and
the Controller, in which the Taxpayers As
ISOLATION charge them with misdemeanor in
office.
This conference will result in these cases
going over 20 the January term of court, and
the further information is furnished that this
agreement is agreeable to both sides.
All motions to quash the indictments, bill.
Of particulars and other preliminaries will De
argued either next week or the week follow.
ing, 50 that there will be no delay and nc
postpOnement when the cases are called il
January next.
The Commissioners and Controller, ant
their counsel, are all anxious to have tn,
matter disposed Of finally, and they fee
confident that they can give a good accoun
Of their stewardship. They have nothing t,
fear, they say, from the prosecutions in
augurated by the Taxpayers Association
There were certain preliminaries that had t.
be disposed of before going to trial which
made it impossible to call the cases and dis
pose of them at this term. For this reasoi
both sides agreed to a postponement.
WEST MAHANOY CASES.
1t was fully expected that the West Maha
noy township case, in which the schoo
Directors are charged on oath of Thoma
Dee with misdemeanor in office
would be called late yesterday afternoon
but two minor cases were calleI
up and were not finished until this morning
At 2;15 this afternoon, however, tho case wa
called for trial before Judge Bechtel, Tn
counsel for the defense made a motion 70
e postponement until the January term q
! court on the ground that the case woul
: prove a lengthy one, and also because Of tn
! absence of NJ. NJ. Burke, Esq, one Of the al
+ torneys for the defense.
t Judge Bechtel overruled the motion t
b postpone, aud the work Of securing a jur.
o was proceeded with. When the HEREL
went to press a jury had not been secured
1t is expected that the case will be complete
S by Saturday night. The majority Of th
d principals aud witnesses are present, a
though several Of them were sent home TIM
morning until tomorrow.
G The seventh juror was drawn at $3.50 tn
afternoon.
Y III MURDER CASE,
G This afternoon about $500 O'Clock Judq
Archibald charged the jury in the case
= Joseph Czarni, of Mahanoy City, charge
with the murder Of one Gini, and instructe
them that they could not find a verdict
murderin the first degree, aud that the We
dict must either be murder in the secon
degree OF voluntary manslaughter.
WILHELM THE DEFENDANT.
p The jurytr he three cases Of the Con
re monWealth VS. Aaron Kiefer and Villa
ID Wilhelm, charged with larceny and assau
IS, and battery, on oath Of Mrs. J. II. Trumb
We brought in a verdict this afternoon. MI
u Trumbo brought suit against Aaron Kieh;
n for larceny, Her husband sues Aar,
Oe Kietier for assault and battery and the san