Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-28

JUST BEFORE TIME TO CALL
THE CASE-ROTHERMEL HAD
CONSULTED JUDGE BEITLER
BEFORE MOVING A POSTPONE
MENT, AND NO ARGUMENT OR
EXPLANATION IN COURT WAS
NECESSARY.
Philadelphia, Pa, February 2T-Po-
litical circles were shaken to the center
by the unexpected postponement of the
Quay trial to-day and there is specula-
ton in every quarter as to the causes
which brought it 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 Rothermel
arose and asked Judge Better to post
pone the trial, because the common
wealth was not ready" AS soon as
the sensation caused by this announce
ment had subsidized, Messrs. Shields and
Shapeley, counsel for Senator Quay
and his son, put in vigorous protest
against further delay, but the court
granted the request and fixed April 10th
for the trial.
When questioned afterwards, the
District Attorney declined to give any
reason for the pOstponement. but adj
ded that he submitted the entire sub
ject to Judge Better before making the
application and the Judge had approx
ed the reasons. He added significantly
that the postponement was duty to
the commonwealth.
Senator Quay's 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
entries duplicating Senator Quay and
his son were made six months after
the alleged conspiracy had been con-
summated, 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 to-day who
would not. under the evidence avail
able, order the jury to acquit."
Senator Quay declined to say any
thing about the case except to express
his disappointment at the delay.
The Evening Bulletin says:
mo sooner had the postponement
been made known than it was declared
by high authority that the cause for
hating the case was an astounding
discovery affecting the jury panel
Officials in the district attorneys Office
declined to discuss this beyond stat
ing that there was only one reason why
the trial should not 90 on. the prose-
cution being entirely in readiness TO
proceed. Rumor had ii that a case Of
impersonation had been detected but
concerning this no definite informa-
ton was obtainable.
AAttE tDAl y dI lOA4A llENA MI lA0hAtAA
mel said in reply to an interrogation:
While ! will say nothing whatever
about the cause which induced me to
continue the case except what | said
IN court, / can state that the entire
subject was submitted to Judge Better
and approved by him before made
the application for postponement'
Upon the question Of tampering
with the jury the district attorney
made a most significant utterance in
court ayowing that the postponement
was a duty to the Commonwealth. Be
yond that he refused TO speak. save 10
say that it would be unwise to give
his reason at present Judge Better
had been informed Of IT, and that SUI
feed. His manner and his words con-
yeyed the idea that proceedings are
likely to grow out Of the discovery, and
that no disclosure could be made in
advance Of the steps that the Com
monwealth might take. I will not
say anything about the jury panel he
said finally"
Harrisburg, Pa, February 27.-The
postponement OF the trial Of Senator
Quay created a sensation among the
legislators and politicians Of Harris
burg. Capt. James ". Clarke, who is
in charge at the Quay headquarters,
says it is an outrage. he claims that
Senator Quay was ready and anxious
to go ahead with the trial, and that
his friends had every assurance that
be would be honorably acquitted. Sen
at0r Meredith. a strong Quay man, says
the postponement means the election
Of Senator Quay this week. Senator
McCarrell, another Quayite, Is certain
his jury bill viii become a Law before
the time fixed for the trial. Capt.
William Hasson. one Of the House
Democratic leaders. is confident Dis
trict Attorney Rothermel had good
reasons TO ask that the case go over.
and says the postponement will have
no effect on the Senatorial deadlock.