The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-28

Inc hearing In the case of Common
councilman f. J. Coleman, Sarnu I
Bluestine. Henry Wilson and Anthony
Scott, all of the Sixteenth ward, tool,
place in Alderman Myers office In
North Scranton last evening" and re.
suited in all four defendants being ac.
quilted Of the charge of bribery ut :he
last election, preferred by Detective Ike
Seidman.
Before the hearing was over several
spirited tilts took place between Detec.
tive Seidman and the various dc fend.
ants. which eliminated in Councilman
Coleman being finally sworn as a wit.
ness, at his own request, and then
breaking out as follows
This whole case. alderman, is moth
ing but blackmail. Sunday Seidmar
came into my house three times. and
on one occasion told me that if / would
pay note he owed Wade Finn, he
would destroy the warrants and dror
the case. He had been dogging me and
bOthering me for good while, and
simply turned him down. He was sore
on me and took this means of satisfy.
ing his grudge."
Detective Seidman denied this utter,
ly. and branded all said as false. H.
had been actuated by no such motives
and launched into a debate with Cole.
man, which grew so hot that the alder
man reDrimanded both, and then dis
charged the case on account of lack oi
evidence produced.
EFFORT a FAILURE.
Seidman's promised purifying OF
Sixteenth ward politics" was a failure
his witnesses testfying nothing in his
favor and his own evidence not being
strong enough to hold the defendants
The case wound up amid laughter and
hoots. Seidman claimed that his case
was badly injured by the non appear.
ance of Harry Newman, a barber, and
his star witness. When the constable
subpOenaed the various witnesses hi
was unable to find Newman, and to thi,
Seidman practically attributed his
paucity of condemning evidence, a.
Newman, he said, was man he has
overheard making a deal with Coleman
for the handling of the colored vote II
the interest of Coleman.
At s o'clock Alderman Myers Office
was crowded with defendants. wit
nesses and spectators. Attorney T.. c
Newcomb represented the defense, Will,
Detective Seidman conducted his sidt
OF the case alone and unaided.
]. H. Flack, of Oil Capouse avenue
was the first witness called, and testi
fled that last Tuesday he was working
for Coleman at the polling booths ant
In return for his services was paid 50
He had not attempted to bribe or force
anyone to vote for Coleman, but ha1
merely heen booming his chances. Or
being asked whether any other money
had been promised him for his work
Attorney Newcomb objected to the
question as leading. and after much
debate the alderman sustained the OBJ.
lection.
Seidman's strong point here consisted
In the fact that Flack. though living
in the Seventh ward, had devoted his
time to working in the Sixteenth ward
for Coleman, but the alderman decided
that as long as it was not shown that
Flack had attempted to intimidate OF
bribe voters the fact of his simply
booming Coleman's chances was OF
little consequence.
Herman Maginskey, Of Penn avenue
was then sworn. but beyond the fact
that he had been seen with and had
nothing was ELECTED.
SEIDMAN ON THE STAND.
Seidman then asked to be sworn. and
under oath stated that when he was al
the polls Coleman came up to him and
asked him to work for him. promising
to pay him if he would. Seidman. how
ever. answered that he was working
for Fuller, the Republican nominee. and
wouldn't accept any money. AT this
juncture someone in the crowd guf-
fawed, and Attorney Newcomb gently
asked Seidman why he didn't take the
money.
Because didn't want to be bribed,'
was the detectives righteous answer
and the crowd broke into a big roar OF
laughter which caused the ti.nbers to
shake.
after the election" said Seidman
Coleman told me himself that he had
given Maginskey 81 to vote for him."
James j. Callahan. the next witness
called. was one of the judges Of elec-
tion in the First district. On examin-
alton, he said that Coleman had gone
into the booths with various incom-
petent voters, at their own request, to
fill out the sheets for them.
This was the last witness called, and
after Councilman Coleman had made
the volcanic remarks referred to abova
the case was discharged, but not before
another of the defendants had INDUCED
in a shot at the unfortunate prose-
cutor.
Seidman stated that he had seen Will
son giving money to Bluestine at the
booths. Just as he said this Bluestine
rushed eXcitedly from out of the crow
and frantically yelled: You're a -
liar!" He continued to shout at Seld-
man. and there was considerable con,
fusion before the alderman could Sc