Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-19
BISHOP RENDERS A VERDICT.
Attorneys for Former Chief Of
Police Make Mighty Effort at
Eleventh Hour to Block.
Year Old Scandal Now Ready for
Thorough Airing Before Jury
And Judge.

The case of George Sheets wherein
the ex-chief of police is charged with
accepting bribe, will be heard In the
district court Such was the decision
of Justice of the. Peace f. NJ. Bishop
this morning Disregarding a sugges-
ton by defendants attorney. Soren X.
Christensen, that he might take time
IN which to render his opinion in the
premises, Judge Bishop said;
VERDICT WITHOUT DELAY.
II do not care to take the matter un-
der advisement, | have followed the
case pretty closely, and / think there
has been sufficient evidence adduced
to warrant the holding of the defend
ant to the district court. The defend
ant is held TO the higher tribunal"
The decision came after a half hour
of spirited debating. in which District
Attorney Loofbourow, County Attor-
ney Hanson and Attorney Christensen
participated Only two witnesses were
examined, and they, very briefly. They
We're Alexander McWhrter and Will
liam Parent. The first named was
taken in hand first by Mr.. Christen-
sen. Almost the initial question was
objected TO by Mr.. Loofbourow. Mr..
McWhirter was asked whether the affi-
davit signed by him in the bribery case
against Mr.. Sheets was founded upon
the same transaction that characterized
the conspiracy charge filed some
months previously.
TRANSACTION. THE SAME.
The district attorney interposed an
objection, and Attorney Christensen
changed the nature of it. and finally
succeeded in having the Scotchman adj
NIT that he lost money but once at
the amount from which he was at that
time parted figured In both the con-
spiracy charge and In the bribery
case.
AT this point Attorney Christensen
asked permission 10 have the conspira-
cy complaint put into the record OF
Justice Bishops court. Counsel for
the state had no objection. and it was
read. Reporter Mont. Roberts taking 1t
down in shorthand.
Parent was then briefly interrogated
by Mr.. Christensen. He was asked If
the $3.50 that he had formerly testified
was paid to Mr. Sheets as hush mon
ey was the same money that had been
secured from the McWhirters. and he
=. replied that ii was not the same iden-
teal cash, but was secured from bank
In exchange for large bill.
THE DEFENsE's ARGUMENT.
Here both sides announced that they
had nothing further TO offer. Mr.. Loot
borrow asked that the defendant be
held TO the district court, while Atty.
Christensen requested that his client
be discharged Mr. Christensen said
that the transaction which made pos
sible the charge of conspiracy was the
very foundation of the complaint alleg
ing bribery, the same parties, the same
money, the same time and that two
courts couid not have jurisdiction over
one Identical case simultaneously. He
contender further that there had been
no evidence adduced in the premises,
aside from tEac OF alleged accomplices,
and tina. under such circumstances the
defendant. should be discharged
Mr. Hanson made motion that Atty.
Christensen's request be denied, and
that defendant be held. and it was In
line With this motion that Judge Blsh-
op rendered the decision quoted above.
There were just ten persons in JUS
tce Bishops office In Waterloo during
the bearing. namely, the magistrate.
Mr.. Loofbourow. County Atty. Hanson.
Deputy sheriff Joe Sharp, George
Sheets, Atty. Christensen, Mont Rob-
ers. reporter for the fourth and sew
enth district courts, Alexander Nc
Whlrtef, William Parent and repre-
sentative cf the News"
The proceedings were announced to
begin at 10 o'clock, but when counsel
for the state, the two witnesses, Mr..
Sharp and the News" man arrived at
the place designated. Mr.. Sheets and
his attorney had not put in an appear
ance. and the justice was up town. The
three, however. happened TO board the
same car. which was delayed, and they
arrived at the Bishop home about 10 80
when the hearing Immediately began.
STAY NOT GRANTED.
Upon the refusal OF Judge Lewis of
the district court to Grant a writ Of
prohibition AGAINST Justice OF the Peace
Bishop on Saturday Afternoon. TO pre-
vent him from taking any further ac-
lion In the preliminary hearing of
former Chief of Police George Sheets
upon the charge of receiving bride OF
$500 from the men who robbed the
McWhirter Bros, last September the
attorneys for the chief Immediately
took steps TO appeal the matter TO the
supreme court, and today attempted to
get a certificate of probable cause OF
appeal from the supreme court and a
stay OF proceedings until the supreme
court could hear the appeal. The stay
was not granted by the supreme court
as II would take no action on the mat
ter without giving the state an oppor-
tunlty TO be heard. Consequently, the
preliminary hearing OF the former chief
was taken up again by the justice OF
the peace.
WRIT DENIED.
At the conclusion OF the arguments
on the petition for a writ OF prohibition
on Saturday afternoon, Judge Lewis
denied the writ. The attorneys for
Sheets then asked for n stay OF pro-
ceedlngs until an appeal could be taxi
en- 10 the supreme court This was de-
MED by Judge Lewis, who stated that
u there were any doubt In his mind az