The Detroit times., 1909-05-08
DAUGHTER TRIES
TO SHIELD FATHER
Elsie Schmitt Gigs Back on Former
Story Rejecting On Parent Charg-
ed With Soliciting Bride.

Miss Elsie Schmitt. aged IS years,
was the star witness, Saturday morn
Ing. In the case against her father.
John r. Schmitt, the circuit court
juror charged with solicti1g bride.
The young woman was summoned by
the prosecution to testify against her
father, but she went back on tho
statement made to a stenographer In
the presence Of Judge Cooper, AMI
endeavored as best she could to pro-
tect her parent. Her sGprt was a
poor one, and. toward the End OF her
examination by Allan n. Frazer, who
appeared as friend of the court. her
voice sank to- almost a whisper. and
she floundered pitifully.
John Govensky, upon Whose COM
plant the charges again0 Schmitt
were made. was the first w&ness. His
story was unchanged from zhat giving
in his affidavit several days ago. He
sale he was approached on Gratiot-ave.
by a man who he recognized as a
juror, and was asked to come to the
jurors home after dark. After con-
sulting with his mother and wife he
decided to 20 and went to the address
given him, No. 80 Hancock-ave. east.
There Schmitt told him he you'd have
to pay some money II ID brother.
Frank, were to win his csse against
the Grand Laundry Co. lbs PROPOSE
ton was that the money was to be
handed to another Juror, named Giles.
In a saloon on Bates-st. Schmitt told
how the money was to b divided.
Govenskl testified, and stalled that he
had worked the game 04fore. His
story implicated other jufbrs as be-
ing in league with him, but no names
were mentioned.
After a few preliminary questions.
Elsie Schmitt was asked about the
statement made previously to Judge
Cooper. She readily admitted an
swering all the questions appearing In
the statement except those refer
ring to Govensky; then she contradict
ed the stenographers statement.
do you remerber seeing John
Govensky in your home OH the night
of April 2S?" she was asked.
II DO not" she replied.
Then the statement In which she
admitted having seen Govensky there
was read to her, and her signature was
shown to her, but still she persisted In
her denial.
The witness admitted the statement
was read to her three times, and that
she signed it willingly. but she main
tanned that she never saw Govensky In
heI home.
when Govensky was called before
YOU, did you not identify him as the
man you saw In your homer asked
Frazer.
well, he shook his head for me TO
say yes. and that Is why did say It
Then you did admit ne was the
man."
mo, | didn't. | said the man had
soft hat"
According to the statement made TO
the Judge. the girl told of seeing
Govensky In her home on the night
I'm question, and of seeing him go TO
a room with her father. She positively
identified Govensky as the man, but
when he was brought before her, Sat
urday. she said she had never seen
him in her home.
The witness further testified that
she had never said a word TO her faith
er about the case. and had never men
toned 1t to her fathers attorney. Stew
art Hanley.
The prosecution had not finished It's
case when court adjourned at noon.
Former Mayor Thompson and Detec-
tive Kunkel were sworn for the de-
Tense in order that they could get
pway. Both said they had known MT:
Schmitt for 20 years, and tnat he had
an excellent reputation for honesty.