The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-09
Friends Of Defendant Charged
With Bribing a Witness.
LAWYER A.p.wARNER INVOLVED
Prosecutins Attorney McElroy ana
sheriR van Ne vanter Informed
That He, with Manse Lewis and
Dave Make, Attempted to Buy ON
w. +. miller, the Victim of Al
legged NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Fooled.

An all but SUCCESSFUL attempt 10 prilB
about the acquittal Of Steve Lyts Tom
Phillins and Allan Esplin, charged with
drugging and robbing F. w. Miller. OF
Nanaimo. in Tenderloin saloon last July.
IS declared to have been made by the
friends of the three prisoners and foIed
by Prosecuting Attorney McElroy and
Sheriff Van De vanter.
A. ID. Warner, well known in this city
and Everett as lawyer; Manse Lewis, q
bartender. also well known here. ana Dave
Blake a Tenderloin saloonkeeper, are
charged by the two officials named with
having made the attempt.
1--WE are reliably informed said MT.
McElroy last night, that the three men
have mentioned. Warner, Lewis and
Blake, went to Victoria last week. there
met Miller, and by combination Of
threats and promises, induced him to agree
to remain on the other side Of the line
until after the trial. For this, we are in
formed. he was to be paid $3.50 In cash.
Miller is now in this city and will be on
hand to appear against the alleged rob-
bers Ee came down from Victoria with
Deputy Sheriff Wilson yesterday. and will
90 to Everett with Sheriff Van De Eanter
tomorrow night to attend the trial, which
begins in that city Monday morning. He
had been in Seattle up to a few weeks
ago, and was temporarily absent on visit
to British Columbia when he fell into the
tolls OF the alleged perverters of Justice.
Both the sheriff and prosecuting attor-
ney are greatly wrought up over the af-
fair and threaten to investigate 1t to the
bottom and punish the alleged conspira-
tors to defeat the law.
IT have been greatly annoyed and the
state greatly hindered In the prosecution
OF criminals" said Mr.. McElroy last night,
'by people, some Of them members Of the
bar, who consider 1t a smart trick to spirit
away tbs states witnesses in criminal
cases. propose to push the Investigation
OF this attempt to prevent Miller from
appearing against Lyts and the other de-
fendants I'm the present case until shall
become fully informed OF not only the
part taken by the three men named, but
by any others who may be implicated.
EFT / find that the facts warrant It., I
guilty parties for attempting to prevent
q witness from appearing to testify in a
criminal cause, which Is an offense under
the common law and can be taken cog
nizance of by the courts OF this state"
Miller. the prosecuting witness in. the
and robbed Of 1854 in the back room q a
By Lyts. f EspiH an ana p Phillipa Philips az
that time was night bartender in the sa-
loon where the alleged robbery took place.
After the defendants were arrested and
bound over Miller was released on bail and
returned to his home In Nanairno The case
was set down for trial before Judge ia
cobs, Of the superior court, last October
The defendants moved for and were grant
ed change Of venue to Snohomish and
the trial on this account was postponed.
Prosecuting Attorney McElroy and Sheriff
Van De yanter found employment for him
in this city. He had always displayed
the alleged grand laroenists and the author
ities had no reason to suspect that he
would fail them In the. end
Accordingly when a few weeks ago Miller
asked permission to return to his home for
9 short time TO attend to private business
both Prosecuting Attorney McElroy and
Sheriff Van De vanter we're quite willing
thunderstruck to hear that Miller had de-
cided not to prosecute the case and would
remain out of the jurisdiction of the court.
quiry ana last night stated he was reliably
informed that the three men mentioned.
Warner, Lewis and Blake, went to Vic
toria. met Miller there and by working
cupidity by promises succeeded in inducing
him to agree to remain away from Everett
until after the trial Of the case.
I'VE have direct evidence" said Sheriff
Van De yanter yesterday, that Warner.
Blake and Lewis posted $3.50 in cash with
Victoria saloon keeper to be paid to Mil
Everett to testify against Lyts, Phillips and
Esplin.
I'm order to induce Miller to accept the
money and remain away from Everett they
had threatened him in various ways and
had made him fully believe that II he APP
peared to testify he would be prosecuted
for perjury.
ut was only by the strongest kind of
persuasion that he consented to come to
Seattle with Deputy Wilson and nobody
will be more surprised to see him at Everett
Monday than the three men who thought
they had securely provided for his alb
sence."