Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-28
UNEXPECTED POsTPONEMENT OF
SENATOR QUAY's CASE.
PROSECUTION ASKED FOR IT
CONTINUANCE CAUSED A SENSATION
IN POLITICAL CIRCLES.
Senator Quay's Attorneys Say 1t IL an
Evidence of the Weakness Of the
States Case-Quay Refuses
to Talk About the
Matter.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. N.-Political cir
cles were shaken to the center by the un-
expected postponement Of the Quay trial
to-day, and there is speculation in every
quarter as to the causes which brought 1t
about.
There is little doubt that both sides were
ready to go on. All the parties were on
hand and everything was apparently In
readiness when District Attorney Rother-
mel arose and asked Judge Beitler to post
pone the trial because the commonwealth
was not ready" AS soon as the sensation
caused by his announcement had subsided,
Messrs. Shields and Shapley. counsel for
Senator Quay and his son, put in vigor-
GUS protest against further delay. but the
court granted the request and fixed April
10 for the trial.
" When questioned afterward the district
attorney declined to give any reason for
the postponement, but added that he sub
mitted the entire subject to Judge Bedtler
before making the application and the
Judge had approved the reasons. He add
ed significantly that the postponement was
a duty to the commonwealth.
Senator Quay's counsel had this to say:
'The fact Of the matter is that there Il
nothing whatever in the case. Our ex-
perts have examined the books and docu-
ments. They are mutilated. false and q
fraud upon their face. We are prepared
to prove conclusively that the entries Inn
plicating Senator Quay and his son were
made six months after the alleged con-
spiracy had been consummated. and the
fruits, II any, had been reaped. The COM
monwealth must admit this. Their own ex-
perts will testify to 1t. We are confident
hot to- i.,do ba N
day 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 dis
appointment at the delay, but Senator
Penrose made statement tonight In
which he says. among other things:
II am not surprised at the outcome Of
Senator Quay's case. Everyone who has
known the facts Of this controversy has
realized that the prosecution has been the
outcome Of one Of the most villanous po>
litical conspiracies ever entered into to
destroy public man.
"The conspiracy was conceived upon the
day when the Peoples bank failed. and
was carefully concocted SO that the prose-
cution could be brought to influence the
general election last November. Senator
Quay's political opponents have resorted to
this last attempt to destroy him as q pout-
ical leader in Pennsylvania There never
was anything in the case against him. and
l doubt whether any serious thought was
ever entertained that a conviction could
be secured. The political effect Of the
prosecution was the object in view. Had
he not been a candidate for reelection for
United States senator no one would ever
have thought of prosecuting him In con-
nection with the affairs OF the People 5
bank"
Rumors were afioat all day. one that the
trial had been postponed because of the
death OF Former State Treasurer Haywood.
which minimized the chances of Senator
Quay's conviction, and another, which
ber of the jury panel had informed the
district attorney OF an attempt at imper-
sonation.