The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-09
THEY WIAh
WITHDRAW.
The County Commissioners and County
Controller Will Resign.
TO TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 4.
A Light Sentence For the Commissioners
and the withdrawal OF other Suits
Will Follow-Trial of Commits
sioner Meyers opened Tlis
Morning
Special to EVENING HERALD.


Special to EVENING HERALD.
Pottsville, March 9-The County Com
missioners and County Controller have
determined to resign. Hon. John W. Ryon,
counsel for County Commissioners John
p. Martin, of Plnegrove; William A. Mari,
counsel for Commissioner Rentz, and w. J.
Whtehouse, counsel for County Controller
b. X. Severn, got together during last even
ing and this morning and in accordance with
an arrangement made at consultation with
the counsel for the prosecution, held late
yesterday afternoon, both Commissioners
Rentz and Martin, who were at the court
house for the purpose, signed papers this
morning pledging themselves to resign from
their offices. Similar papers were taken to
Controller Severn, who is i'll at his home in
Shenandoah, and at noon to-day they were
received signed by Mr.. Severn
Upon their presentation to judge Bechtel
light sentence embodying the payment Of
the costs may be imposed on Commissioners
Rentz and Martin as to the nineteen counts
in the misdemeanor in office suit, and the case
fixed for trial at this term of court will be
mol pressed. The suit against County Con-
troller Severn will also be mol pressed, and
the costs in both suits put on the defendants
The Taxpayers Association believe this
tempering Of the prosecution with mercy
will servo the ends they aim at.
Late this afternoon it was announced that
the designations of the Commissioners and
Controller will take effect on April 1st, 1898.
This will give the court time in which to ap-
point successors.
The court will not waste much time in ap-
pointing SUCCESSORS TO both Commissioners.
There are number of applicants for the
berths.
The names Of Frank KAntnsr of Lofty
Joseph Nichter, of Pottsville James Leahy.
Of Gilberton William Dochney Mahanoy
City; Rev. Edwards, Pottsville, who has a
big petition ready for court, and others are
prominently mentioned as successors to the
Commissioners. The first named two are
said to be in the lead.
Tho Governor will appoint the successor to
Controller Severn, and it is generally be-
lieVed that Charles A. Snyder, Esq, who is
an out and out candidate, will be named by
the Governor. He has announced his candi,
dacy for the Republican nomination this
year for this office.
The payment of the $4,000, with interest
will be guaranteed.
COMMISSIONER MEYERs' TRIAL.
After half hours consultation the coun.
sci for the prosecution and counsel for Com.
missioners Rentz and Martin returned at 4:O5
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. Judge Bechts
was then in his private room. District
Attorney Bechtel and other attorneys wen
in and had talk with him. As a result the
District Attorney called the case against Com
missioner Charles Meyers for trial and Judge
Bechtel ordered the polling of jury to pro
cesd. Counsel were not ready and the case
was adjourned until nine O'Clock this morn
ing.
The court had refused to quash the ascon(
and third counts in the indictment, as asked
for yesterday by E. B. Smith, Esq, anC
reserved his decision on count No 7.
Judge Bechtel announced the quashing o
counts Nos. A, Is and 16 of two indictments
leaving total of 81 counts
POLLING THE JURY.
This morning the counsel lined up a.
follows For the Commonwealth Distric
Attorney E. A. Bechtel, A. W. Schalck, Johr
F. Whalen, Fergus Farguhar; G. A. Berne
and Charles A. Snyder. Esqs. For defense
E. B. Smith and Charles A. Berger, Esqs
William L. Sheafer, the prosecutor and sgen
for the Taxpayers Association was sitting q
the Commonwsalth's table and COMMISSIONS eI
Meyers, the defendant, looking none tn,
worse for his worry, was seated near hi
lawyers. Close to him was his brother
j. S. Brown, who has taught school for q
years in Wayne township, WAS the first juro
called. He was asked by Whalen if he haC
expressed any opinion against the Tax
payers Association, whether he had hear,
Or read of the cAso. and if he could render
verdict in accord with the evidence H
answered the questions satisfactorily to tn
Commonwealth. In answer to Attorne,
Smith he said he did not belong to the Far
mers Taxpayers League and had never con
tributed money to it. He was excused b!
the defense.
]. II. DunkleberEer, of Higgins township
and James Head were stood aside by th
Commonwealth.
Adam Parton, carpenter of Pottsville
was sworn as juror No. 1. He said he wa
employed by the p. & K. c. & l. Co., bu
assured Mr.. Smith that he could render
verdict in accordance with the evidence, evei
should it be developed that the company wa
interested
Frank r, Weber, of Brummertown, wa
sworn as juror No. 2.
Charles A. Mantz, West Penn; William r
Lauderfeldt, AshlAndi G. p. Leib, Schuylkil
Haven, and Harry Cartwright, Pottsvills
were stood aside by the Commonwealth
Edward Andrews inventor, Pottsville; n. j
Leahy miner, Gilberton Charles Lauben
stein, Ashland and Dennis Haley Miners
vile, were also stood aside by the Common
wealth
Harry Leisey had an opinion which woul,
require evidence to remove and wa
challenged by the defense for cause. Tn
court sustained the challenge
A. c. Eisenhuth, of Orwigsburg, had n
/ prejudice against William l.. Sheafsr, tn
prosecutor in the case. He had read of tn
f suit and had talked about it. He was sUorl
as juror No. 3.
Oscar Klecknsr, barber, PottsVile, for
merly lived at Cressona, the home of de
fsndant Meyers. He had merely speakin
acquaintance with him. Stood aside by tn
Commonwealth.
: George r. DeLonK, barber, Pottsvillt
heard the suit discussed and was stood asid
by the defense.
p j. Curley was stood aside and Josia
Wertman was excused by the court.
Peter Suber, blacksmith of Minersyill,
said his employment by the p. & Il. compan
D would not influence him upon reaching We
f dict. He was accepted as Juror No. 4.
Q James Clifford, Sr, MahAnoy City, WI
stood aside by the Commonwealth, and