The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-27
THEY SIMPLY FELL DOWN FLAT!
Helenas Grand Jurors Didn't Have the Pluck to Find
Anybody GuiIty-The Attorney General Of Montana
Gives Them Scoring in Red-Hot Speech.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

fine coat of whitewash for John Boodler
Welcome. For days that has been ex-
pected from the very start Clark and
all his boodlers have boasted that the
grand jury would do the very thing
that it did do. Attorney General No
Ian had advised the jury that to be con-
sstent, it must do one of two things,
indict somebody for bribery or indict
somebody else for conspiracy. But that
grand jury refused to be consistent
There was much talk Wednesday night
that indictments had been found
against Whiteside for conspiracy and
perjury, but they did not materialize.
The report of the grand jury reads:
I'VE have been in session 10 days and
have examined A witnesses and have
also examined all papers, documents
and other legal evidence touching the
questions under consideration "nd
have had produced before us all wit
nesses who we had reason to believe
could shed any light upon the ques-
tions of bribery, perjury or conspiracy.
In the Interrogation of witnesses and
in the construction of the law apper-
tanning to matters before us, we have
been ably assisted by the attorney gen
eral Of the state and the county attor-
ney of Lewis and Clarke county.
I'VE have carefully weighed all the
evidence submitted to US, and, while
there has been some evidence which
tends to show that money has been
been used in connection with the cleo
tion of United States senator it mas
been contradcted and explained in such
a way that all the evidence introduced
before U.s. taken together, would not,
in our judgment, warrant a conviction
by trial jury.
While we have not finally concluded
our labors, we deem the Investigation
Of the matter relating to bribery, per-
jury and conspiracy of so paramount
Importance, that full report on .hese
should be made before taking up other
matters cognzabe by us and bringing
in a final report
Attorney General Nolan scored the
jury mercilessly. He said:
THE reports as presented indicates
that the grand jury has exhausted the
means at it's disposal in the investiga-
ton consequent upon the alleged use
Of money. Were it not for this I would
be indisposed myself at the present time
to make any remarks or to make any
application to the court in connection
with the report presented.
IF I were to understand that further
investigation would be conducted, to de-
termine whether bribery was committed
in this state, or conspiracy with the
blackness and with the foulness of hell
and in the light of which bribery dwin-
dies into insignficance, l would not be
disposed to make any remarks. But
from the conversations had and the
happenings in the grand jury room, as
we'll as from the report as presented to
the court, I am given to understand
that this feature of the business is
finally disposed of by the presentation
of this report, and that. if any other
labors are to be performed by this grand
jury, they will have no relation to the
question of bribery or to the question
of conspiracy or perjury.
Il am free to say that it is with con-
| sidera BILE regret that l rise to my feet
| in this court room to make the remarks
which 1 do make in the light of the re-
| port presented. I dislike exceedingly
| to say aught that would jar upon the
faa1ipoc af ci niti1pn of T nd
Clarke county; I was honored perhaps
beyond my deserts by the people of this
| county; / held the office of county at
torney for the period of five years and
during a portion of that time it was my
experience to be brought into contact
with jurors impaneled under the law, to
inquire into the commission of offenses
in this county, and. as l stated to those
gentlemen in the jury box. day upon
their submission to me of this report. it
is a regretable fact to me that, for the
first time in my official life, have had
occasion to remark in court or out Of
court that the report presented indi-
Gated the evidence of a desire on the
part of the jury impaneed to shirk a
responsibility or to escape a duty placed
upon its shoulders by the law.
"A portion of this report says: We
have carefully weighed all the evidence
submitted to us, and while there has
been some evidence which tends to
show that money has been used in con-
nection With the election of a United
States senator, it has been contradicted
and explained in such a way that all
the evidence introduced before us,
| taken together, would not in our judg-
ment warrant conviction by a trial
jury.
My God, gentlemen of the jury, is it
possible that evidence regarding the
$4,000 now in my possession has been
explained so as to warrant no action
upon your part? Is it possible, gentle
man. as l have told You repeatedly dur
ing yOur dplibera tipnS that pari,fry fol,I