Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-09-26
CONFESSED CRIME
AFTER HIS ARREST
Oil Trust Officials Declare That
They Do Not know Wouldbe
Briber and Have No Know
ledge of His Transactions
or Intentions.

Findlay, Ohio, Sept. 26.-L d.
Williamson was arrested yesterday
on an indictment charging him with
attempting to bribe Charles Thomp-
son, juror in the case of the State
of Ohio against the Standard Oil
company, which was tried here i'm
June. Mrs. Thompson said that Will
hanson asked her to persuade her
husband to hang the jury. The final
vote of the jury was eight for con-
vote of the jury was eight for con-
viction to four for acquittal Will
hanson admitted today that he had
made a proposition to Mrs. Thomp-
son, saying that her husband would
be paid from five hundred to one
thousand dollars should the jury dis
agree.
Bribe Not Accepted.
Mrs. Thompson did not tell her
husband either of the offered bribe
nor OF any of the conversation she
had with Williamson, until after the
case was concluded, when she in
formed him of the affair and togeth-
er they visited the prosecuting at
torney and informed him of the at
tempt at corruption. Sufficient evil
dence was finally secured to obtain
an indictment and Williamson's con-
fession simplifies the work of the
prosecution.
Thompson voted for the conviction
of the company, according to the
best evidence obtainable, and there
was such a difference of opinioa
among the Jurors that his vote did
not decide the case. Had he held out
alone against the other jurors. II Is
probable that he might have been
indicted. as the officials claim to
have had previous knowledge OF the
attempted bribery
Other Indictments Possible.
1t is limited that this will not be
the only indictment returned for the
attempted bribery of this jury Of
were other similar offers made to
Jurors through relatives and friends,
and as soon as proper evidence can
be obtained, 1t is likely that more
arrests will take place.
Was it Standard Money?
Williamson, in admitting the offer
to bribe Thompson, declares that he
DID not know where the money was
to come from, though he had assur-
ance from a friend, whose Identity
he refuses to make public, that 1t
would be forthcoming when needed.
Whether ii was to come from the
Standard Oil company, he does not
know or refuses at least to state.
"A strong effort will be made when
his case is tried. to obtain an admis-
sion from him that he did know that
the Standard was to furnish the
cash.
The prosecuting attorneys office
will endeavor to fix the identity OF
the man or corporation which was
to pay over this and other sums.
which 1t believes were to be paid IL
/ necessary to jurors to hang the jury.
Who Would Reap Benefit?
"Who would reap the benefit
should that jury hang?" asked an
official this afternoon when queried
as to who was to furnish the money.
The only possible party to be bene-
fitted would be the defendant in the
case. the Standard Oil company,
hence the district attorney expects
| to find that the money came from
| that source.
Deny the Charge.
Officials of the Standard. when
| told of Wifliamson's indictment and
confession declared that they know
| nothing whatever of the case and
| that II Williamson, whom they pro-
| fess is not an employe OF the oil
| trust and never has been. made any
| such an offer to a juror. he made IL
on his own responsibility and for
| what purpose they do not know