New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-15
TOBACCO TRIAL BLOCKED.
JUROR WHO TALKED TOO MucH-H1s
NAME WILLIAM J. BRYON.

-r,, trza, Of the officers Of the American Tobacco
Germany ala not go on in Part Of the Court OF
General Sessions yesterday because William D.
rrvon the seventh Gror. had violated the instruc-
,,on. of Judge Fitzgerald and had talked freely IN
his home at No. Isl West Forty ninth-st. on sun
49,, 20 G n. Piper a reporter for The Journal"
uho was sent to eet an interview with him. The
interview was published yesterday morning ana
Brvon was quoted saying that the case asains'
.he Tobacco Trust did not amount TO mocn, IN MS
oninion; that all the trouble was caused oy the re-
fps,l Of the Trsst TO sell to certain persons ana
that "a lot Of Jews were sore about IL. bryon
was represented as saying also that he Knew MT
por,ra ona Of the counsel for the defence.
when court opened at 1880 a. IN. yesterday all
,ba jurors wefo IN their seats. except Bryon, VINO
was being Questioned IN the District-Attorney
Office Mr. Choate of counsel for the deIence, was
assailed with questions by eager reporters untii
he silenced them by declaring, L am as ignorant
as YOU are and that is saying great deal Ihere
was repo.t that Bryon would be disqualified as a
,rro- ara runished for contempt, and there were
otbar reports that Hobart Fash, the third Juror,
who was said to have talked with the reporter.
might be disqualified also; that another member of
the Jury was so much addicted TO the use OF
cigarette. as 10 be unable to sit through the trial
ard keep his reason, and that the reporter who
rot interviews with the jurors might be sent to
tau With the editor who gave orders for the In
terviews.
Nh.n the case was called, a few minutes be-
fore soon Judge Fitzgerald announced an adjourn
ment until $50 p. m, at the request OF the DIS
trict ATTORNEY Then there several confer
ences in the Observation-Disclosures office at which
tho counsel for the defence were present.
At go .. m the case called in court again,
and Distric:-Attorney Oicott handed up to the
Judge an AFFIDAVIT which had been made by Piper.
the reporter, and made motion to have Bryoin
taken out OF the jury-box. Mr.. Choate OBJECTED,
Re had been examined After a conference between
The lawyers and the Judge, the reporter was CARED
into the witness-chair and questioned He said he
The interview he had with Bryon. He said he knew
that the Juror lad been cautioned not to talk about
II hSid Your Honor. that the witness stands in
a suspicious position ard comes from suspicious
der Of the Court himself. If there. ever was a
gross and palpable violation of Your Honor 3
Instructions. 1t was by THIS witness ne seems 70
counsel OF the complainant TO create suspicion
against the defendant.
Mr.. Olcott declared that neither the counsel for
the complainant nor the newspaper which employed
the reporter was connected with the prosecution
Mr. Choate wanted 70 have MI Fash the th nni
consent. Bryon was put on the stand and eX-
amined He con,radicted several OF Pper's state
form his duties as a juror In the case without
prejudice Judge Fitzgerald said ne would give
iOs0 a m. To-Day, and the trial was adjourned TO
LAWYERS interested in the case appeared 10 differ
qualify one of the Jurors since the jury had been
sworn in Mr. Fuller Of the defence said that a
view Of the matter commonly taken Is tnat Jury
disquafy II IN It's entirety; Others thought
that Bryon's place would be filed by mutual con-
tain however. whether anything will be done to
Bryon or Piper.