Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-11-19
a SENSATIONAL TRIAL.
Ex- State Senator John II. HOlbrooh
Is Charged with Bribery at Lansing.
Mich.-A Military KOard Scandal.


Lansing, Mich, Nov. IA jury
was secured Wednesday for the trial
of eX-State Senator John Holbrook,
charged with bribery in connection
with the acquittal OF Col. Eli Sutton,
eX-member of the state military
board and eX-regent of the State uni
versity, who was charged with being
implicated in $4,000 fraud prac-
ticed on the state of Michigan in con-
nection with supplies for the state
troops during the Cuban war.
In his opening address for the pco-
pie, Prosecutor Tuttle said it would
be shown that when grand jury
was called to investigate the military
board scandal suit it was arranged
with Holbrook to employ a detective
to watch the movements of the pre-
siding judge, also that Holbrook ar
ranged with Alderman William II.
Mckale, who was member of the
grand jury, to keep him constantly
informed as to what was going on in
the jury room.
The people further charge that
Holbrook arranged with ex-Sheritr
Porter, eX-Deputy Sheriff Carl
Loomis and eX-Chief of Police San
of Sutton's trial, to aid in preventing
conviction. 1t is alleged that after
the original panel of jurymen had
been exhausted and the sheriff had
been ordered by the court to sum
mon talesmen, Porter told Sutton he
would subpoena any six men sutton
would name. 1t is charged that this
list was prepared by Holbrook at
Sutton's request and that five of the
persons named were summoned to
serve as jurors. One of these, it is
alleged. was Arthur II. Phillips. to
whom it is charged Holbrook offered
$500 if he would stay on the jury
and vote for acquittal.
Lansing. Mich, Nov. 14.-Col. Eli K.
sutton, former member OF the state
military board and regent of the
state university, on Friday resumed
his testimony for the people in the
trial of eX-StatC Senator John Iol-
brook, on the charge of attempting
to bribe a juror in Sutton's inter
est when the latter was on trial for
completely in the state military
clothing frauds. Sutton's testimony
bore out the statements made by
Prosecuting Attorney Tuttie in his
opening address, describing the
means which Sutton used to place
persons favorable to his interests on
the jury that tried him, and the man
ner in which he kept posted on the
doings of the grand jury that indict-
ed him.
The witness said that Sheriff Por-
ter called on him in Detroit before
his trial and complained that he was
poorly paid by the county and said
he would be glad to do any special
work Sutton might have in connec-
ton with his coming trial. After the
trial commenced and the talesmen
were ordered drawn, Sutton testified,
Sheriff Porter offered to draw any
six men that Sutton might name. AZ
ter a conference with HolbroOk,
list was prepared and given to the
sheriff, who summoned those named
and at least two Of them sat on the
jury.
During the trial. the witness said,
Chief of Police Sanford assured him
that he had been in the jury room
and learned that at least one juror
would vote for acquittal. Deputy
Sheriff LoomiS, one of the officers in
charge of the Sutton jury, answered
a summons to the jury room, after
the jury had been deliberating on
Sutton's case and told the witness
that the jury had voted to acquit.
This was II minutes before the jury
came into court to announce its YER
diet. After his acquittal, Holbrooli
told the witness that he would have
to have money to pay Loomis, San
ford and Detective Abels for their
services.