The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-10-14
mr.. BAKER TALKED
And Council Talked Back While
Gallery Cheered.
Warm Time at the Special Meeting Of
Council Last Night = Councilmen
Said Near Things to Attorney--AII
About Chief Prices Trial-Mr. Bak-
er's statement.


er's statement.
From Saturdays Daily.
When Captain SiIas Hare came
down this morning to begin his days
work in the little room where the
City Council meets, the smoke of
battle still hung over the Council
table. He had to get broom and
shovel to clear away the debris, he
fore he could get to his desk. He
sprinkled little water on the floor
to cool the place off, opened the
doors and windows, and in an hour
or two, had the room in hsbitable
condition.
Friday night wss set tor the trial
of Chief Price. Everybody knew
the time and place, and about 100 of
the petitioner" and others were on
hand. Now, Council had appointed
a committee to formulate plan of
procedure, and had given them the
power to act. They had acted. mo
public trial, stretching over two or
three days" said the committee,
"but quiet consideration in an
hour or two of the evidence contain
ed in IL affidavits, submitted, six by
each side, and a verdict on the
merits of the case as therein set
forth"
The Council was probably salts
fed with this method of procedure.
George Baker was not, and went up
to have it changed. He is attorney
for the petitioners against Price.
He was paid to talk, he said, and
was bent on giving his clients their
moneys worth He made speech,
interrupted somewhat by applause
from the galleries and comments by
the members of Council.
Mr.. Baker told them they were
trying to keep the Price affair under
cover and were not very enthusi-
astic in seeing that justice was done.
They were afraid to have the affair
aired before the public, in open
court.
OF course the council didn't relish
these charges. The Mayor said
"Mr. Baker, whatever time / spend
listening to you on this case, / will
consider lost from my life
II am paid to talk" retorted the
attorney, and the gallery appiauded.
"There is John E. Price, an uncle OF
the defendant said Mr.. Baker,
"but l know John will not vote to
have this matter decided in secret.
He Is too honest and fair man."
The said John is probably all of
this, but he couldn't stand for
blarney.
Don't try to flatter me, George"
he said, sit don't count with me. l
know you, and your blarney don't
make any difference"
Mr.. Moorhead said. Il believe l
/ was a little in favor OF an open
trial, but I'm thoroughly dis
gusted with this proceeding, and
am becoming convinced that the
committees plan is the BEST
Councilman Demoss, Recorder Sis
Ter, Attorney Beall and others took
whirl at Mr.. Baker, and are still
Expressing themselves pretty freely
ahis morning. They consider Mr..
Bakers speech an attack on the city
government.
They take the position that they
gave the committe, Messrs. McGrew,
Sisler and Beall, power to act, and
cannot very we'll turn their report
down. Mr.. Bakers speech should
have been made to the committee,
they say. The demonstrations from
the crowd last night are taken as
evidence of the wisdom of the com
mittee's action.
The meeting of council last night
was a special session, called to try
Chief Price, and no other business
could be transacted. The whole
matter went over until Monday
night
Only six of the eleven members of
council were present last night.
They were McGrew. Sisler, Price,
Demoss, Wade and Moorhead.
In a statement today Mr.. Baker
says:
"This action OF this committee of
three reversed the order of Council
granting an open and public trial of
the case as was contemplated by the
first order Of the City Council, because
the case was continued on the motion
of the defendant, Price, for the reason
that witness for Mr.. Price could not
be present and testify before the Coun-
Gil on night, the End of October, 1903.
1t would certainly be an unheard of
proceeding to try public officer Oh a
criminal charge against him, without
an open public trial, and contrary to
the express provisions of the Constitu-
tion which guarantees to every citizen
a public trial, with the right to face
his accusers. 1t would be likewese
unjust to Mr.. Bloom.
A pubic trial is in accordance with
our we'll established law and the con.
stitution made by the people. No in
Justice can be done to Chief Price and
great wrong might be done to him If
it is NOT given.
Mr.. Bloom, by his attorneys, de-
mands it. The council contemplated
this when it granted Mr.. Price con-
tinuance for week, when his witness
could not come before the city offlc-
ials
The attorneys for the injured man
appeared before Council last evening
and presented these matters, protest.
ing against the action of the commit
tee which would exclude a trial in the
regular way. They asked that the
witnesses be examined and their testi-
mony weighed in the presence of the
city Officially, publicly heard.
Attorneys for the prosecution con-
sented that council might limit the
hearing to any reasonable length Of
time in the investigation and also
limit the snppchas of tho attorpoyo' n