The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-09-29
ILLS OF BRIBERY.
Accuses sheriff smith and At
torney Francisco.

The case agains, Charles Kratz,
the alleged boodler Of St. LOUIS,
was called in the circuit court in
Butler this (AIonday) afternoon. On
tie testimony Of DR.. Broome. the
psieian OF Kat1, thar ,he defend-
ant was unable to appear on ac-
count Of appendicitis, the trial was
continued until December u.
A sensation was sprung wien
Charles G.. Hunt. one of the Jury,
testified that bribery had been at
tempted among the jurymen by an
attorney for Kratz aud Joe Smith,
sheriff Of Bates county, He made
a long and detailed statement OF all
the conversation he bad bad with
reference 10 sitting on the Kraiz
jury and made affidavit to same. lie
says he was approached by Sheriff
Smith, who said to him; GLOW
would you like 10 be on the Kra,z
juryi say 10 you IS a brother(dont
mention this to anybody there is
going to be some money used dur.
ing this case. know they are
going to S it, and as long as it is
gong 70 be used / would like 20
see my friends get the benefit
oft"
Hunt testified there was no more
said that day, bur when he wss
again in town he was met by John
Francisco, an attorney for Kratz,
and called into his office, where
Francisco said; II presume you
understand we want TO beat this
case. The sheriff wants to zee il
beaten. Now, Of course, this Is be-
tween you aud me. don't want
il mentioned 20 ANYBODY, bui there
s going to be a little money spent
and We are gong to have enough
TO hang that jury. IL not enough to
clear the easr. The evidence viii
be saeh--irom The man that has
turned states evidence 10 save him-
self-that a person might easily de-
eide on . verde, OF not guilty With
out interfering With the feelings OF
his conscience at all. There will
be no big bills or checks passed tor
detection, aud there probably would
be Sa5 TO pay your expenses up
here ia ease you are scratched off.
Ii you are no, scratched of, bot re-
main on the jury. and 10 as agreed,
10 not receive less than Saoo. Is
t a goP"
Hunt said il was. lyon haye
not been summoned, " added Fran.
cisco, according TO Hunts story,
"and don't think il on, OF The way
in talking to you before you ara
summoned.
Hunt said be did not see any
more OF Smith tina, day.
Later he was told; II am going
TO ST. Louis next week or the week
alter, aud everything will be fixed
# you arc rot here any more before
the trial.
On eFoss.quesuoning, Hunt said
no summons had been formally
served aud all he received was in
the conversation with the sheriff,
when be was told he could consider
himself summoned.
Hun, said that occurred before his
talk with Mr Francisco. lie
further stated that he was notified
by Sheriff Smith through Mr..
Laney to be present to-day. Hunt
said he lived IN the country several
miles south OF Butler. He said he
bad not received any money, and
was not acquainted with any other
juror.
Afidavts were filed by the per-
sons implicated, denying The eharg-
es made by Hunt. A motion was
made by Jos. w, Folk to qu,sh the
jury. They were dismissed by
Judge Graves and told that they
would be called il they were want
ed in the case Dee. is.-Kansas
City Journal, Sept ~,