Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-02-17
GRAFT CASE fIzzLE
CONTINUED from first page)

than passing strange that some of
the jurors should be so situated as
to make conviction of Bachman ad-
solutely against their own desires
and against their own interests.
Foreman d. g. Tappan.
D. G. Tappan, foreman Of the jury,
is contract agent Of the National
Telephone Company, the pet concern
of John A. Howard, who, Helfenbaine
swore Bachman admitted was fur
nishing the bride money. to further
his own interest in the City and Elm
Grove railway.
Juror will Elig.
William Elig. a juror, is reported
related to Bachman by marriage.
Another report that would indicate
a not too friendly attitude on the
part of Elig toward the prosecution
is that Miss Bertoff, the stenogra-
pher, One Of the prosecution's chief
witnesses, had sued the Elig Car
riage Company for wages some time
previously.
Edward Schaub, one of the jurors,
is cashier of the Central Glass
Works and stakeholder in the Ma
tiohal Telephone Company.
Character Witness.
The Central Glass Works signifi-
canoe is not apparent until it is
noticed that Joseph Speidel. char
acter witness for. Bachman. is an
official Of the Central Glass Company,
director of the National Telephone
Company and stakeholder in the City
and Elm Grove Railroad Company.
Both the latter corporations are die
tated by John A. Howard. and the
City and Elm Grove road would be
the worst hurt by the proposed Rapid
Transit competition.
e Frank Wendell. a character wit
ness, is fist cousin of Bachman.
Juror Walter Worls.
Juror Walter Worls has for many
years been known as staunch friend
of Bachman. politically and person
ally.
Prosecutor Deficient.
The people are asking themselves
if the prosecutor was remiss in his
duties in allowing as jurors persons
who would likely. by every reason
able application, to be biased in ia
vor Of the defendant. That some
were disqualified Is the practically
unanimous verdict. That this was
not seen by the prosecuting attorney
is source of wonder generally, and,
by way of explanation it Is BEING
suggested that the prosecuting att
tcrney, y. Bernard Handlam, is a
near relative Of w. C. Handlan. man
sger of the National Telephone Com
pany, John A. Towards corporation.
So certain were the. people that
undue influence was brought to bear
that they were entertaining all sorts
of rumors. among them being that
Bachman. was on the bond Of the
judge or the prosecuting attorney,
but, of course. there is no basis for
this, as neither official is bonded.
People Aroused.
Certain it is, however, that few
things have occurred in recent years
that have aroused the people as has
the Bachman trial, It is almost the
unanimous verdict that the prose-
cutor utterly failed to put into the
case his usual vigor, and that his
well-known and generally-racognized
ability was entirely lacking. In fact.
the spectators were of the opinion
generally that the trial Of Bachman
for bribery became really trial of
Helfenbaine, the man who accused
Bachman of attempting to bride him.
The affair has disclosed to observ-
ant eyes system of influencing Leg
islation that has been brought to a
fine and effective point. has made
the people wonder how far the rami-
fications extend, and the prosecution
and outcome of the case has given
Wheeling an unenviable distinction
in the eyes Of West Virginia.
Had the daily newspapers gone
into the case ais they usually attack
few poor strikers. the end might
perhaps have been otherwise. but the
papers. as is always the case, gave
difference to the mighty.