Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-17

OF COURT
r. J. MILLER CHARGED WITH AT
TEMPTING TO BRlBE AND IN
FLuENcE JURORS
HEARING ON THURSDAY
Defendant Notified to Appear Before
! Judge Robert Sloan In District Court
and Show Cause Why He Should
Not be Punished for Contempt Of
court-Affidavits Of Jurors.

EIOIIl mondays g 1l)Ally. t-4lf X
Thomas j. Miller, who is charged
with attempting to bribe and inf1u-
ence jurors, in an information filed in
the district court, and who has been
notified to appear before Judge Rob-
ert Sloan Thursday. April 10, to show
cause why he should not be punished
for contempt of court, said to rep.
resentative of the Courier today that
he did not wish to make any state.
ment regarding the affair at this time
but that he would talk when the
proper time came.
4 The proceedings against Miller re-
suited from the statements made by
jurors >during the empaneling of a
jury to try a railroad case in the dis
trict court last week. Phillip Wat
kins and w. n. Vass when asked If
they had been approached by anyone
regarding the case stated that Miller
had talked with them about railroad
case that was to come up at this term
OF court but that they did not know
whether the case then called for trial
was the one he referred to or not.
The affair has caused big sensation
In court circles and the outcome of
the hearing is awaited with much in
terest.
After the statements by the jurors
Judge Sloan directed County Attorney
w. w. Epps to investigate the matter
and Saturday afternoon Mr.. Epps filed
his report and the information. He
states in his report that after an in
vestigation his conclusion is that the
evidence will warrant an examination
into said charges with the view ol
ascertaining whether the accused Il
guilty or not Of contempt Of court. a
rule was issued notifying Miller tt
appear before Judge Sloan April 19 t.
show cause why he should not be pun
ished for contempt.
Tho information.
The information filed against Miller
is signed by Philip Watkins and is as
follows:
'.The defendant, Thomas j. Miller, Il
accused Of the crime of attempting tc
bribe and improperly influence Jurors
in the rendition Of their verdict, for,
"That the defendant on or about the
26 day of March, 1906, in Wapellc
county, Iowa, did wilfully, unlawfully
maliciously, corruptly and knowingly
with the intent to improperly influence
and control him in his verdict while
lawfully summoned and drawn upor
the trial jury for the March term o.
the above court, one Philip Watkins
by unlawfully, willfully, maliciously
corruptly talking to and attempting te
induce said Philip Watkins by offering
to pay him money to hang the jury ant
corrupt the verdict in said case.
Count No. 2.-That said T. J. Mil
Ter did on or about April 5 unlawfully
designedly, knowingly and corruptly
attempt to bribe and improperly influ
ence one w. H. Vass, a juror properly
drawn in the above named court, IL
his verdict by talking and suggesting
to him, said w. H. vass, and did at
tempt to bribe and improperly influ
ence and control said w. II. Vass II
his verdict in q certain case pending
before said March term Of 1906 cour
in which a railroad company was the
defendant, contrary to and In violation
of the law.
| Count No. 3.-"For said defendan
on or before the 10th day Of April
1906, did willfully, knowingly, unlaw
fully. corruptly and with intent to cor
rupt jury in its verdict, talk to, sug
gest, offered and attempted to brib'
one L. K Cremer, a juror lawful.
summoned on the regular panel of th,
petit jury of the March term In th'
above named court by wilfully, mali
ciously, unlawfully and corruptly talk
ing to him, the said L. H Cremer, OF
| ferins to nav him money to has hin