Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-07-11
GRAND JURY SESSION
SECRET TRIBUNAL NOW IN SEARCH
OF CROOKEDNESS.
Seventeen Earnest, Intelligent Men
on Grand Jury Ready TO Do BuSi-
ness. Those Who Have Been Al
Ieaing CrOOkedneSS Should Now
Come Forward with the Goods.

The first grand jury in sChehalis
county, in more than twenty years, be-
gan it's sessions last Thursday, with
H. j. Palmer, of MOntesano, foreman,
and A. F.. Peterson, of Hoquiam, clerk,
and Immediately got down to busi-
ness by calling number of witnesses.
The members of the jury are:
H. J. Palmer, merchant, MontesanO,
foreman; Peter Anderson, carpenter,
Aberdeen; Thomas Connor, saloon
man, Montesano; w. II. Knowles, far
mer, Elma w. d. Mccormick, ranch
er, North River; Emil Pfund, jeweler,
Aberdeen; A. F. Peterson, lumberman,
Hoquiam; H. V. Reynolds, lineman,
Aberdeen; Robert Shipton, laborer.
Hoquiam; A. F. Staples, farmer, Ocos-
ia; Fred Straub, jeweler, Hoquiam;
Fred Spaulding, rancher, Satsop; w.
M. Van Levin, rancher Montesano;
r. P. Ames. rancher, Oakville; Alfred
Carlson, laborer, Aberdeen; Robert
Ewart, lumberman, Hoquiam; F. B.
Reeder, capitalist, Aberdeen.
The editor of the Herald, while a
witness before the grand jury Friday,
was impressed with the evident ear
nestness and intelligence of the jury,
in degree far beyond what might be
expected in body of seventeen men,
drawn haphazard from jury list
made up regardless of qualifications.
If intelligently directed, this jury ap-
pears willing, able and anxious to per-
form the duties assigned to it. But,
to accomplish results, the public must
be behind the jury and support it by
making known matters that require
investigation. 1t is duty of every
citizen who has any knowledge of
crime, or official misdoing, to appear
before this jury and give them all the
information in his possession. 1t is
not necessary that the information be
conclusive, if it be sufficient to form a
clue by which wrong doing may be
traced. Knowledge of the matter may
come from other sources, that your in
formation may piece out.
The sessions of Thursday, Friday
and Saturday were of the fishing or
der. an effort to obtain something
tangible to work on, and the range of
witnesses indicate a desire to thor
Oughly probe all rumors of crime or
official misconduct. On Thursday,
Judge Irwin charged the jury, outlin-
ing it's powers and duties, and warn
ing them that the secrecy of their de-
liberatiOns must be carefully guard
ed. After organization was perfected,
County Auditor Rosmond was sum-
moned, with the record of the pro-
ceedings of the board of county COM
missioners, and remained all after
noon with the jury.
Wbi1p tho trOooo1iupc ara cocrot
the presumption prevailed in Monte
sanO that the rumors of graft that
have surrounded the new courthouse
ever since the contract was let. was
being probed. Since the inception OF
the new county buildings-that will
cost approximately 100000 by the
time they are ready for occupancy
the air has been filled with rumors
of crOokedness. A story was current
that the sum of $4,000 had been
raised in Montesano for the corrup-
ton of the commissioners, with the
understanding that the contractor
would repay the subscribers out of
his profits. Another to the effect that
an agreement was made between a
majority of the commissioners, by
which, in return for support of the
new court house, the cruising of tim
ber lands for taxation purposes-to
which their party platform had
pledged them-wOuld not be permit
ted. 1t is believed the jury is in dead
earnest in pursuit of those rumors,
and will, if possible, prove or dis
prove them, and to that end, anyone
in possession of any information on
the subject should communicate with
the jury.
Friday was newspaper day. and the
editors of the Hoquiam Washington
ian, Aberdeen World Aberdeen Her.
aid and Montesano Vidette, and Cor
respondent A. C. Girard, were among
the witnesses, and occupied the atten-
ton of the jury all day. On Saturday,
F. r. Archer allotting agent of the
Quiniault Indian reservation, and for
mer county assessor, spent most Of
the day in the jury room, presumably
going over the matter of assessments
for taxation of timber lands and other
property. County School Superinten-
dent Mckillip, Justice of the Peace j.
w. Pettijohn and Sheriff Payette each
spent considerable time before the
body, and subpoenas were issued for
three witnesses to appear this morn
ing.
About one-third of the members of
the jury are farmers, and their de-
sire to go home to care for their hay
crops may lead to an adjournment
for few weeks. In this suggestion
| they are supported by the fact that
it will afford time to digest the evil
dence now before them, and to trace
some of it down. 1t is also believed
that the jury should remain in ses-
sion during the eQualization of assess.