Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-12-14
Chosen at First Days Trial
Of A. H. HuInmeII
Charged With Conspiracy in
Dodge-Morse Divorce Scandal.
Move to Have Trial Delayed FaiIs---Jury Will
Be Kept in Custody.

HumInell, the attorney was placed Oh
trial, today, before Justice Rogers in
the criminal branch of the supreme
court on charges of conspiracy and
subordination of perjury in connection
with the Dodge-Morse divorce case, and
when court adjourned, this afternoon
only four jurors had been selected
Counsel for the accused made an effort
to have the trial delayed, but Justice
Rogers overruled all the various mo-
tlons having that end in view.
During the course of the arguments
today, Assistant District Attorney
Rand, who is in charge of the prosecu-
ton of the case, made the assertion
that efforts had been made "by the 9TH
cr side to Kill Charles F. Dodge, the
most important witness against Hum
nell. Mr.. Rand said it was necessary to
guard Dodge constantly. He urged this
as Cne reason for an early hearing of
the case.
TIE charge against Hummel grew out
of the sensational Dodge Morse divorce
litigation, in which it was alleged that
Humnel entered into a conspiracy to
procure perjured evidence. Former Su-
preme Court Justice Edgar l.. Furs-
man also was indicted on the charge
OF conspiracy in the same case.
The conspiracy and perjury charges
We're made after an investigation by
District Attorney Jerome on allega-
tions that the courts had been made use
OF in an improper manner in ar effort
to procure an annulment of the decree
of divorce obtained by Mrs. Clemence
Dodge against Chas. r. Dodge. After
this divorce, Mrs. Dodge was married
to Charles W. Morse, a capitalist OF
this city, who is very prominent in
banking and steamship affairs. The rea
object of the desire to obtain an annul-
ment of the Dodge divorce was said tC
be thereby to invalidate the marriage
of Mrs. Dodge and Morse. Why this
was sought has never been definitely
learned.
Hunmel appeared in the proceedings
as attorney for Chas. f. Dodge and pre-
scented claim by Dodge that he never
was properly served with the summons
in Mrs Dodge's suit. EX-Justice Furs-
man then came into the case as cOun-
sci for Mrs. Morse, and the legal pro-
ceedings continued up to the point
where, Jan. 4, 1904, the Dodge-Mcrse
annulment was entered in the supreme
court.
Then an attorney named Sweetser
who served the papers on Dodge and
who had been at work on the case, tC
save his professional reputation, dis
covered letters from Dodge to Mortimer
Rugcr. also an attorney, saying he
Dodge, had been served with papers in
a divorce suit and authorizing Ruger to
act as his attorney. Ruger had died be-
fore the latter proceedings.
Dodge was at once indicted for per-
jury and after long legal battle was
brought back from Houston, Tex. A
member of Hummers law firm repre-
sented Dodge in Texas in his effort t6
prevent eXtradition to New York.
After Dodge was brought back here
he made a statement, in which he ac-
cused Hummel of having dictated to
him the false affidavit. He said he had
been plentifully supplied with money
the source of which he did not question
and that all the efforts to prevent his
return to New York were made under
the direction of Hummel.
Immediately upon the opening of
t1lt lTldl. touitStl, bcldIiNe-y
Nicoll and John B. Stanchfield, moved
for special jury to try the case. AS
sistant District Attorney Rand opposed
the application.
In the course of his argument, Mr..
Rand said:
''rhe health Of Dodge, a witness in
the case is very poor and he requires
constant attendance and guarding TO
save his life because the interests of
the accused have tried to kill him.
Justice Rogers denied the motion and
when Mr.. Nicoll said he was not pre-
pared to go on for the defence, Justice
Rogers said:
1.-The defendant I understand, is a
member of the bar and his case is in
the hands of several lawyers, but if
you are not able to go on with the trial
| will assign counsel to defend the
prisoner"
There was no further opposition and
the crlpannelling of jury began.
On motion of District Attorney Je-
rome, Justice Rogers placed Hummel
under $4,000 bail. The justice decided to
keep the jury under custody during the
trial.
Mr.. Hummel had previously been
under parole without bail. Mr.. Jerome,
in speaking upon Justice Rogers de-
cision to keep the jury in custody, said
that many years ago Mr.. Hummel was
suspended from practicing in the SUI
preme court for a year on account of
an expensive present which he made
to judge. The district attorney also
suggested that he feared efforts would
be made to corrupt the members of the
jury chosen to try Hummel.
The jury was sent from the room
during the arguments on bail and on
keeping the jury in custody. but Mr..
Nicoll, nevertheless. moved for the
discharge of the entire panel. saving
that they would read the reports of MIR.
Jerome's argument and also that the
district attorney by his statements in
open court sought to poison the minds
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