The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-12-09
CAUSE
OF COURT CRISIS
County Attorney Declares He Will Try
No More Cases Before Jury
Now EmpanelIed.

The jury in the case against Otis
Title returned verdict of not guilty,
and precipitated crisis in the county
court yesterday County Attorney
Brady announced yesterday morning
that he would not try any more liquor
cases before the present jury.
Since the first case which was tried,
that against Alex Williams, who was
convicted, every case against an al
legged whiskey seller has ended in ac-
quittal.
In some cases the evidence seemed
very weak, and acquittal was a fore
gone conclusion. In other cases, the
verdict for the defendant has been
surprise to spectators and lawyers in
some cases even to the victorious at
torneys.
After his defeat in the Title case,
Mr.. Brady announced his decision, and
yesterday forenoon he stated his de-
cision to the court Judge Frear re-
piled that if the county attorney de-
sired new jury he must make a show
ing of his reasons, and file affidavits.
Mr.. Brady refused to do this. you
may continue the cases.. he said to
Judge Frear "or dismiss them or give
me new jury. IsinpN won't try any
more cases to the present jury"
well, Mr.. Brady" replied the Judge,
"Pll let you announce your decision
when the cases are called"
The criminal docket was laid aside
yesterday to take up civil case,
which is still on trial this morning.
After he came away from the court
house, Mr. Brady was seen at his Of
: flee in the Jones-Bagby building, and
reiterated the announcement of his
decision Pm going to try" said he,
ito get the cases continued. If can't,
they might as well be dismissed. I'm
not going to put the county to the ex-
Ipense of any more trials"
The members of the jury naturally
resented Mr. Bradys criticisms. OF
lcourse they were guarded in their ut
lterances, but some Of them got back
lat Mr.. Brady II was alleged that in
the Title case, the prosecution had
failed to prove definitely that the
fluid bought by the complaining wit
ness was 'whiskey Mfr. Brady denied
the omission, however, and referred to
the stenographer's report of the evil
dence, where IL appeared that the wit
ness asked the defendant for quart
of whiskey, and he gave "it' to the
witness.
Mr.. Brady couldn't see how, with
this evidence before them, the jury
could have suspected Title of selling
maple syrup or soda water
The situation was widely and earn
estly discussed on the streets yester-
day and this morning. Nearly every
body felt that the result of recent at
tempts to enforce the prohibitory law
had been disappointing, and some
blamed one set of officers, some an
other
An attorney said to the reporter.
You notice that all the cases that
have been tried lately are old cases,
and when a year or 50 has elapsed the
memory of witness grows hazy, es-
, Ipecially when he was half-drunk or
wholly so when he made his purchase,
ha 81 d
presses the jury, and raises a doubt
! in their minds, for no man can impart
to another stronger conviction of the
truth of his testimony than he has
. himself"
The members of the Law and Order
League were less psychological in
their explanation of the situation
They laid the final blame on the peo.
pie at large, eonfessing that there is
! no adequate public sentiment to back
an officer or jury in the strenuous
enforcement of the liquor law.
E. W. Stryker, of the Fair, is pres
ident of the league. He is also mem
E Der of the jury at the present term of
e court. AS president of the league, he
n naturally was willing to speak for it,
: though his position as juror made
t him cautious IN his sexpressions. "But
G Iyou may say for me" he remarked to
b a reporter, 'thsteif the good people
a of this town, the Christian people,
e were as interested in enforcing the
s law, and encouraging the officers to
g enforce it, as they are in making
n money. we could clean up this town in
n two weeks and keep it clean"
J. Lige Henderson is here from Kansas