Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-07-27
The Bridge Case.

The Beaver county bridge case, the
one regarding damages for taking the
private bridge over the Ohio river at
Rochester, was given to the jury of
clever. last Friday afternoon, and the
jury retired to their room.
Here one of the most remarkable
battles ever fought in this county s
court house began, and continued all
night-none of the jurymen getting any
sleep. excepting few minutes towards
morning. The jury promptly divided
into two factions one fayoring giving
the Bridge Co. all, or nearly all, it ask
ed, $3.50, 600; and the other favoring CIV
ing the Company about $500, 900, for
which sum, or less, the bridge could be
replaced, today. They compromised
next day on $2s7, ,29O.53.
Rumors of graft or outside work
regarding the verdict promptly spread
over the town, all seemingly founded ON
the allegation of one juror that he was
offered $500 to keep the verdict over or
above the $500, 900 mark and the matter
will, probably, be investigated in the
Criminal Court
Attorney D. A. Nelson Of Beaver, and
one of the Counsel for that county, said
upon his return to that town, that an
effort had been Enearthed to tamper
with the Jury. ''This case was carried
over to Butler county on change OF
venue because everybody in Beaver
county was interested. The bridge was
condemned nearly year ago IN an Ell
fort to have it free and the damages
awarded were 1904, 900.
On Saturday damages OF $2S7, ,290
were awarded, and from this an appeal
Will be taken. The bridge is between
Rochester and Monaco. Two weeks
ago Rochester man was observed IN
Butler talking to a juryman, Mr.. Mel
son said, and this man was shadowed.
A detective was employed by Mr.. Mel
son to go to the juror to whom the
Rochester man was seen talking. The
Juror at first denied having been ap-
preached, but The detective put up such
a strong bluff that he won out
well. if you know so much about
it." responded the juror. maybe you
can tell what he offered"
Five hundred dollars, was the terse
reply, made on bluff, however.
..You hit it right" admitted the
Juror, who, thinking his action was full
ly known, told everything, but asked
the detective TO wait until after the
trial ended. Saturday the suspected
Juror came to Nelson's man and told
him everything, but declaring that he
had kept himself clear of the whole at
tempt to bride The juror said:
Several other men on the jury were
approached. When Mr.. Nelson in his
argument Saturday told the jury that
he knew of an attempt to influence the
Jury several men ON it were SO very
much perturbed that they discussed the
matter in the jury room and swore each
other to secrecy.
While the damages were cut down
the commissioners of Beaver county
still think they are excessive.
Tampering with jury is no joke. Ii
any members of that jury went home
with Beaver county money in their
pockets they should be in the penitenti-
ary, with the men who gave it To them.
OKLAHOMA and Indian Territory are
taking earnest measures to push their
claim for statehood before the next
Congress. They base their application
on the ground of right, in that they
have attained the stage Of population
and development that qualities them to
be States. Few people will dispute the
truthfulness of that claim.
Yet there are strong indications that
the well-founded desire expressed by
the convention at Oklahoma City last
week will be hampered by the same po-
litical maneuvers as last winter. 1t is
indisputable that the application of a
territory for admission as State should
be decided on the merits of that single
case. If Oklahoma shows tho Psrma-
nent progress that qualities it to be a
State it should be admitted. If Arizo-
ma or New Mexico lacks the qualifica-
tinr II rhonId NOT -Ex