Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-03
Indicted Attorney Says
Prosecutor is Crooked,
Too.
WOULD DISBAR HIM
roWne Juror Alleged to Have
Given Detailed Story of
Bribery.

Chicago, Nov. 3.-The case of
Charles E Erbstein, accused of cor
rupting Juror in the second trial of
Representative Browne, was put on
Judge Smiths calendar today for to-
morrow. The accused lawyer today
declared he would bring disbarment
proceedings against States Attorney
Wayman, alleged the latter in his pri-
vate practice, transgressed the law in
much the same fashion charged
against Erbstein. Wayman, however,
was not disturbed by the declaration.
Opens New Chapter.
Chicago, Nov. 3.-Indictment of At
torney Charles E. Erbstein as a Jury
fixer'' yesterday marked the opening
Of a new chapter in the famous Lori
mer senatorial bribery scandal that
had its inception in the confession of
Representative Charles A White that
he had been bribed to vote for the
blond boss for senator
The true bill, which was returned
at 4:30 o'clock, is embodied in one of
the most elaborately drawn documents
ever presented in court by a Cook
county grand jury. 1t is backed b.
two confessions-one from juror in
the second trial of Lee O'Neil Browne
for bribery. in which he asserts he was
paid s125 for his vote for acquittal-
and a mass of supposedly corrObora-
tive evidence from other sources.
Charge of Corruption.
The charge in a nutshell, is that
Erbstein corrupted Grant McCutcheon
on Aug. % by promising to pay him
welI'' and to take care of him with
good job" in return for a vote acquit-
ting Browne or even hanging the jury
by holding out In favor of acquittal.
The indictment was brought under
the section of the bribery act which
refers to corrupting jurors. The pen
atty involved is a term in the county
Jail and a fine not to exceed 81 900 or
a term of from one to five years in the
penitentiary.
Arrange Bail.
Fifteen minutes after the Indictment
had been returned before Judge Kav-
anagh, Erbstein, debonair and suave as
ever, was joking with the criminal
court clerk as he arranged for bonds.
A few minutes OF figuring by a deputy
resulted in the bail being arranged.
The Federal Union Surety company
signed the bonds, amounting to S10,-
600.
The accused lawyer made light Of
the charges until he was asked what
answer he had to make to the specific
charge of jury-fixing. Then he became
indignant
Turns Against Wayman.
Simply that Attorney John E. w
Wayman is the only jury-fixer I know
and that I intend TO make the charge
before the Chicago Bar association
said he
DO you make that charge serious
ly?" somebody asked.
"I mean exactly what I say. II has
taken me two years to get the goods
on Wayman and I've got it now and
I'm going to take it before the bar as
ISOLATION
Received $3.50.
Grant McCutcheon, the juror in
question, and Henry T. Stacy, the al
legged go-between, according to their
stories told to States Attorney Way
man. received $3.50 which was divid-
ed equally for McCutcheOn' vote on
the verdict.
The first trial of Browne resulted
in disagreement and the second, /
in which the alleged bribery is said
to have figured in verdict of not
guilty. Thereupon Wayman began
an investigation of numerous ru-
mors concerning attempts at tamper-
ing with the veniremen. He Secur= (
ed clew a week ago which led to
---",.toheon The latter and Stacy, (
it is said, disgruntled at the small .
----- --.-' hey say they received, re-
solved to tell their stories.
Expected Much More.
According to Stacy he arranged /
matters with McCutcheon, after be-
ing introduced to Erbstein.
He expected at least $4,000 and /
easy jobs and was angry when he
came to realize on deal, to receive /
only 500 from the lawyer. Later,
they say he was given $50 more.
Stacy testified before the grand
jury that he made nearly 80 visits
TO the lawyers Office looking for
money and jobs.
Finally Stacy was told that $3.50
was all there was in sight for them.
He was wroth McCutcheon demur
red to taking the story to the states
attorney, but Stacy said he would 90