Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-28
THE QUAY TRIAL
Again Postponed, This Time
Until April 10th.
Defendants Ready for Trial, but Dis.
trict Attorneys Motion Granted.
Sensational Developments Concerning TIL
Jury are Hinted At.

| clas were shaken to the centre by the
unexpected postponement of the quay
| trial. today. and these is speculation IN
| every quarter as to the causes which
brought il about There is little doubt
that both sides were ready to go on.
All the parties were on hand and every
thing was apparently in readiness when
| District Attorney Rothermel asked
Judge BETTER to postpone the trial be
cause the commonwealth was not
ready.
As soon as the sensation caused by
this announcement had subslded
Messrs Shields and Shapley, counsel
for Senator Quay and his son. put In
vigorous protest against further de-
lay. but the court granted the request
and fixed April 10 for the trial.
When questioned afterward the dis
trict Attorney declined to give any rea-
son for the postponement but added
that he submitted the entire subject to
Judge BETTER before making the appli-
cation and the judge had approved the
reasons. He added significantly that
the postponement was duty to the
commonwealth.
Senator Quays counsel had this to
say: 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 a fraud upon their face. We
are prepared to prove conclusively that
the entried duplicating senator Quay
and his son were made six months af-
ter the alleged conspiracy had been
nd no If had
been reaped. The commonwealth must
admit this. Their own experts will
testify to it, We are confident that
there is not judge on the bench. to-
day who would not under the evil
dence available, order the jury to &C
quit
Senator Quay declined to say any
thing about the case except to express
his disappointment at the delay.
Rumors were af!oat all day: one that
the trial had been postponed because
the death of Former State Treasurer
Haywood had minimiZed the chances
of Senator Quays conviction and an
other which gained the greatest Gre
dence. that a member of the jury panel
had informed the district attorney OF
an attempt at representation.
Though interest in the trial was in
tense throughout the city there was nc
crowding in the court room because OF
an order issued by the court that only
| the lawyers directly interested in the
case the panel of witnesses and a
] limited number of newspaper men
should be admitted into the room.
| Senator Quay with his son entered
| the court room promptly at 10 o'clock
| the hour fixed for the opening of the
! trial. After the tally of the jurors had
| been completed there was lull in the
proceedings and Il close whispered con-
| sultation was held by the defendants
| and their attorneys.
| District Attorney Rothermel and his
assistants also held a brief consulta-
| ton at the conclusion of which the dis
| trict attorney addressing the court
said that for reasons which he did moi
care to state at present he desired that
the trial of the Messrs. Quay be post
poned. He was not ready to proceed
with the trial now. He would ask thai
the date for the trial be fixed for Apri
| TO-
Mr.. Shapeley, counsel for the defence
| opposed IIlOlItIf. I1c Sdlu lItl'
| witnesses had been suhpoenaed anC
every preparation made to bring the
| trial to an immediate conclusion. A
postponement at this time. he said
| would cause great Inconvenience ano
would be unfair to his clients.
The Evening Bulletin. says: NC
sooner had the postponement beer
made known than it was declared by
| high authority that the cause for halt
ing the case was ar astounding dis
covery affecting the jury panel. Off
cials in the district attorneys office de
clined to discuss this, beyond stating
that there was only one reason why
| the trial should not go on, the prose
cution being entirely in readiness t
proceed. Rumor had it that case o
impersonation had been detected. bu
concerning this no definite infOrmatio,
was obtainable. ....
Upon the question of tamperins
with the jury the district attorne!
| made a most significant utterance il
court, avowing that the postponemen
was q duty to the commonwealth. Be
yond that he refused to speak. save t
say that it would be unwise to give hi
reason at present. Judge Better hat
been informed of it, and that sufficed.
WAS A GREAT SURPRISE.