The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-22

Councilman James j. Grier, charged
with bribery by the Municipal league,
was all IN when court adjourned on
Saturday afternoon, but no night ses-
sion was held. as was expected. Court
will open this morning at $40 and 1t
Is expected that the arguments Of
counsel and charge Of the court will
consume about six hours
1t has been one Of the longest crimi-
nal trials in the history of Lacka-
wanna county, 1t having consumed the
attention of the court since last Tues
day morning.
Saturday was devoted principally TO
the hearing of character witnesses for
the defendant and additional evidence
corroborative Of Grier's testimony re-
garding the showing of Harris letter
in Lotus drug store and the an
nouncement by him (Grier) that he
was going to trap the detective and
the showing later on Of the $40 received
from Harris.
John ]. LOTUS was the first witness.
He said he heard Grier tell Carl Nc
Kinney that he had received q letter
from Harris and that he was going to
trap him. Later Grier returned with
$40, which he showed witness and
Coleman, Calpin, Mckinney and Ly-
mott.
LYNOTT ON THE STAND.
William Lynott, clerk of common
council, was next examined. He cor
roborated the testimony of the other
witnesses regarding the meeting in the
drug store. Attorney NJ. A. Mckinley
testified to the fact that Grier came
to him and. after telling him of his
acceptance Of the $40 from Harris, gave
him the two bills to keep for use in
the future, when Grier intended to
prosecute Harris. Witness put the
money in an envelope and kept it till
the trial.
Carl W. Mckinney was next called,
but was not on hand and Mayor Moir,
the next witness, accordingly took the
stand. The mayor testified to the fact
that Select Councilman Coyne and eX-
Select Councilman H. r. Fellows came
to his tailor shop on the evening Of
May /. Fellows told of Harris seduc-
ing councilmen to accept bribes to vote
for an amendment to the license tax
ordinance, and wanted to have Detec-
tive Moir, the mayors son, arrest him.
The mayor said he told Fellows that
if Harris was Offering money some Of
the councilmen should accept it, mark
it and place it in the hands OF an at
torney as evidence of bribery. This
was after the reorganization of coun-
ellis.
Postmaster Z. II. Ripple was the first
Of the character witnesses. He said
he had known Grier for fifteen years
and had never heard his official acts
discussed before this case. Mr.. New
comb asked the witness if he had
heard that when the telephone ordin-
ance was pending combination Of
councilmen had met together and had
kept messengers running back and
forth from the two telephone COM
panies carrying bids. and whether he
knew Grier was one Of this combina-
ton. Witness said he had never heard
Of arers name being mentioned in
such a connection, but had heard Of
strife between the two companies.
HIS REPUTATION GOOD.
City Solicitor Vosburg was next
sworn and said he had never heard
anything refecting on Grier's public
life prior to his arrest. EX-MayOr w.
l.. Connell followed Mr.. Vosburg. He
said he had known Grier between
twelve and fifteen years and always
knew him as an honest man. Mr.. New
comb asked him II he had ever heard
any rumors impugning Grier's official
honesty, and the eX-mayor replied:
II have such confidence in Mr.. Grier
that even If I heard such rumors I
wouldn't believe them.'
City Treasurer Robinson, Senator j.
c. Vaughan, Warden w. T. Simpson,
eX-City Treasurer G. G.. Boland and
eX-MayOr j. Fl. Fellows We're next ex-
amined and all testified as to their
belief in Mr.. Grier's honesty Mr..
Newcomb asked each of these a num-
ber of insinuating questions regarding
Mr.. Grier's public life, but failed to
shake their testimony.
The other character witnesses ex-
amined We're the following: County
Commissioner ]. y. Durkin, d. j.
Campbell, d. ]. Reedy, r. j. Beamish,
B. f. Ackerly. County Commissioners
Clerk John p. Mahon, r. ]. Murray,
Select Councilman John ]. Costello
Permanent Man James Hopkins, OF
the Cumberland Hose company; p. i.
I.ynott, John Walsh, John Decker,
Joseph Evans, James Flynn, Thomas
Boylan, John Jennings. John J. Kear-
ney, William Hopkins, John c. Moran
and Patrick Nolan.
HARRIS RECALLED.
Detective Harris was recalled for re-
buttal during the afternoon. He said
he gaya Councilman CnIanap s1OO ~,