The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-05-05
THE VINDICATION
Of w. j. PierO a Cause For
Satisfaction.
CANTON CITIZENS ARE PLEASED

All the Material Points Made by the
Government Were Explained and Proof
offered That They Could Not BE
Made Compatible with Guilt.
In an extensive and exhaustive trial in
which the defendant certainly had no
advantage in the way of prejudice in the
court environment, william j. Piero was
acquitted in the United States district
court at Cleveland yesterday on every
count in the indictments against him.
While the verdict had been anticipated be-
cause of the fact tnat the prosecution was
succeeding, during the trial, in proving
none of tie specific allegations, there
was general rejoicing in Canton when the
result of the jury's deliberations were
made known through the News Dem
ocrat, which was first on the street with
the announcement. The prosecution of
Mr.. Piero was conducted in a most vigor-
GUS manner-more vigorous perhaps than
mere sense of duty on the part of the
government attorney suggested. 1t is
certain that no atom of alleged evidence
was left out and the most trifling fact
that n light tend to sho0 circumstantial
evidence of guilt was brought forward
and magnifed and presented in its most
attractive form for the jury to digest.
The powerful machinery of the United
States court was put to work and the
prosecution had the assistance of the
entire secret service OF the northern dis
trict of Ohio. 1t was of no avail, how
ever. The government made its showing
and then the defense was made. Each
point raised by the government, that
might have a tendency to show guilt, was
taken up by the defense and evidence of
| a convincing character presented that set
at paught the claims Of the government.
1t developed, as proof was introduced,
that the points in the governments case
that looked the blaokest were the easiest
to dispose Of. Reputable citizens took the
stand and told of the good character OF
the accused prior to the making of this
charge. They told of his standing in
the community and Of his professional
life and work. Others told Of the pur-
chase of many of the things found in Mr.
Piero's law Office, and, it was shown that
such things as were there to his knowl-
edge were there ty purchase or by his
having loar ed money on them to an
unfortunate client or some one in tempor-
ary distress who had not seen fit to re-
deem them, thus leaving them on Mr..
Piero's hands, the total of this collection
making ground for suggesting COM
plicity. The presence of the dynamite
and caps and many Of the other things
in the Office was explained not only by
MIR. Piero but by other witnesses from
whom he purchased them in good faith
and for Legitimate purpose Mr.. Piero
said on the stand that he had no knowl-
edge of the presencs of some of the alleged
discriminating articles found in his Office,
and the evidence of others corr oborated
his testimony. In fact, 1t was shown by
the party who put the articles there that
Mr. Piero could have had no knowledge
of ths fact that they were there. The
articles that were most suggestive to the
secret service men as tending to show
guilt were not placed in the office by Mr..
Piero, hut by his nephew, who took the
stand and said that he had been in the
habit of making the Office hiding place
for such things. AS whole the case
served to demonstrate the complete in
nocence Of Mr.. Piero on the several
charges with which they had him indie
ted The trial served also to demonstrate
to what extent circumstantial evidence
may tend to show guilt and how 1t may
prove fleeting and unsubstantial, vapor-
izing, in the light of truth, as dew before
the MONDAY sun. Mr. Piero and his
attorneys, O. @. Bow of Canton and
Virgil p Kline of Cleveland, were heartily
congratulated by members Of the bar of
Cleveland on The outcome Of the case.
The congratulations MIR. Piero has reoeiv-
ed since his return homo have made him
feei that the recent unfortunate oiroum-
stances In which he found himself placed,
and from which he emerges with such
complete yindioation, have only tended
TO cement his friends to him and have In
fact created new friends who showed their
sympathy during the trial and who re-
J joIce with bin In its happy ending,