Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-02-27
THE INDICTMENT
WAS QUASHED
In the Case of Commonwealth VS.. William
L. Gouger.

February court convened Monday
forenoon. r. R. Little, President Judge,
and Frank Blee, associate, occupied the
bench.
The constables made their returns,
none reporting any neglect or violation
of law. Davis A. Stefin was appointed
tip staff to wait upon the grand jury
and Joseph Acor and Thomas Bailey for
the court William Deutsch was sworn
in as foreman Of the grand jury.
The case Of Commonwealth VS.. Will
lam L. Gouger, in which the charge is
bribery and attempted bribery, was call
ed for trial Monday afternoon. James
Scarlet with District Attorney Welsh
represents the commonwealth and Hon.
II. NJ. Hinckley and Edward S. Gear
hart, the defense. Over an hour was
consumed in selecting a jury. Each
juror was placed under oath and sub
mitted to questions to ascertain his com
potency to sit on the case. TWENTY-FIVE
men We're called, the following twelve
being selected out Of the number: Charles
Connolly, Harrison c. Diehl. Frank
Rowe, George J. Cotner, John Mcclure,
Amos Johnson, Thomas Welliver, Miles
Fansworth, Isaac Moser. William Nc
Donald, Bryan c. Dennen and Eugene
Meyer.
Before the jury was sworn Edward S.
Gearhart moved to quash the indict-
ment and in an hours speech set forth
his reasons. He based his contention in
part on the fact that the office of County
Chairman, for which the defendant was
candidate, has no statutory or legal
existence, that in the Act of Assembly
of 81 he finds no provision relating to
the office of County Chairman. The
provisions there relate to Offices candid
ates for which are voted for at the cleo
ton. The County Chairman, he held,is
not voted for at the election but by the
delegates in the convention. Therefore,
he claimed, the Office was not contemplate
ed by the act Of 1881.
True bills We're returned by the grand
jury in the cases of Commonwealth VS..
Joseph H. Gulick and Commonwealth
VS.. Charles Heimbach
TUESDAYS SESSION.
The indictment was quashed in the
case of Commonwealth vs.. William L.
Gouger the charge being bribery and
attempted bribery. Mr.. Scarlet made a
lengthy speech Tuesday morning in
defense of the validity of the indict-
ment. He was followed in rebuttal by
Hon. H. NJ. Hinckley, who occupied an
hour in the afternoon. Mr.. Gouger
was held in bail to be on hand at next
term Of court, if wanted.
Joseph Gulick of Mooresburg, ar
rested on the 18th inst for chicken steal
ing, was found guilty and sentenced to
six month 5 imprisonment in the county
Jail.
The prosecutor in this case was Will
lam SimingtOn, farmer residing near
Mooresburg. Chickens We're stolen from
his premises on the night of the 14th
inst. Foot prints accompanied by marks
of blood were traced in roundabout
way from Mr.. Simington s barn to the
premises owned by Mrs Catharine Shires
in Mooresburg where the defendant
resides. Mr.. Simington' evidence was
corroborated by Cyrus Bowers and J. c.
Dietrich. Jonathan Stahl and Jacob
Klash also testified for the Common
wealth.
In the case of Commonwealth vs.
Philip Lee, the grand jury ignored the
bill and put the cost upon the prosecut.
or, the D. L. & w railroad company.
On the strength of petition presented
by the citizens Isaiah Nought was ap-
pointed supervisor of Mayberry town
ship.
The case of Commonwealth VS.. Francis
Woll was continued, owing to the fact
that James Quinn, one of the most i'm
portant witnesses, could not be found.
The case of James Frazier VS.. p. c.
Newbaker was also continued. In the
case of Commonwealth VS.. Thomas
Trainor a mol pros. was entered.
Naturalization papers were granted
to George Schneider, Anthony Jarocy
and Carl Sudol.
The case of Commonwealth vs.. Clark
Heimbach went on trial Tuesday after
noon. The prosecutrix in the case is
Anna Knarr of COOnar towns shin