The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-24

FACTS FOR THE GRAND JURY.
Fighting Bob" Wilson. County COM
missioner Nickerson and ex-Audi-
tor Beman Give Testimony

From the witnesses that have been be
fore the grand jury during the past few
days il would seem that the Official deeds
OF ex-RoaG Supervisor Robertson are 70 be
included IN the list OF things investigated
by that body. Fighting Bob" Wilson. the
star witness Tor King county IN the salt
that Robertson has brought 20 recover
money for alleged road work. was given 4
chance 70 testify on Monday. Yesterday
County Commissioner NlckerSon divided
his time between Judge jacobs court room.
where the Robertson case IS being tried.
and the library room. where the grand jury
is N secrer session.
The Robertson ease, which commenced
last Friday in Judge jacobs court. VIII
probably go 20 the jury before noon today.
Tie plaintiffs last witness was examined
yesterday morning and completed a chain
Of evidence believed by him and his com
sci 10 oe very strong. The witnesses for
tho county were on the stand during the
afternoon. and still others are 10 be ex
dmined this morning. Fighting Bob
Wilson was the principal witness exam
fDed yesterday. County Commissioners
Nickerson. ex-Auditor Besnan and other
witnesses gave testimony which indirectly
SsNH ca t+tr lt[sSc way IN winch tNe county
commissioners transacted road business.
Their testimony caused Judge Jacobs %
cri:!cise the board quite severely several
times The testimony 80 far given in the
case. il Is believed. Is in favor OF Robert
son but Prosecuting Attorney McElroy
believes that King county will win out on
legal points when ire case IS taken before
the supreme court.
But eleven jurors appeared at the open
az =fgw m, m was ~
n0unced that Juror |. T Aivord was sick.
Il was stipulated that the case he contin-
ued with eleven jurors. The testimony In
iToduced by the plaintiff yesterday went 10
show that the work was ordered by Elk
Commissioner Heaton. Heaton says that
such is the case. and tina: he was acting
under general Instructions from the other
members OF the board who said It would
- all right. Rob- rtson testified that every
time he went before tho board they re-
f-rred him to Commissioner Heaton. Both
Heston and Robertson claimed that the
work for which the bills were 10 pay was
done OF the roads In The district.
Deputy Prose cutting Attorney Fulton nlov-
ef that the case h non-suited on the
ground that no evidence had been intro
duced showing the conclusive order Of the
entire bOayd and on the gr0Gui that Rob-
ertson's act IN having the claims assigned
10 him while he was road supervisor was
contrary 70 public policy. Judge Jacobs
denied the motion and the county proceed
ed with is witnesses
Fighting Bob" Wilson. who was ins.ru
mental ir having the county commission
ers reject the bills for read work fer
which Robertson Is suing was the prirCl-
pal witness for the county He testified
that in 2 conversation with him Robert
son admitted that he Sid not know wheth-
Ct the work called for IN the accounts.
Robertson tod him that all he had - go
on in certifying to the bills, was the state
ment OF the men who We're supposed 10 do
the work. Wilson says that he advised
Robertson 70 lay tn whole matter before
the prosecuting alton and not shoulder
any Of thu resIon- that should be
borne by others.
Several Witnesses who 1--we In the read
district formerly presided over by Robert
s1n testified that the only work that had
been done was on two miles Of road No. IS.
and thae the work done was not worth
nearly the Slo3 that Is supposed 10 have
been exper led on road work in the dis
trict. Another witness, testified that the
road or which the 500 contract was let
was not an established county road.
County Commissioner Nickersons testi-
mony was n general denial Of the state
meut ~ Robertson that he had been before
the board ana had been referred % Heo-
ton. who vas authorized 70 order the work
done. Nickerson testified that Robertson
had been before the board with bills FOR
work that had never been authorized.
When the records of the transactions az
the board were introduced Nickersou adj
mitted that one Of the clerks bad signed
hia name and that the real signatures OF
the commissioners were seldom entered
Fx-Audjtar Beman'~ testimony was n tho
effect that TIE board dd not always enter
th.ir orders for record.
Judge Jacobs v4ij that Il was a lamenta-
ale fact that although the amegn; of road
work done annually cost the county frem
So 11v 10 So ono there WAS no record show
Ing wheo the work was done OF whether
or not & had been authorized
There seems 80 be a general belief taat
ths grand Jury IS investigating some az the
facts brought os. tn the testimony - the
trial of this Ctso The fact that prominent
witnesses In the ease have hecu before the
grand jury IL considered significant
Special Prosecutor King was .n ca rae o.
the grand jury again yesterday. having rc-
coveted from bis recent illness The grand
fu~,- has no. Yet taken up judy Winsor's
rcI-'7u on she gambling and social cvI