Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-06-22
HARRISBURG.

The indictments in the Legislative
bribery cases were submitted to the
Grand jury last Thursday. after Judge
Simonton had instructed the jurors on
the law governing bribery. The first
case considered by the jury was that
against ex-senator John J. Coyle OF
Philadelphia, charging him with at
tempting to bribe Representatives John
Engler, of Lycoming; Peter j. Criste of
Northumberland and Irving n johnson
and B. Frank Miller of Northampton
to vote for the McCarrell jury bill, and
sign the Spatz paper pledging their
votes to George A. jerks, the Demo
cratic candidate for United States Sen
ator, and not to vote for an Independent
Republican. There were eight counts
in the Indictment against Coyle, and all
were ignored but that relating to the
alleged attempt to bribe Mr.. Engler.
In his charge Judge Simonton told
the jurors that they must consider the
bills of Indictment the same as they
would consider any crime. They should
pay no attention to politics in connec-
tion with them, and inquire into the
the cases to ascertain If the parties
mentioned in the Indictment did offer
money or anything else in their endeav-
or to secure the votes of Legislators on
any pending legislation. The cases in
which true bills are found will be tried
In the December term of Court.
On Friday the Grand Jury returned
true bills in the cases OF ex-Representa-
tives John R. Byrne of Fayette and
Thomas M. Moyles, of Luzerne, charg-
ed with corrupt solicitation during the
contest in the Legislature oyer a sue
cessor to Senator M. s. Quay and the
passage of the McCarrell jury bill. A
true bill was also found against Robert
Evans of Philadelphia, who is alleged
to have offered to Representative VIM.
q. Norton of Wayne county to vote to
reconsider the DlcCarrell BILL
The bills Of Indictment were ignored
against Representative Charles B. Spatz
of Berks county and congressman
Monroe FL. Kulp of Northumberland
county, charged with corrupt solicita-
tion. Mr.. Spatz was charged with hav-
ing offered consideration to Represen-
tatives |. N. Johnson and Philip Ell.
He'll of Northampton county 10 sign a
paper pledging their support to George
A. jerks 80 long as he was the Demo
cratic caucus nominee for United
0putCo bChdbOl. MI null WAS CUdTReI
with having offered 5000, and later $500,
to Representative Francis E. Brown, of
Union, Democrat. to remain away from
the joint convention on the first ballot
for United States Senator.
The Grand Jury ignored the bill of
indictment against John J. Coyle and
Michael j. Costello of Philadelphia
charging them with corruptly soliciting
Representative John Engler of Lycom
ing county to vote to reconsider the
McCarrell jury bill. The jury return
ed true bill in the case in which Coyle
is charged with having offered Mr.. En-
gler bribe to vote for this bill. and
ignored the other counts in tie indict-
ment charging him with corruptly So
hciting Representatives p. J. Criste of
Northumberland and L n johnson and
B. Frank Miller of Northampton
The jury returned a mo true bill' in
the case against Frank b. Jones of
Philadelphia, who is alleged to have of
fered Representative Palmer Laubach
of Philadelphia, FIVE years position in
the Philadelphia mint or custom house
to vote for ex-senator Quay
The indictment against Parker Fl. II
tus Of Bangor. charged with having of
fered a bribe to Representative P. H.
He'll of Northampton, to vote for ex
Snator Quay, will be submitted to the
Grand Jury at the September term.
The cases in which true bills have
been found will be tried in September