The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04
A TIP TO JURYMAN THEE.
DETECTIVE .GODBOLD CHARGED
WITH HAVING OFFERED IT.

and PeninsuIar RaiIroad-Jury
man W. r. Thee Makes an Affidavit
That lie was OGered $500 to De-
eide for the Road in a Big Damage
Subtle Was InsuIted and Refused
the Bribe-Detectivc GOdbOId's
Emphatic Denial of the Charge.
Charges of attempting to bride juror
were filed in the city court yesterday
against Police Detective Gustavus S. God
bold.
The charges are brought by Messrs. W.
r. Leaken, r. R. Richards and william p.
Hardee. counsel for Mrs. Belle Lucas
whose suit against the Florida Central
and Penisular railroad was tried recently
before Judge Norwood and resulted in a
verdict for the plaintiff for $500 personal
injury, the suit being for $4,000.
In the presentation of the charges the
attorneys say that since the trial it has
come to their knowledge that w. f. Thee,
one Of the Jurors in the case, was ap-
preached by Detectivee Godbold, who
made propositions to him of bribery in the
rendering of a verdict.
1t is charged that Godbold met Thee
In the street, not far from the court house.
during a recess in the trial, and said to
him that there was money in the Lucas
case. The juryman replied. i do not
understand you"
"Oh we'll. everybody is out for the stuff
these days" the detective remarked.
what do you mean?" asked the juror
Here it is claimed that the detective said
that what he had TO say was between them
and the graveyard, and Thee is said to
have remarked again. We'll, what of that
what do you mean?"
Thee and the detective walked along
together and the detective told Thee that
he could have $500 to bring in a verdict
for the railroad, and some other sum,
either Sl25, or some amount not distinctly
remembered by the juror. for a mistrial,
and in addition to this "the said Godbold
offered the said juryman. Thee, so, or
some other sum not distinctly remem-
bered by said juryman if a small verdict
was brought in, favoring the plaintiff.
Mrs. Lucas"
1t is further charged that Thee declared
to the detective that his conscience would
not permit him to consider any such prop
osition; that while he was out of employ
ment he would rather starve or die and
have his wife and children do the same,
than to perjure himself, or words to that
effect.
The day after the verdict was brought
In granting the plaintiff 5000. Godbold. it
is claimed met Thee in the neighborhood
of the court house. and asked why 1t was
that such a verdict was brought in, to
which Thee is said to have replied that as
for himself his conscience would not al
low him to bring in any other To this
the detective remarked that the juror had
made a mistake, as such things were
done every day." whereupon Thee told the
detective never to speak to him again.
The petition asks the court to call upon
Godbod to answer why he should not be
punished for contempt and for interfering
with jury trial. The petition is follow
ed by an AFFIDAVIT signed by Thee, in
which he states that the statements con-
tanned in the paper are true.
Judge Norwood issued an order setting
July as the day for the hearing, and
summoned Thee to appear as a witness.
OF course. there is no inference in the
petition that the counsel for the railroad
had anything to do with the alleged
transaction. nor had any knowledge what
eoever of It.
Mr.. Samuel B. Adams, one of the coun-
sci for the railroad company in the suit,
was seen. He stated that he had heard
but he did not believe one word of IL. He
stated that he did not think 1t within the
bounds of probability for the reason that
the nature OF the case in court was such
as would make ridiculous any such offers
as are said to have been made. He said
that he thought there would be no diff
Guilty whatever in establishing the charges
TO be without any foundation in point OF
fact.
Detective Godbold was seen by a Morn
ings News reporter and promptly denouc-
ed the statement of Thee as fa.se.
1T Is the worst outrage ever perpetrated
on a living man." declared the detective
II knew nothing about the Lucas case,
except in a general way. and had no inter-
est in II whatever. From what 1 had
heard OF the case, which was not very
much my sympathies were with Mrs.
Lucas II there is any means OF doing
so ] will have redress for this outrage"
Chief McDermott had some interesting
information about the case. THE first
] heard Of these reports" said the chief
twas on Wednesday, from Detective God
bold himself who told me of a conVersa-
ton he had just had with Mr.. Leaken at
the iatter's office. / told Godbold that the
matter would have to be Investigated at
once. II there was any foundation for the
report al all. I intended to suspend him
and report the matter TO the commission
at once. / sent word TO Thee that l wanted
10 see him. He came to my house Wed
nesday night just as I was about to re-
tire. / asked him what The reports he
had been circulating about Godbold We're.
He denied IN the most emphatic manner
that he had ever circulated any such roe
ports or that he had ever said that God
bold had approached him on such sub
feet He was very positive In his donials
He said that all he knew about 70 was that
he had heard that Godbod had approach
ed two other members OF the Lucas jury
for the purpose OF briblng them. Thee b
denials convinced me that there was moth
ing In the reports. You can imagine my
surprise when ! learned that the very
next day after seeing me he had given an
affidavit to Mr.. Leakcn that Godbold had
attempted TO bride him. ] am satisfied
that the charge Is false. II looks 20 me as
n Godbold had been picked out becaus,
Of the notoriety he gained in the Kearncy
case where he made a very bad break ir
his attempt 20 help keamey
out Of his trouble though n,
told me the truth about II as
soon az the case was serious. We canno
aford 10 have men on the police depart
ment who have anything TO do with brlb