New-York tribune., 1901-12-08
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
~ Effort TO UNCOVER A JURY BRIB-
r<G SYNDICATE-CONvEN OF
THE NATIONAL LIVE STOCK
ASSOCIATION

III Chicago and the West during the week
- dramatic presentation of the plans and
-,e,ations Of an alleged gigantic jury bribing
Indicate which has been at its work in Chi
..so for years and years. The story has been
.,Ia first by the States Attorney and later by
a+,esses in connection With the trial in the
criminal Court OF Alexander Sullivan. indicted
so- conspiracy to defeat the administration OF
.ustice in urging man to fee the city because
;, was about to be tried for bribing jurors
ruring the last three or four years there have
-,ssn r7Irnblings and whisperings and hints that
.,s street railway companies and other corpora
.a,-s were reaping benefits from some one Jug
ssns the courts. These hare been spasmodic
s,d have caused only temporary sensations
ant never before have the charges been laid
ort SO boldly, never before has the story been
an completely told, and until now has
CIV one but the so-called small fry been brought
"a trial. James ]. Lynch. formerly a court
hsil.f is the star IN the cast which the States
attorney has put into this intense drama. His
s-ory Of midnight meetings with Alexander Sui
pvan OF candestine visits by alleged Sullivan
agents Of his fear for his life when in the pres
ence Of this alleged arch conspirator,' Of the
money paid TO the bailiff and his family while
the former was sojourning in Canada and other
nlaces where the hand OF the law could not be
la,d upon hirn-these form the plot. 1t was first
a
States Attorney Barnes. Hundreds jamrned
their way into the courtroom to listen TO the
recital. and more were detained outside for
lack of room. Newspapers published pages with
-be speech and the testimony Of Lynch given
verbatim until every person in this Middle
West who reads knows the details Of the con-
spiracy
The story told in court covers the period when
Alexander Sullivan was the trial attorney Tor
the West Chicago Railway Company. Lynch
declares this man taught him all he knew or
the Jury bribing business. And Lynch says he
WAS a success at it. How to array religious
prejudices against one another. how TO test a
doubtful Juror how to offer money and how to
nav oyer the cash-these and similar minor
details LYNCH saws Sullivan explained to him
about three wears ago. and these means Lynch
saws he employed exclusively to produce dis
agreements Of juries and frequently the release
NJ the company from the consequences Of dam
age suits.
In ali this court testimony Alexander Sullivan
is proclaimed the directing genius Of this par
ticular group involved IN the present case. An
other lawyer, a doctor, several saIoonheepers'
q former alderman, detective for one OF the
traction companies and several minor charac-
rers have become parties to the trial Most or
these men have large circles Of acGuaintances-
Nearly all have been conspicuous as politicians
In varying degrees. And every man. woman
and child in this section has heard Of Alexander
Sullivan His name was connected by the courts
with the famous murder Of DR.. Cronln. lot
which Dan" Coughlin served brief term In the
State penitentiary before he secured MS free-
dom by a new trial. Coughlin is now fugitive
from Justice his traces evidently covered up
He IS under Indictment for jury
bribing Sullivan is regarded as one Of the most
brilliant men who ever made fortune IN the
West. Years ago he appointed collector
o4 -ba nor- AT Santa Fe N N. The Senate did
rot confirm the appointment, and he secured
the secretaryship to the Governor Of the terri
torv. Subsequently he started a newspaper
there and as the climax to quarrei IN WHICH
g man was shot. returned to Chicago ana mar
riad Margaret Buchanan then school teacner
IN Detroit. and later famed one Of the most
brilliant newspaper writers in the world
The Chicago school board became involved IN
the issue "of the Bible in public schools As
2 feature of il Superintendent Hahlofo u 'iie
r,,blfc schools wrote a letter in which he con-
nected Mrs Sullivan and Mayor GOWN III ah
,naaejra ble way Sullivan and his wife drove
80 - t4anford's house, and it is said Mrs
c,,115,-ar was SLAPPED in a fight which followed
However sullivan shot Eanford and was trleo
for murder In the first trial the jury ols-
spr4e5. in the second Sullivan was acquit'eu,
Justice McAlHster. the Nesfor OF the oei1on %
Illinois at the time, making charge - IN
Jury which became celebrated ..-x
Si1llivan's leadership in Irish soclet1eS i0t
wears made him factor in State ana hallOiio-
nol51ics He was the friend and cIalIneo 'i
friendship Of James G. Blaine until the laiiioUs
utterance by Burchard Of Rum, hoinahlSl anu
Rebellion" If Sullivan should be conVlc'eu
and States Attorney Deneen is bendlhS every
effort Of his Office to this end-it is SAID that le
uneartning Of still further consplracles OF d slit
liar na+1,re will follow, and that in the ehd the
court practices in this county and State VIII De
cleared Of Illicit entanglements
Time has been and often, when indlVlouai
stcckrlen and ranchren have come 10 Chlcdso
to fall into the hands Of the bunco sleefels-
This week is the first time, however, SO lhey
NOW onenly declare. when the great army OF
Westerners from the ranches and plains nave
been taken in in a bunch" Yet that Is "hat
they declare has been done to them on the ocC"-
sion ~ this the annual convention OF the Nd
ooaal Live Stock Association They say chi
eaeo is cheating them after making all sorts OF
.n6ucenoents for them to hold their annual con-
claxe in this city.
For years back these men. with their bundles
Q. rnonez have met in such cities as Z OFT
Worth Kansas City. Denver, and have hao the
keys TO each promptly turned over TO 1heih
Now, SO they say and say boldly, Ch.caso Is
"sneaking our of its share of the entertain
nient. and they don't care who knows theS
knew il" Ten thousand ''plainsmen" have come
L the city for the convention This is heIo III
the downtown district Meanwhile, out IN the
stockyards a su!endid exposition of live stock Is