The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-12-15
COURT TOMORROW.
And Next Week-Argument on Liquor
Cases Expected in the Morning.

And Next Week-Argument on Liquor
Cases Expected in the Morning.
There is a prospect of argument
in the Corvallis liquor cases at nine
O'Clock tomorrow morning before
Judge Harris at the court house.
The term of court that was adjourn
ed three weeks ago will convene at
that time, and in a letter to County
Clerk Moses, Judge Harris requests
that attorneys in the liquor cases
be notified that any motions or de-
murrers they have to offer may be
argued at that time. It is known
that the defense contemplates max
ing a motion for a change of venue
so that the trials may be had in
another county. Lawyer Fred
Weatherford spent the better part
of two weeks securing afhdavits to
be used in an effort to get such
a change of venue. A number Of
people signed the afidavits, and
many persons who were interview
ed on the subject, declined to do
so, In the affidavit the statement
is understood to be made that the
defendants cannot get a fair deal
in Benton county. Those who sign
the affidavit not only make the
statement, but they have to swear
to it. Since jurors take a solemn
oath to try cases according to the
law and evidence, and since in the
examination before being accepted
they again so1emnly aver that
they can give the accused a fair
trial. the effect Of the afidavits the
attorneys will present will be to say
that Benton county jurors would
perjure themselves in order to con-
vict the defendants in the liquor
cases. 1t is a statement SO broad
that there will probably be some
curiosity as to the afhdavits. The
latter will probably be filed in the
court tomorrow morning.
The jury for the coming term of
court is to be on hands at nine
o'clock Monday morning, which is
the time set for beginning the trials
of the liquor ases. It is under
stood that the hearing of the latter
will be practically all the business
to come before Judge Harris at this
term. The trials, so far as the
state is concerned, will be in the
hands of District Attorney Bryson,
with whom Judge McFadden is to
be associated. District Attorney
Brown will not be present on ac-
count Of the pressure of business in
the southern part of the district.
There is very little interest To-
cal1y in the liquor trials, Origin
ally there was some interest in the
cases, because when Mike Kline
came to town and said that he
could run a club here and dispense
liquor at will, the local option law
to the contrary Notwithstanding,
the proposition struck the people
as curious, and curious things al
ways attract attention and enlist in
terest. People had seen the saloons
driven out of business by the local
option law. They had seen tour
saloon keepers fold their tents. haul
down their signs and submit to the
inevitable. The sudden announce.
mcnt that Mr.. Kline had found a
way to evade the law and dispense
beverages without fear of punish
ment made people wonder and they
became interested in the expert
ment. When there was an arrest
of Kline and his officers and a trial
of the case there was some interest
as to what the outcome would be,
such an interest as was naturally
incident to a curious proposition.
On the part of some people there
was some feeling. AS, however.
the trial of the cases in the justice
court proceeded, interest died out,
and at the last of the hearings,
scarcely a bakers dozen of people
cared enough about the trials to at
tend.