The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-06

A. unexpected development In the cele-
500 ease OF the United States against
s-.r,oI,ector of Customs Saunders yes
..sSsv was the dismissal. for the time be-
~ ~ least, OF the charge OF perjury
IA by United States Attorney Gay
sssinst william Eldridge, one OF Mr..
ssunders bondsmen and defendant in
The suit
" r,drIdge. who Is prosperous farmer
- pioneer OF Jefferson county, set up as
aefense to the suit that he had not
S~ned the collectors official bond and
49, bis signature was forgery. The
sv3dence to the contrary was at the trial
- strong that the federal authorities Inn
sediateiy after the rendition of verdict
ii favor OF the government proceeded
sexinst Eldrfdge for perjury
The perjury charge was TO nave been
"a before the United States grand jury
n Tacoma this week, but as matters now
Ssnd such action has been indefinitely
Sostponed and may never be taken. All
&pcnds upon the testimony Of a witness
10 Is now in the klondike and who did
~ appear at the trial OF the suit against
n ex-collector and his bondsmen. This
vitness Is r. l.. Terry. who Was one OF
~ witnesses to the disputed signature
ma who. II is claimed. by the. govern
nsrt, signed II for Eldridge, the latter be-
~ illiterate and unable TO write his
1ms.
Nature OF New Evidence.
Attorney A. w. Buddress, of Port
townsend. who represents Eldridge In the
ntiration and also In the criminal case,
now claims that he Will be able to prove
" Terrys testimony that Terry did not
Nm the bond for fcldridge Should his
claim be substantiated the status OF both
~ civil and criminal cases viii be ma
tefially altered.
day brought TO the attention of Judge
Hanford for the first time upon the hear
INK OF Attorney Buddress' motion for a
new trial In the suit on the bond. The
msnt deferred ruling on the motion and
ave the defendant. EldridRe, forty-two
days In which TO secure the deposition of
Terry at Dawson. In case the deposition
h 10 the effect that Attorney Buddress
claims 1t will be, the court will probably
grant new trial.
As a result of the courts action In or
tsring the deposition OF Terry taken In
The Yukon, United states Attorney Gay
consented to a dismissal OF the perjury
charge for the time being. Judge Han
ford took the position that the testi-
mony OF but one witness was rather slen-
DER ground upon which to base the pros
scution and intlmated that the criminal
charge had best be dropped until after
The deposition OF Terry should be re-
seived
M. Gay is not inclined to take much
stock In the stories which have come 60
~ Buddrcss' ears regarding statements
alleged to have been made out of court by
Terry. He says that at the trial the evil
dencc was undisputed that Terry, who
was Saunders deputy In the customs
house. had signed the bond ms witness tn
he signatures of most OF the bondsmen.
among them Eldridge. and had as . mat
~ Of fact attended 10 procuring the bond
ior his superior IN ONCE.
Mr.. Gay Not Alarmed.
Mr.. Gay does not think It probable
Tat Terry would have signed as wit
ness TO Eidridges signature without
moving whether II was genuine. He Is
cutie satisfied, however. 10 allow tho dis
nissal OF the perjury charge against Ed
ndse. He says that he IL sure that Ed
ridge has no intention OF leaving the
country and will abide by the result OF
M lawyers efforts to obtain new trial
b the civil suit.
Should the deposition of Terry prove
unsatisfactory TO the federal authorities
Eldridge will be rcarrested and brought
before the United States grand jury.
Attorney BuddreSs. II Will be remember
VI, became involved In considerable dim
Guilty during the trial OF the ctyil suit
against Saunders and was as result de-
barred from further representing the lat
Ter In the case. The courts order did not
however. extend 10 the defendant, Ed
ridge whom he stin continues to repre-
wnt
In another and Sless important sui,
against MIR. Saunders and hts bondsmen
Judge Hanford Yesterday signed judg-
msnt against j. c. Saunders O. T. Seal.
Hamilton and Richard De Lanty
tor N.4aa.at.