The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-24
IS NOT A pERJURER
JURY FINDS WILLIAM f. BICKEL
INNOCENT OF THE LUCIUS
CHARGE.
WAS OUT LESS THAN AN HOUR,
SHOWING LITTLE HESITATION
ABOUT THE FREEING OF THE
ACCUSED BANKER.
HE WILL GO TO WASHINGTON,
Prospecting, While He Is Waiting
for His Trial on the Grand
Larceny Charge.
WAS OUT LESS THAN AN HOUR,
HE WILL GO TO WASHINGTON,

five minutes yesterday afternoon. They
were anxious moments for Mr.. Bickel.
No one looked for so prompt an agree
ment. That was in reality the only
surprising feature in the case. That
Mr.. Bickel would be convicted was a
contingency that nobody anticipated.
few predicted a disagreement, but
the majority expected an acquittal after
supper.
The jury retired at $50 p. m. At 4:35
p. m. there came a rapping on the door
of court room No. 6, in which the Jurors
were confined The deputy who an
swered the summons, was informed
that the jury had agreed. Judge Lewis
was sent for, and in a few moments
court was opened, and the jury filed
into the box. Mr.. Bickel sat beside his
wife just inside the rail. The deputy
jurors to which all responded Mr..
Bickel was the most intent spectator in
the room. It was evident from the ex-
preston of his face that he was under
going a severe strain. -.-
Gentlemen Of the jury, have you
agreed upon verdict ?"
1--WE have" announced the foreman,
as he arose and handed the deputy
clerk the piece of paper upon which the
verdict was inscribed. The clerk hand
ed the document to the court, who read
and returned it to the clerk.
AS the clerk began to read it aloud,
starting with the words Estate Of Min
nesota," etc. Mr. BickeTs face was
hn fol
guilty were pronounced, Mr.. BickePs
countenance underwent a very percep-
tible change. With an expression Of
relief he turned towards Mrs. Bickel,
who met her husbands look with a
reassuring smile.
Of course, Mr.. Bickel shook hands
with each of the twelve good men and
true, and thanked them for their fair
ness and fearlessneSS. Mr. Bickel was
also the recipient of congratulations
from a number of his friends and ac-
quaintances in the court room, as were
his attorneys, Messrs. Mcdonald and
Barnard. Assistant County Attorney
ZCllman seemed to be the only person
in; the court room who was not shaking
hands with any one.
The afternoon session of court was
devoted to the concluding portion of
nent and summing up by Mr.. Nc
Donald, and the judges charge, " MIA.
consumed only quarter of an hour
j: In his charge to the jury Judge
Lewis, after setting forth the nature
of the Indictment and the crime
charged and reviewing the theories Of
the prosecution and the defense, first
explained what was meant by proof
beyond reasonable. doubt. The court
charged that if the jury believed be-
yond a reasonable doubt that the de-
PENDANT testified falsely before Referee
Hillman regarding the withdrawal by
Lucius of money deposited in the Min
nesota Savings bank, then the jury
must find William T. Bickel guilty of
perjury. The jury was instructed that
if it was shown by the evidence that
the referee administered the oath to
the defendant, and that the referee
was duly appointed, it was sufficient
evidence of the authority of the referee
to administer the oath to the defend
ant. The court further charged the
jury that if the jury had a reasonable
doubt whether the defendant knew
that his testimony was untrue at the
time he gave it, then the defendant
must be acquitted The jury was also
instructed that if it found that on the
Ninth day of November Lucius drew
his check for the amount he had in
Tie Ddilh anu uellNefGu SUcn cn6Ck TO
the bank or to William f. Bickel and
took Mr. BickePs personal note there
for, then it must find the defendant
not guilty.
l. When seen after the trial Mr. Bickel
was asked how he proposed to spend
his time between now and next.
October, the time set for his trial on
the indictment charging grand larceny.
III tell you how was Mr. Bickel's
answer. Il am going to the Cascade
mountains in the state of Washing
ton with a party of friends made ur,
of those who belong to Camp Anson-
our hunting association. We shall take
our hunting paraphernalia along with
US, but our purpose is business, not
pleasure, for we are going out to the
Cascade range to prospect for anthra-
cite COAL
DO you expect to be gone long?"
yes, for several months or more
though as for myself, / shall return to
st. Paul in October to be on hand
for my trial in case they put me on
trial again.
When court opened in the forenoon, Mr.. Nc
Donald for the defense, took the bull by the
horns. fguratvely speaking and called AS
sistant County Attorney Zollman to the stand
The defense lad heard that the state was
going to explode Mr.. Bickels alibi in sensa-
tional style, with a view to taking the edge
off. Mr.. Mcdonald asked the assistant county
was understood, the state was about to offer
in evidence to contradict the alibi. Mr. Zoll-
man thereupon exhibited a letter written by
Bckel to Eli Warner dated Nov IL and a
check enclosed therein dated the same day.
The day before Mr.. Bickel swore that he
went to Barnum, Mimi. Nov. 10 and did not
return to st. Paul until 10 or ~ days later
In the letter Mr.. Bickel said that he would
leave at 2:15 p. m. for Barnum. The as
sistant county attorney was informed that
that was all and he left the stand.
Mr. Bickel at once recalled and the
letter shown to him.
Ibid you write that letter, Mr.. Bickel?"
inquired his counsel
Yes; 1 wrote it on the 10th day of No
vember," was the reply.
Does it state the facts correctly?"
at does, except -"
How did you come to date the letter and
check on the 18th if they were written on the
10th?"
The state objected and the objection was
sustained, but the defense managed to get
in the explanation that while Mr. Bickel had
dated both letter and check on the 18th. he
had actually written them on the 10th and
left for Barnum on that day
Mr.. Bickel was the first witness called on
the opening of court. Asked to explain his
transaction with Lucius, Mr.. Bickel said he
did not tell Lucius that his money was there
In the bank and that he could get it at any
time. A meeting of the trustees of the bank
was held at neon on the 10th. Mr. Bickel
was present and wrote the minutes. 1t was
regular meeting. On the 9th of November
when Lucius called, Mr. B!ckel delivered his