The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-22
THE COUNTY
COURT NEWS
The West Mahanoy Case Called Late This
Morning.
JUDGE BECHTEL GDMONISHES JURY
He Tells Them to be Careful and Allow no
One to Discuss the Case with Them
Until Their Verdict is Rem
dered-CivilgCourt Notes.
speoiai to EVENING HERA1D.

hE1NAnA w ANEAANA ANhhAHb
Pottsville. Nov. 22.-The trial Of the
School Directors Of West Mahanoy township
was resumed here this morning with a large
array Of witnesses and many spectators in
the court room. MacHenry wilhelm, Esq.
one of the counsel for the Commonwealth,
was asked this morning if he could give an
idea Of how long it will take to close his side
of the case and how long the trial as a whole
would last. He could say nothing definite in
either respect, although he ventured the
opinion that the case will not go'to the jury
before Wednesday OF Thursday.
Before the trial was resumed this morning
Judges Bechtel and Koch occupied the bench
in court room No. 1 and disposed of civil
business. A few orders were handed down,
after which Judge Koch retired to court
room No. 2 to hear motions in civil suits,
leaving Judge Bechtel in No. 1 to try the
township case.
Judge Bechtel announced that there will
be no court on Thursday, next, Thanksgiv-
ing Day.
As a result of the part Judge Bechtel took
in the motion court proceedings the Town
ship trial was deferred until after eleven
o'clock.
Just before the trial opened this m orning,
John f. Whalen, Esq, counsel for the Com
monwealth in the West Mahanoy township
case, was noticed in close consultation with
Judge Bechtel. and this caused the report to
be circulated that Mr.. Whalen had in his
possession an affidavit setting forth that the
jurors had been approached by outside
parties, and that the same would be pre-
sented to court. Subsequently NJ. M. Burke,
of counsel for the defendants, n Mr..
Whalen were in consultation, but the object
of their conference or its result could not be
ascertained. However, no such affidavit
was presented to court.
Color was given to these rumors, from the
remarks made by Judge Bechtel to the jury
just before the noon adjournment. His
Honor took the precaution to admonish the
jurors not to allow any one to talk to them
in reference to the case. He further stated
that should any person approach them, the
jurors should at once bring the matter to the
attention of the court.
Judge Bechtel also announced that the ses-
sions of the court would begin at 10 o'clock
and close at 400 o'clock p. m, with a recess
Of half an hour at noon. This order went
into effect to-day.
Patrick Donland was called. He said he
was "a years old, and was the father of
School Director Donland. The witness did
work at the school buildings in 1896, and re-
ceived an order for 800. His county tax of
1895 was paid by his son John. He paid no
school tax. The witness also stated that he
was a sufferer from miners asthma and was
unable to work in the mines. Asked why
he did not pay his taxes out of the $500 he
received from the School Board, the witness
replied that he needed the money to get
something to eat.
James Donland was the next witness called,
and testified that he did work for the School
Board in 1896 to the amount of S17.66. He
never received an order nor endorsed one for
that amount. His brother John, who is a
School Director. got the money and gave it
to the witness. OF the total amount re-
ceived, 800 went to the treasurer of the
family, his sister. The balance he paid to
the Shenandoah Lumber and Feed Company
for material. While working for the School
Board he received $500 a day; when work
ing in the mines he got only $3.50 a day.
CIVIL COURT.
The report of the commission on lunacy in
the case of Mrs. Mary E.. Morgan was con-
irmed by Judge Koch and James IL. Moody
was appointed guardian of the estate and
person of the said Mary E.. Morgan.
Judge Koch granted DEGREES of divorce in
the suits of Sarah r. Blame against George E.
Blame and Lucy Sands against Isaac B.
Sands.
Among the cases marked ready for trial is
that of James Smith, of Shenandoah, against
the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company for
damages for injuries sustained by stepping
into a culvert on the company's property
near its depot in Shenandoah.
Thomas Il. Van Dusen, A. II. Roads and
John Laing, Jr, are doing civil court jury
duty.
Thomas Reilly was excused from duty.
100000 pair of Ladies', Children's and