The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-11-09
THE KENT
BRIBERY CASES.
Frank IReiman Acquitted
and DR.. 7. G. Moore
Discharged.
From TIE SUNS Staff Correspondent.

From THE Suns Staff Correspondent.
Dover, Del, Nov. 8.-Kent county,
election bribery cases are matters Of his
tory. Frank w. Reiman was today &C
Quilted of the charges against him ant
walked from the court house q free man
the Court decided that DR. Thomas c
Moore OF Smyrna had never been held il
bail for the charges alleged against hin
In the attorney generals Information
and the case was Withdrawn; and lastly
Attorney General White, lowing re.
luctantly to the division OF the Court
entered q nolIe prosequi in the only cas-
remaining, that against Peter W. Downs.
The settlement Of q case in court al.
ways means a victory for one side and
the closing of these bribery cases are at.
tended by legal victory for Walter FL.
Hayes and Herbert H. Ward of Will
nington, counsel for all the defendants.
The Reiman case was tried on its merits
and the defendant declared not guilty by
a majority of the Court after Is minutes
delib-ration. The case against Dr..
Moore, however, already the subject OF
serious discussion by opposing counsel,
was abandoned by the attorney general
today after majority of the Judges Sit
ting on the bench had granted judgment
for the defendant in the plea Of abate.
ment.
The decisions in both the Reiman case
and that against DR.. Moore revealed a
surprising conjunction Of opinions ON the
bench. Neither decision was unani-
nous. Chief Justice Lore and Judge
Pennewill declared Reiman not guilty,
while it is generally believed that Judge
Boyce favored a conviction.
In the latter case judges Pennewill and
Bovce declared the decision Of the Court
to be that Attorney General White was
not clothed with authority to file bill
OF information against DR.. Moore which
did not allege the charges made in the
bail bond. In this case the dissenter
was Chief Justice Lore, who in opinion
held that the substance of case should
not be lost because of mere lack of form.
The outcome of these alleged bribery
cases was not surprise. Arguments
presented by Messrs. Hayes and Ward
from the very beginning have been more
than usually strong, and a general belief
existed that the Court would rule against
the tiuky bills OF information filed by
the attorney general. 1t would appear
the array OF authorities advanced by
Messrs. Hayes and Ward in support OF
their contention that Mr. White had not
proceeded properly in the case against
DR.. Moore, have been taken into favora.
Bile consideration by the Court.
As to the acquittal Of Frank Reimar
the spectators with one accord shared
the opinion of Chief Justice Lore anC
Judge Pennewill that the State, in \ trla
on the merits, had failed to prove the
guilt of the defendant upon reasonable
doubt.
There is no future to the Reiman case
He has been tried and acquitted. The
disposition of the cases against Dr.
Moore and Peter w. Downs Ia such that
the attorney general can. Of right, fix
new information provided it agrees with
the allegations in the bail bond. AT this
time it seems that such action is very i'm
probable.
Reiman Declared Not Guilty.
The defence in the Reiman case opened
when court convened at 10 O'Clock this
morning 1t did not last 10. z and at
Ills o'clock Reiman was declared ac-
quilted Of the charge Of offering George
A. Carter $l5 to remain away from the
polls on November s, 1898. The defend
ant took The stand in his own behalf and
his version of the conversation which
took place in l. B. Nickers' grocery store
in Smyrna was quite opposed to the
statements made by the prosecuting wit
ness, Carter and his brother.in-law, Cor.
bitt Timmons. Reiman testified that
Carter approached him with the ques-
ton, "What are you fellows paying tol
vUtes?" Witness replied that he had nc
money and was paying nothing.
"Well," replied Carter, I'VE usually
get SIS or $50 for our votes, and We
wanted to see you first"
Witness denied that he had ever
promised either Carter or Timmons ST.
for their votes. Timmons was sol
der and said he ,'anted to get back tc
Wilmington and needed money for h:
vote.
Reiman in the latter part Of his testi
mony gave evidence relative to a seConC
conversation which took place between
himself and Carter, with Corbltt Tim
mons present. 1t took place between II
and II O'Clock one evening about tbs
time Reiman vas arrested for alleged
bribery. Witness said he was approached
by Carter, who said:
'Reiman, I've Just had you arrested
and feel terribly mean about it. would
not have had you arrested, but Wilson
Lavender threatened me with arrest if
did not"
The cross. examination conducted by
Attorney General White failed to shake
Reman's testimony in chief. The wit
ness firmly held to the statement that
Carter had told him Wilson +. Cayen'
der. the Duck Creek hundred Demo
cratic leader, had threatened him with
arrest if he refused to cause Reimsn',
arrest.
John Wood, carpenter, living ir
Smyrna, was witness for the defense
lie was present in l. B, Vickers' grocery
store on November y, 1898. Wood over
heard q part Of the conversation in thu
store and in il, he swore Carter ant
Tmmons made oil the advances, anC
urged Reiman for money at once. Cross
examined, he said there was some par
Of the conversation he could not hear
Mr.. White asked him whether or not h,
| testified in the attorney generals oiiic'
in April in the presence of Wilson 7
Lavender that he didn't hear the Carter
Reiman conversation. Wood said he di,
not say go and never was asked tina
| question.
The defense then called Levin NJ
IIirons, John X. Jefferson, John Parker
James ,. Hoifecker, William II. Bagg
and Joseph Robinson, all of whom tes
titled that Reiman's reputation for peac
and good order and the observance Of tn
law in the community in which he liveC
is good. Parker, on crOss-examlnatiOn
said that he had heard people say tina
Reman went fishing on Sunday.
The state, in rcbuttal called Carter
who denied the alleged second converse
ton held with Reiman. Mr. Hayes asket
Carter ii he expected any reward out 0
the case, to which question the witnes
replied no. Tmmons also denied TN
second conversation.
Attorney General White called Wilson
| 7. Lavender in rebuttal and his testi
mony proved very disastrous to til,
states case. Mr.. White asked Mr.. Cav
ender whether or not John Wood stated
in the witness presence in the attorne,