The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-21
George A. Barnes, Central Figure of Trial, Was Run ming for Selectman, When Alleged Offenses Were Committed.
 Rev. MT. Wyland testifies to Corrupt Conditions, Which He Says He Described to the Defendant.
Bribes of from $1 to $2 Claimed to Have Been Of fered to Voters If they
 Would Attend Republican
 Caucus and Vote for Barnes.

The same corrupt political conditions
 that caused nationwide scandal when
 revealed in rural Ohio, were shown
 this morning in the criminal superior
 court to have existed in the little town
 of Sherman. George A.. Barnes is on
 trial before Judge Shumway and a
 jury on the charge of having offered bribes ranging from $1 to g to three
 different voters in Sherman, provided
 they would attend the Republican eau
 GUS in sherman and vote for Barnes.
 The campaign against the alleged brfbers which resulted in the arrest
 of Barnes and former Deputy Sheriff
 Allen was waged by two ministers,
 Rev. Benjamin Franklin Wyland, now of Brooklyn, NY, and Rev. Eugene
 L. Richards of Cannon station. They
 learned that wholesale vote buying
 was being conducted in the town and
 state police were called in. After a
 searching investigation the police
 made several arrests.
 This morning Rev3 Mir. Wyland tes-
 tified that he had called Barnes at-
 tention to the fact that political con-
 ditions were corrupt He declared
 that whoever was responsible should
 bA convicted. Barnes replied. so the
 minister testified, that he was no
 more responsible for conditions than
 anybody else. He had merely done as
 others had done. Ut was customary
 among politicians in the vicinity to
 buy votes.
 There are only about 160 voters in
 Serman The town is Republican by
 a ratio Of two to one but it is said that the party has bitter disputes
 ..-.f &I-oA c%~r, r,fo
 for nominations have formed the hab-
 it of offering inducements to voters
 for the e'trouble'' of attending the cau- cus
 Barnes. the central figure at the trial, was running for selectman. He
 is a prosperous looking man of mid- dle age but he appears very much worried by the serious aspect of the case There are circles under his eyes
 and he has deep lines in his face. He has
 brilliant array of lawyers headed by
 Judge Nickerson of Cornwall and Att torney Homer S. Cummings of Stam-
 ford. They are making an able fight any many of their objections to ques- tions by States Attorney Judson have been sustained.
 A little f5 year old girl named Anna Herterick was the states star witness this morning. She is sister |'of William Herterick, one of the men alleged to have been bribed by Barnes. In a high penetrating voice she told of seeing Barnes give her brother two $1 bills to attend the caucus. The girl was not daunted by, cross exami- nation. In response to questions by Attorney Cummings she detailed how she had driven the cows from pas ture and was about to enter the house
 when she heard Barnes talking to her father and brother Attorney Cummings waxed sarcastic when the girl insisted she remembered various details. You must have a wonder full memory" he remarked. "I have 2 she replied. ssI remember things that when I went to New York"
 Another important witness for the state was Rev. Eugene L.. Richards. He said he represents the Prohibition party in this county and in the course | of his investigation of illegal liquor selling he heard about the vote buy ing The witness testified that he was present at the trial of Barnes in Sherman. He said the accused was
 represented by counsel at that time. The state brought out this fact in order that the testimony of Andrew Herterick, who is now dead, might be read to the jury.
 | William Herterick, son of the de- ceased witness, had to undergo a
 grilling this morning when counsel for the accused resumed cross exami- nation. Young Herterick is about 22 years old. His dress indicates that | the fashion journals have not pene- i trated the wilds of Sherman for he wore a hickory shirt and his clothes had apparently not been pressed re- gently. He was capable witness, however, and was not swerved by the attacks of the lawyers for the de- fense.
 When the trial was resumed this morning William Herterick was re- called for cross examination. He was asked if he said to Charles Stevens, s'Then damn ministers agreed to give | me S1OO for my evidence. They got | the evidence but I didn't get the money" The witness denied making such statement. He also denied saying to Stevens, eff they don't settle up before the trial in Bridgeport, there'n be a damn sight different story told"
 | Attorney Nickerson then recalled to | the mind of the witness his testimony before a magistrate in Sherman. Her terick admitted having said that he was paid $2 for going to town meet ! ing and voting for Barnes for select man. He also admitted that in the | previous hearings he had not men, | tioned his mother and sister in con- nection with the bribe. Yesterday he
 swore they were nearby when he re- ceived the $2. Anna Herterick, the 15 year old sister of the previous witness, was | ooIIod nv the state She tostiiad tT, Q f