The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-22
WHICH HE EXPLAINS
To the Satisfaction of the Judge. The
Senator was Charged With Talk.
ing to and irving 10 influence
q Juror In The State
House Case.

Milburn, contractors and arch1tect,
respectfully, for the completion Of the
state capitol for alleged Irregularities
and faulty construction Of work, was
begun In the circuit curt at Colum.
bia on Thursday, with an imposing
array Of counsel on both sides ano
the entire state looking on with deep
interest and eagerly looking for the
conclusion. The fight is honey comb
ed with politics, but while some sen
,ational developments have bt en-
promised. Mr.. Milburn and the con-
tractors appear to be perfectly con-
ident Of the results, and say they are
anxious for the trial to be carried on
and finished as they kave nothing to
fear. The suit was brought by Sena
tor Aldrich and b preventative Yam
cy Williams, appointed by the leg's
lature to look into the matter, which
has been the subject OF 30 many acri-
M onious and spirited debatls in the
legislature. ,
In connection with the case the
Columbia State says OIL W. j. John
son, senator from F.irhsld c0unty
and q member of the former State
nous. commission, may be called upon
In open court to purge himself OF con.
tempt Of court. Col. Johnson spoke
his mind" very freely Thursday at
tina dinner hour to members of the
jury, and it made such an impression
upon at least one Of them that he
reported the circumstances. Judge
Cages attention was csiled to the
ualter by Col. J. @ Marshall.
Col. Marshall annourca that he
did not want to impede the progress
OF the trial but he thought this mat
tor should DO told to the court. Judge
Gage In an unfit I'D manner, after
hearing that Mr.. Johnson had been
permitted by the defendants attor-
neys to 20 to his hCm3 at Ridgeway.
ordered his return to Columbia. Toe
following is q transcript OF the incl
dent from stenographic note. Col.
Marshall (oefore going on the witness
STANDBY I do not care to interfere
with the progress Of this casa, but l
think it my duty to mention what q
Juror told me as I was intering the
court room.
The court indicated that Dol. Mar
shall should proceed. with the state
ment. Col. Marshall: One Of the
Jurors informed me that a party has
approached him outside after III; ad
j)urnment of ccu:t. HIS words were
ebout this: That 1t was an outrage
to bring this suit against Milburn
and that the work had been well done.
I think it my duty to call the courts
attention to this.
The court: Who is is this juror.
StaEd up.
Mr.. Ruff, q nj moer of the panel,
stood up and was sworn on bis Voir
dire at the direction Of the court.
@. Now, MI. Riff, state what &C.
CURED.
A. We were going along as court
adj !urned, going to dinner, and were
approached by a man in the street,
Mr.. Johnson from Ridgeway. He
spoke to US and said that it was an
outrage for q suit Of this kind to 60
on. That the work was we'll done
de spoke it in the presence OF Mr..
Kelly, Mr.. Blair and myself. He al
30 said he was going home.
Court: Is Mr. Johnson in curt.
MI. Riff: He is not here now. /
d. not see him
The court: Call him at the d 'or.
Mr.. Barron, F do not think Mr..
Johnson Is here. h Is oae OF the
original State house commissioners,
and was a member Of the house oil
representatives. WI had him sub
potnsed here as a witness. He is now
State senator from Fairfs sid county.
he approae ed US before court ad'
! urned and stated that on atc unit
If sickness in bis family he desired tt
20 home this evening at 4 o'clock anc
We told hiu we woald telegraph hin
In Use we needed him.
The court: Telegraph him to come
bere. II you do not 1 will have
rule served on him.
Mr.. Barron: All right, sir.
Toe court: Ask him to be her
Fiiday.
WHAT JOHNSON SAYS.
In TIE court Of common pleas o
Riohland county Friday, Senator w
J. Johnson purged himself Of th'
charge of contempt of court In 80 ia,
as be was alleged TO have approached
ajlryman and to have denounced tn
trial If certain parties as an outrage
Senator Johnson did not Withdraw
mis- language, but repeated 1t to tn
court room. However he did disavoy
speaking to the juror In any othe
than q casual manner. The juror ha'
spoken to him first, and he had mere
y made answer in passing withou
recalling that Mr.. Ruff, to whom hi
, remarks were addressed, was a juror
Senator johnson stated that b
had been very much surprised to re
oeive a telegram calling him bac
from his home at RidgeWay on &C
count Of the allegation that he ha
addressed remarks about the trial t
, A Juror. He could not think wha
had inspired this but malice an
hatred.
II will state the conversation as
occurred verbatim as near as m
memury will permit" he continued
when I left the court house l ovel
2 knnk Mr. Riff and Mr. Blair. SpQk