The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-31
LAST COURT SESSION.
tconunued from First Page, ,

which the whiskey Brennan drank was
taken. Mr.. Brumm then argued that the court
made a mistake in allowing witnesses on
ross-examination to express their opinion as
10 good character. He averred that the
courts ruling prevented the defense from
showing that Brennan, in pursuance Of his
duties as a constable, and in self defense,
had billed the man Morrissey and had re-
pei ed attacks made upon him by others. He
said the way the District Attorney had qurs-
TONED witnesses as TO Brennan having billed
Morrissey and Farrell and Frank Kenna was
unfair and the questions were hypothecated
and, further, that not only was that pieiu-
dice ordinary, but il would have influenced
a jury composed Of lawyers. He continued
that the better the witness the more difficult
it was TO make him grasp the importance Of
keeping back his opinion Of the circumstances
and he believed the jury was uniustly in
fueuced by this line Of questioning
In conclusion Mr. Brumm said "The case
for a new trial would be a mere bagatelle
compared with the importance Of this case 10
all concerned It is but humane TO err.
justice may err, and even District Attorneys
may err"
District Attorney Bechtel followed Mr..
by the latter, frequently citing cases sustain
ing the course adopted by the prosecution in
the trial Of the case, and the rulings Of the
court
Judge Becbtel on the point relative to the
special jurymen, read decision to the effect
that the exclusion Of juryman does not
effect a case. The only result, in his opinion.
Of not requiring a challenge as to the juror
Zehner would have been that the defense
would have had in reserve at the time Of
going to trial. just one more challenge than
they had
The court reserved its decision. 1t will
probably be announced at the next session,
on the first Monday Of September, TO which
time court vas adjourned.
THE BOND ISSUE.
Judge Mari this morning continued the
hearing on the issue of s17s, 600 county bonds
which is being objected to by the Taxpayers
Association. Major John f. Finney was
called to the stand. He testified in answer
to questions put by Mr.. Schalck that he him
self, William Wilhelm and Broker Jones, the
latter from Philadelphia, had enjoyed a
champagne supper last summer when the
discussion of the first issue of bonds was un-
der way. He did not remember anything
interested in bringing about the issue. He
said they had also been at Zimmerman's and
Nichter's cafe, and at neither places was
there any discussion as to offer of money
His recollection on the bond issue wss very
poor.
Joseph II. Nichter was next put on the
stand. He said that last summer an unknown
man from Philadelphia called at his place of
business and told him to offer Harry o.
Bechtel, the present County Solicitor, the
sum of S40O to write an opinion favorable to
the bond issue. This, he said, was all he
knew of the bond issue and did not seem to
remember much about the proceedings.
Commissioners Stauffer and Kantner testi-
fed as to the bond issue. Both testified that
no one approached them in reference to
money consideration in the event of the deal
being made. 1t was shown that the supposed
$4,000 offer was talked of after the Com
missioners had rejected the proposition of
Jones & Co.
Charles A. Snyder the former Controller,
stated that he first heard of the $4,000 offer
from either Harry o Bechtel or Joseph
Nichter at present candidate for Recorder,
and that the first intimation he had was after
the Commissioners decided not to issue the
bonds to Jones & Co.