Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
COLLAPSE OF
THE QUAY CASE.
Prosecution Unable to Go On For
Lack of Evidence.
THE CONSPIRACY THWARTED
henator Penrose and Counsel For the
Defendants Make Interesting Com
ment Upon the Latest Phase of This
Remarkable Case.
fspecial Correspondence,

Especial Correspondence
Philadelphia, March 7.--The political
sensation of the week has been the com
plete collapse of the prosecution against
Colonel Quay, which was inspired and
pressed for the sole purpose of hamperng
him in his canvass for reelection. After
all the beating of tom toms and shrieks
of the political conspirators back of this
case, the prosecuting attorney, Mr..
Rothermell, went before Judge Beitler
last Tuesday and formally announced
that he could not try the case. He asked
for continuance until April 10. This
was granted against the protest OF the
defendants, who were there with Il
small army of witnesses and were not
only ready, but anxious TO go on. Mr..
Rothermel gave no reason for his desire
TO set the case back. 1t is generally be-
lieved that upon careful examination OF
the evidence he found that he had no
case. The action of the district attorney
was like q boomerang to the guerrillas
who have been fighting Senator Quay.
'The real reason for postponement,"
say Senator Quay's friends, lis that the
bottom has dropped out OF the case. The
bluff has been called and there was moth
ing else left for Mr.. Rothermel to do. He
was not in the persecution and was not
going to risk his legal reputation in
trying u case that he knew could result
in no other verdict but acquital. The
persecution is ended. 1t has succeeded in
eh ! fns nd
his son and in killing poor Ben Hay
wood. 1t can go no further"
A. s. l.. Shields, of counsel for the de-
fense, went into fuller details in n state
ment, which he gave out after the post
ponement Of the case. He said:
''If the commonwealth had go7} rea-
son to advance for continuance OF tbs
case, it should have been advanced in
open court In view of the great pubic
Importance attached to the trial and the
widespread interest Mr.. Rothermel
should have been prepared to state his
grounds for continuance. The fact of
the matter is simply this; There is moth
ing whatever in the case. Our experts
have examined the books and documents,
They are mutilated, false and a fraud
upon their face. We are prepared tC
prove conclusively that the entries i'm
plicating Senator Quay and his son were
made six months after the alleged con
spiracy had been consumated, and the
fruits, il any, had been reaped. The
commonwealth must admit this. Their
own experts will testify to il. We are
confident that there is not a judge on the
bench today who would not, under the
acquit. IL the experts who examined
these books did not testify. they would
be sent to Jail for perjury. 1t Is Il well
known principle of law that when there
is evidence of book or document being
mutilated, the whole book must be
thrown out as e"' lence. In all these
books there are false entries, and in
some instances entire pages are torn out.
Experts on both sides will testify to this.
We are willing to stand upon this state
ment"
SENATOR PENROSE JUBlLANT.
One OF the most jubilant men over the
outcome was Senator Penrose. He was
people would realize the animus of the
proceedings. He would have preferred
trial, but ne realized that the backuown
Of the commonwealth would send shlverS
down the spines of the boilers aud their
friends all over the state. lie expressed
his opinions frankly and boldly. lie did
not mince words, and he did give some
inkling of what might have proved IN
teresting testimony If certain gentlemen
subpoenaned by the defense had ever got
ten on the witness stand. Here Is what
Senator Penrose said:
Il am not surprised at the outcome OF
Senator Quay's case. Every one who has
known the facts of this controversy has
realized the fact that the prosecution has
been the outcome of one of the most
villainous political conspiracies ever
entered into to destroy public man.
The conspiracy was conceived upon the
day when the Peoples bank failed, and
was carefully concocted so that the
prosecution could be brought to influence
the general election last November. Sena-
tor Quay's political opponents have re-
sorted to this last desperate attempt to
destroy him as political leader in Penn
sylvania. There never was anything i'll
the case against him, and doubt wheth-
er any serious thought was ever enter
tanned that conviction could be Sc
cured. The political effect of the prose-
cution was the object in view. Had he
not been candidate for reelection for
United States senator, no one would
ever have thought OF prosecuting him in
connection with the affairs of the Peo-
pies bank. In fact, very prominent
business man in Philadelphia, and firm
supporter of John Wanamaker, stated in
the hearing OF several gentlemen at the
Commonwes,th hotel in Harrisburg that