Evening star., 1897-06-05
SHRIvER'S TRIAL: MONDAY
Counsel on BseA Edss Say They Are Ready
b Proceed.
RuRor Abroad That Two OF the Re-
malning Defendants Will Sub.
stltute Plea Of Guilty.

District Attorney Davis stated today that
he is fully prepared to proceed Monday
morning with the trial of Mr.. John s.
Shriver, the Washington representative Of
the New York Mail and Express. indicted
In 1894 for having refused to answer GER
tain questions asked him by the Senate's
sugar trust investigating committee. The
trial will take place in Criminal Court No.
2, before Judge Bradley, before whom
Messrs. Havemeyer and Searles were tried
Mr.. Shriver. who Is represented by ex-
Judge Dittenhoefer Of New York. stated
today that he will also be ready to go to
trial Monday. and he is confident of an ac-
quttal. while District Attorney Davis is no
less confident that he will be convicted.
Mr.. Shrivers trial will be Immediately fol-
lowed by that of Mr.. E. Joy Edwards, the
Washington correspondent Of the Philadel-
phia Press, who stands similarly charged.
The Arlington Conference.
Both the defendants were called before
the committee for the purpose of testifying
as to an alleged conference at the Arling-
ton Hotel early in 1894 between repre-
sentatives Of the sugar trust and members
of the Senate committee having in charge
the sugar schedule in the Wilson tariff hill.
Each correspondent wrote his Iape.. an
account of the alleged conference, and
they were asked by the Senate investigat-
Ing committee to give the source of their
information. That they refused to DO al
though Mr.. Shriver stated that his in
formant was a member Of the House OF
Representatives, but declined to give his
name. The questions were propoundcd by
the chairman of the investigating commit
paper men informing the committee that
they declined to answer the questions upon
the advice Of their counsel.
Their defense. it is understood, will be
and also not within the jurisdiction of the
Senate to make.
Upon the conclusion of the trials Of
Messrs. Shriver and Edwards District At
torney Davis will proceed with the cases
against Broker John w. Mccartney and Al
len Lewis Seymour. Messrs. Mccartney and
Seymour. Mr.. Davis contends. were asked
almost identcally the same questions which
Mr.. Elverton r. Chapman refused to an
swer, and for which refusal he Is now
serving term Of thirty days in Jail. In
fact, Mr. Davis considers the Mccartney
and Seym our cases as being ION all fours"
with the Chapman case. and regards an
acquittal in them as being practically i'm
possible
An InterestiBE RumOr.
It was rumored at The city hall today
that Messrs. Mccartney and Seymour have
determined to withdraw their plea of not
guilty. and enter a plea of guilty when
their cases are called. Their attorneys
could not be seen today. and District At
torney Davis. while admitting that he had
heard such a rumor, stated that is all he
knows of 1t. He declined to say whether
he would or would not agree to suspen-
sion of sentence. should the plea of guilty
be entered, but there Is little or no doubt
that he would ask the court to at least
impose the same sentence which was i'm
posed upon Mr.. Chapman, the minimum
one a fine Of 800 and thirty days in jail.
Mr. Chapman who entered upon his term
of Imprisonment the 18th of last month,
yesterday ...tered upon the last week of
his term.
For Good Behavior.
Under the rules of the prison he is en-
titled to a deduction of five days because
of good behavior while in prison. and will.
therefore. be required to serve but twenty
five days. The day upon which he enter
ed the Jail is counted as one Of the twenty
five days. and he WILL therefore, have COM
pleted his term at midnight of next Thurs
day.
The confinement has already seriously af-
fected Mr.. Chapman, his appetite having
failed him to a marked degree. The lack
Of outdoor exercise has given his face the
prison pallor so noticeable in those in con-
finement, and he is nstless in his move
ments.
The Jail physician has been unremitting
in his care Of the distinguished prisoner,
but it is very apparent that the man has
become impregnated with the malaria
which fills the air in the vicinity of the
Jail at all times of the year. Mr.. Chap
mans friends are. therefore. not little
concerned about his future health. He Is
in the best of spirits, however. and has
been, SO the prison officials say, q model
prisoner.