The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-02
DURHAM MUST STAY IN
MINNEAPOLIS ALDERMAN GETS No
MERCY IN SUPREME COURT
Sentence of Six Years and Six
Months at Hard Labor Is Held
Not to Be Either Cruel or I'm
usual - Soliciting Bride Is
Held No Less Sinful Than Accent
Ing One.

Judge M1tcheil, Of the supreme court
yesterday handed down a decision sus-
tanning the Hennepin county Jury.
which found George A. Durham, the
minneapolis Doodle alderman, guilty of
soliciting a bribe.
After his motion for a new trial was
refused he carried the matter through
ms attorneys, to the supreme court.
Every effort was made to secure his
release, and unless the unexpected hap
pens Mr.. Durham will go to prison to
serve his long sentence.
Mr.. Durham offered for a considera-
ton OF money to use his vote and in
Huence to secure the award Of the con-
tract for the construction of the Min
neapo!1s reservoir to Halverson, Rich
ards & Co. The court intimates
from the evidence adduced at
the trial that general charges Of cor
ruption might be true. Richards testi-
fled that Durham had said: THAT so
far as he was concerned he would be
willing that they should have the con-
tract without putting UP anything. but
there were sixteen in the crowd and
that they had agreed that there
couldn't one of them accept money un-
less they all had some''
The syllabus Of the case Is as follows:
state of Minnesota, respondent VS.. George A.
Durham, appellant.
meaning the defendants challenge to the
81 By 1Ss e to be
evidence as a similar challenge on the trial
of prior similar case.
e. The objection, if any, to the form Of
the challenges OF the state to individual Jurors
on the ground of actual bias wail ed by
defendants Joining issue on 1t without OBJ
lection o and submitting it upon evidence to
8. When the court acts in the place Of
triers It's decision Is final.
4 To constitute the crime Of asking for a
bride by public officer with the under
Be indsenced thereby aen ns ST st. issi Sec sec.
solicited for the bribe shall consent to give it
or that there shall be any meeting of minds
or mutual understanding or agreement be-
It is sufficient If the latter is ready aid will
ling to enter into q corrupt agreement or
understanding that his vote, etc., shall be
6.-Even If the incompetency OF Juror is
not discovered until after verdict such in
| competency Will not per sc constitute ground
such ground Is addressed to the judicial
| discretion Of the trial court, which should
take into consideration. the nature of the OBJ
exercised to ascertain the fact in due time and
the other circumstances of the case
Au,e applied where juror was incsmDe-
8; Held that in this case the proceedings
before the city council (of which the de-
PENDANT was a member) were admissible for
| the purpose of showing that the matter upon
which the bribe was alleged 10 have been
asked for was pending before that body and in
what wa way or manner It was pending
asking one Richards for a bride with the
understanding and agreement that his vote
and official ACTION should be thereby influenced
| firm Of Halverson, Richards & Co. had SUBJ
nlitted to the city council for the construction
| Of a reservoir by the city.
Held, that, upon the facts, conversation
on the same subject which defendant had, on
the day previous, with Halverson, was admis-
sible for che purpose Of illustrating and ex-
tween defendant and Richards, when the
crime charged IL alleged to have been COM