The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-26
JURY BRIBING
Is DISCOVERED
TRIAL or THE GOVERNMENTS
CASE AGAINST NEW YORK
ITALIANS MAY BE IN
TERRUPTED.

New York Oct. 26.-The federal au-
tforities were informed today that an
effort is being made to bride the Jury
before whom Antonio and Philip Mu-
sica are bieng tried on an Indictment
for swindling the government out of
revenue at this port by underweighing
frauds and by bribing government en-
ployes.
The names Of the jurors, together
with their addresses, were given to the
authorities, who Immediately dis
patched skilled detectives to watch
every movement of the suspected men
until the trial is concluded before
Judge Holt in the criminal division of
the United States circuit court The
name OF a prominent Italian broker
and importer, who is alleged to have
subscribed $4,000 to the jury-bribing
fund Of $4,000, was also given to the
authorities.
Judge May Be Notified.
IL the bribe money has been passed,
the probabilities are that the whole
transaction will be reported to the
court at the reopening Of the case on
Monday morning, and one of the most
dramatic situation ever witnessed in
a United States court will be present
ed.
At the close of examination &c wit
nesses in the trial of the Musicas
Friday evening, Charles e. Rush
more, their chief counsel moved for
dismissal of the charge against An
tonic Musica, father of Philip and
head of the firm of Musica & Son, No.
Is Water street, on the ground that
none Of the governments witnesses
who had testified to receiving bribe
money had implicated the elder man
in the crime; that they had all testi-
fed that the money had been handed
to them by Philip Musica. Judge Holt
now has that motion under considera-
ton and will give his decision Mon
day morning
The contention of the government is
that two or three Of it's witnesses tes-
titled that the elder Musica was pres
ent on more than one occasion when
bride money was paid, and that he was
fully cognizant OF the crime. Should
Judge Holt deny the motion of Mr..
Rushmore 1t will mean that the prose-
cution Of the elder Musca. who Is
prominent among the italians ana
Greeks of the city, with be vigorously
continued.
Key to Entire Situation.
Collector Loeb, who returned today
from consultation with the treasury
officials at washington, stated that the
Musica case was the key TO the entire
situation. Should the Musicas be
cleared on technica1ity, he said, the
way might be opened for freeing thirty
or more manufacturers. Indictments
against more than a dozen of these
men were returned by the grand jury
today
Mr.. Loeb said further that Secretary
MacVeigh and other officials of the
treasury department with whom he
conferred, heartily approved every
thing done TO break up smuggling
and underweighing. mo sort or plea
made at Washington to shield guilty
persons from arrest and vigorous
prosecution has Influenced the authod-
ties In the least" he declared I'VE
have scarcely scratched the surface
yet 50 far as public exposures are
concerned. In fact, 1t may be said that
we have just fairly started.
Michigan Woman Accused.
It was given out at the custom,
house today that the trial of Mrs.
Chesbrough, wife OF a wealthy Michi-
gan lumber dealer, who also operates
a line of coasting steamers from Bos-
ton, win be begun In the United
States court at Trenton the first week
OF November. Mrs. Chesbrough was
charged on her arrival here from
Europe last June with having brought
over in d false bottom Of trunk
valuable laces, jewels etc, which she
failed to declare.