The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-17

BRIBERY
CASE IS UP
But Attorneys Secure Change
of Venue.
PROMINENT MEN PRESENT
Leasing of Indian Lands Cause
of trouble
PROMINENT MEN PRESENT

Perry 0. T. May 1s.-The famous case
of the United states vs.. Asa c. Sharp.
charged with accepting brides and solicit
ing brides, while Sharp was the agent
for the Ponca and Otoes and Missouri IN
dams, came I'D in the United States dis
trict court here this morning before
Judge B. T. Hainer. An array of legal
talent appeared in the case seldom
gathered ia an Oklahoma court, and in
cluded United States Attorney Horace
Speed and Assistant United States AttOr-
ney 3 :. Mcclure for the United States
and Henry W. Scott Of New York city,
and A G. c. Bierer Of Guthrie, both
( former justices Of the Oklahoma supreme
court and Judge Sam Harris, of this city,
for the defense.
The first movement in the case came Up
on a motion by attorneys for the defense
to have the journal entry corrected to
correspond with the clerks notes in re-
gard to the reason why and the suffi-
cheney Of the evidence for the excusing
by the court of certain grand Jurors from
the grand jury that returned the indict-
ment. The defense made the showing
and Judge Hainer allowed the corrections
TO be made. At this juncture the de-
tense asked for a continuance until 1870
p. m, for the purpose Of consultation
Judge Hainer allowed this
When court assembled after dinner the
defense fled motion for change of judge
claiming bias and prejudice. The trial
judge, who had all along manifested the
utmost spirit of fairness, granted the re-
quest and allowed the motion. It was
only a legal battle and the tactics Of the
defense seemed to be to pursue dilatory
plans, and to delay the case as long as
possible.
The history OF this case shows that
Asa c. Sharp was Indian agent for the
Ponca and otoe and Missouri Indians.
having been appointed to this position by
President Mckinley in July, 1897, to sue
coed J. P. Woolsey. the Democratic in
cumbent, Sharp was in Office less than
nine months, the scandal caused by the
charges in the present proceedings
against him causing him to be removed. |
He was charged with receiving a bride Of
$500 from an agent for Smith & Wither-
spoon, the conditions being that Sharp |
should use his influence as agent to Sc
cure a favorable lease to cattlemen and /
Ponca and Otoe and Missouri reserva-
tons to the extent of 153, 600 acres. It IL /
charged that after he received the 1880 |
Sharp discovered other parties who were |
willing to give him $500 for q lease on |
similar terms for this land, and that he |
went TO the first parties and attempted /
to make them pay the full $500. They /
refused and reported Sharp's action to
nF Ts-l-r
sent Special Agent Jenkins on and a full 1
and complete examination was made, I
which, when submitted 70 the Deem |
Der 1900. term Of the Noble county grand /
jury. resulted in indictment being found /
against Sharp, charging him with TAX /
ing, accepting and soliciting brides.
The complaint was sworn to and for !
warded to Baltimore, Nd, the home OF /
the defendant, where, on December Is, /
1900 he was arrested and bound over be- /
fore a United States commissioner in the !
sum of $4,000 to answer to the charges /
in the indictment before the United States !
district court here
Powerful influences are being brought /
to bare to save Sharp, who is connected !
with some of the most noted families IN /
Maryland His father-in-law, ex-senator /
Day, Of that state. who was formerly IN
dian agent under the Harrison admins
tration at the Darlington agency. Is here
and is leaving no stone unturned 70
prove his son-inJaw innocence. IT was
the first intention to have the case tried
before Judge John L. McAtee, but the
fact was unearthed and exploited through
the press that Judge McAtee came from
the same state as the defendant. and
owed his retention as judge in Okla
homa, Notwithstanding he is a Democrat,
10 the same political Influences as those
behind Sharp. and this fact caused Judge
NIeAtee to refuse to have anything TO do
with the case. The chief justice viii now
Investigate the Judge before whom the
case viii be tried.