Mexico Missouri message., 1908-10-22
TAMPERED JURY.
Luke Emerson in Trouble In Pike
County.

ne SUIT against Luxe VI. Emerson,
the Pike County Mule King"
for II $500 Worlds Fair sub
scription, ca D. to a sudden stop
today ia the Circuit Court, when
three jurors informed the Judge
that Emerson had sought to in
iiuencc them in his favor.
Emerson was at once arraigne j
by Judge Eby on a charge of con.
tempt of court, and was placed I'M.
der bond for appearance later.
The suit was continued until the
February (l909) term of court e..
Ras" Pearson, Emerson's attor.
ney, disgustedIy announced his
withdrawal from the case.
The interruption came in time to
prevent the reading of deposition
now on file IN the court, in which
Emerson made the following state
ment:
Dave Francis told me ia st.
Louis that | wouldn't have to pay
that subscription
The attorneys for the World's 5
Fair Company have denied that
anything was ever done or said to
release Emerson from his subscrip-
ton, made in iustallments of $500
and $1,000.
Emerson who is known through
out the country as an importer of
fine mules, Is wealthy, has made
frequent journeys to European
countries aud Spain, to buy stock.
When in England Is years ago,
he killed one of three men who at.
tackled hims ard w,s imprisoned
He was released tnivu- u the eff a..
of David X. Francis, then Governor
of Missouri.
Emerson felt deeply grateful to
Governor Francis aud often said
he would help any project Francis
was interested in. When Govern
or Francis became the head of the
Worlds Fair enterprise Emerson,
who had never been noted for lib
erality, surprised his friends by
subscribing $500.
Later it is stated he wrote to
the exposition company stating
that he would take $1,000 more OF
the stock, aud it was duly issued
to him.
The exposition company made
several attempts to collect the sub
scription, and finally tiled suit. a,
the SUBSCRIPTIONS were dated il
1899, accrued interest brought the
cOmpany's claim to nearly $4,000.
Emerson made several visits to
st. Louis to see Governor Francis
aud was met, the cOmpany's law
yers say by refusal to compromis,
the claim
When The case was called before
Judge E0y here today, the Judg,
said reports had come to him tha
some of the jurors had been i'm.
properly approached. He com,
manded that any juror who had
been approached 10y the defendant
or anyone representing him shoul,
, arise
: Tnree jurors, ID. L. Pew, War
rcn Robinson and 7. 4. Hender
son, got up. Each told the same
story. They said Emerson haC
: approached tn tm, after their selec-
; tion as jurors, and asked them t
use their influence in his favor,
, Such conduct is contempt O
court" exclaimed Judge Ely, anc
he at once ordered the issuance o
: au attachment for Emerson.
Attorney Pearson, representing
Emerson, asked a continuance. Il
, said his clients action was Jude
fensiblr. that he had known moth
ing of 1t before, aud that, as 500
as the continuance was decided on
: he would withdraw from the east
q Continuance is granted unit
/, the February term, said the Judg,
such conduct is Il confession {
the weakness of the defendant
: case, aud it has doubtless so affec
ed the minds of all the jurors tha
4 it would be improper tn proeee
> with The ease at present "
Emerson. when arraigned. .denie
the statements OF the three Juror
He has also denied. in affidavit
a that the signature to the suberil
3 tions was his. The company wi
+. prepared tn intorduce banke
-. familiar with his signature. to r
~ huf fhia atatamanf