The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-28
TRIAL OF QUAY
AGAIN POSTPONED
Speculation As to The Causes Which
Brought II About.
C0MMONWEAL TIL NOT READY
Has The Plea Entered by District At
tOrn6y ROthermel.
COMMONWEAL TIL NOT READY
QUAY DECLINED TO SAY ANYTHING
Sensational Rumors Are Afioat Con-
corning the Postponement, and it Is
Whispered That Impersonation
Was Attempted in Jury.

Philadelphia, February N.-Politieal cir
cles were shaken to the center by the post
ponement of the Quay trial today, and
there is speculation in every quarter as to
the causes which brought it about. There
is little doubt that both sides were ready to
go on. Both parties were on hand and
everything was apparently In readiness
when District Attorney Rothermel arose
and asked Judge Better to postpone the
trial because the commonwealth was not
ready" AS soon as the sensation caused
by this announcement had subsidized Messrs
Shields and Shapley counsel for Senator
Quay and his son, put in vigorous pro-
test against further delay, but the court
granted the request and fixed April 10 for
the trial.
When questioned afterwards the district
attorney declined to give any reason for
the postponement, but added that he sub
mitted the entire subject to Judge BETTER
before making the application and the
judge had approved the reasons.
Duty of the Commonwealth
He added significantly that the postpone
ment was duty to the commonwealth.
Senator Quay's counsel had this to say:
1.-THE fact of the matter is that there is
nothing whatever in the case. Our experts
have examined the books and documents.
They are mutilated, false and fraud upon
their face. We are prepared to prove con-
clusively that the entries impicating Sem
ator Quay and his son were made six
months before the alleged conspiracy had
been consummated, and the fruits. IL any,
had been reaped. The commonwealth
must admit this. Their experts will testify
to it. We are confident that there is not
judge on the bench today who would not
under the evidence available order the jury
to acquit."
Senator Quay declined to say anything
about the case except to express his disap-
pointment at the delay, but Senator Penrose
made a statement tonight in which he says
among other things:
senator Penrose's Comments
81 am not surprised at the outcome of
Senator Quay's case. Every one who has
known the facts of this controversy has
realized the prosecution has been the out
come of the most villainous political con-
spracies ever entered into to destroy pub
lie 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. Sem
ator Quays political opponents have re-
sorted to this last desperate attempt to de-
stroy him as a political leader In Penn
sylvania. There never was anything in
the case against him and 1 doubt whether
any serious thought was entertained that
conviction could be secured. The polti-
cal effect of the prosecution was the OBJ
ject In view. Had he not been a candidate
for reelection for senator no one would
have thought of prosecuting him."
Rumors were afloat all day; one that the
Trio Io1 he dant n
of former State Treasurer Haywood had
minimzed the chances of Senator Quay's
conviction. and another, which gained the
great credence, that a member of the jury
panel had informed the district attorney of
an attempt at representation.