Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-03-19
NOT GUILTY VERDICT
IN BRIBERY CASE

The verdict OF the jury in the bribery
cases against Preston Newcomb and Thorn
as and Joseph McArthur Of Franklin town
ship was returned at 3.45 o'clock Friday
afternoon and was not guilty as to all.
Judge Starr ordered a verdict in favor OF
7. Lee Hallock, who was naMed in the in
dlctment with those above named.
After William Headley was on the stand
on Thursday, his wife was called and testi-
fed to the fact that their room was used,
that she helped her husband count the So
bottles of whiskey, that she took upstairs
and that after the raid was made there were
16 full bottles remaining. These, one Of
the defendants took away with him.
Constable David T. Atkinson who made
the raid with John Donnell was called and
testified to seeing the McArthurs go be-
tween the polls and the Headley house.
He said voters were lead over. In his cross
examination Attorney Carr asked what be
meant by the word lead ''Do you mean
that he had string to them?"
mo, of course not'' was the ready reply,
"But he was using method just as good. !"
Atkinson said that when be entered the
room with Donnell he found q number OF
men there. and from the hands Of one be
snatched bottle of whiskey, which, three
quarters full, was admitted in evidence.
With couple more unimportant wit
.nesses the State rested. This was Thursday
afternoon. and legal motions and arguments
consumed the balance of the day. Friday
morning court convened at $50 o'clock
and Prosecutor Rogers began his address to
the jury He read from the statute Of 1906
under which this indictment was found, re-
viewed ali she evidence, and asked for a
verdict against all three defendants.
A. H Swackhamer, for the defense, then
addressed the jury for a hall hour, and in
sisted that the whskey which was used by
Newcomb and the MoArthurs was not in
tended or used for the purpose of bribery
or to aid in the election Of Thomas McAr-
thur, to the township committee, but was
only provided to promote hospitality and
good fellowship. Mr.. Carr followed Mr.
Swackhamer and made his plea along the
same lines, aud insisting that drink OF
whiskey given oD election day was no more
of a blow at the sanctity of the ballot than
handing the same man cigar or taking
friend out to dinner. The adequacy of
proof of the state g case also was questioned
Prosecutor Rogers in his final plea told
the jury that the words Of the statute said
shat the legislature intended to abolish just
such tactics as were going on down in
Franklin Township at the last general
election. He said he left it for the jury to
say what the acs was passed for and wheth-
er or not the defendants had bees guilty Of
violation of is, Newcomb for providing the
drink, Thomas McArthur for paying for it,
and Joseph Macarthur for using it for ille-
gal purposes
The charge of Judge Starr was a half
hour long and was a complete presentation
of the law on the case. Requests for
charges were presented by both sides and
we're granted in part.
The jury retired shortly past noon and
seemed more anxious TO go out TO dinner
than be confined in the jury room. as one
O'Clock it was reported that they stood 10 to
2 for acquitsal, and IN a little over another
hour their request to go to dinner was
granted. As 3 45 they announced their
verdict.