New-York tribune., 1911-12-22
SCHEFTELS TRIAL HALTED
Theatrical Agent Indicted for
Attempting to Bribe Juror.
HELD IN HEAVY BAIL
Defence Cries Trickery, but
More Arrests Will Be Made,
It Is Declared.

Al alleged attempt TO bribe one OF the
Jurors halted yesterday the trial of b. II.
Scheftels. George Graham Rice and the
other men associated with the firm OF
B. II. Scheftels & Co. who are charged
with having used the mails in scheme
TO defraud investors in stocks. George
j. Byrne, said to be a theatrical agent
with an office at No. 1902 Broadway,
was arrested by Chief Flynn of the
Secret Service on the charge Of having
approached Frederick S. Dale, Juror No.
q with promise of $1,000 after the end
of the trial if the juror held out for
disagreement of the jury.
There were many indications in the
Federal Building yesterday that the ar
rest of Byrne was only first step
toward the disclosure of what is alleged
10 be an extensive plot TO interfere with
the course of justice in the Scheftels
case. Not only was the arrest made by
Chief Flynn. whose duties do not include
such cases, bu: the postoffice inspectors
were also drawn into it late in the after
noon to aid the marshals in trailing the
numerous persons suspected OF com
plicity in the alleged plot.
Goldthwaite II. Dorr, Abel |. Smith
and w. II. Pitkin. assistant United
States attorneys in charge Of the Schef-
tells prosecution, declined 10 discuss what
effect the alleged bribery would have on
the trial of the case. 1t was declared,
however, that more arrests would be
made soon.
After a conference between the de-
PENDANTS and their lawyers, Abram J.
Rose and Louis J. Norhaus, Of counsel.
declared on behalf Of their clients that
all of the defendants denied even an ac-
quaintance with Byrne, and were per-
fectly ignorant Of any attempt that
might have been made TO interfere with
the jury.
"If il be fact that juror has been
approached" said Mr. Rose, lit was done
with an idea to injure the defence and
not 10 aid any of the defendants our
clients believe that as the case against
them was instigated by Wall Street en-
emies, the alleged bribery Of a juror was
due to an effort made by interests mimi
cal t. the Scheftes firm in order TO dis
credit the defence
The alleged attempt 10 bribe Dale was
made on December 16. Dale reported
the matter to Judge Ray, in the United
States Circuit Court, before whom the
trial has been in progress for nine weeks,
1rIoraH n N iptrctipafint1
While Mr.. Dale was taken before the
grand Jury to testify Chief Flynn was
asked by Henry 4. Wise, United States
Attorney, to keep Byrne under the
strictest surveillance, and after the
grand jury found sufficient grounds TO
indict Byrne on Wednesday his arrest
followed yesterday. He was taken be-
fore Judge Holt, who held him in $10-
600 bail on a plea Of not guilty.
The connection, if any, Of Byrne with
the scheftels case is as yet a mystery.
He IS a tall man. of prosperous appear
ance. and was a familiar figure In the
corridor outside the courtroom where
the Scheftels trial has been going on.
When the news OF Byrne's arrest and
the alleged interference with a Juror
reached the lawyers for the Scheftels
defence they asked Judge Ray for a con-
ference, and the trial was suspended for
awhile. Shortly before 3 o'clock Judge
Ray ANNOUNCED an adjournment until
this morning in order 10 give the de-
fence time to meet the new condition Of
affairs.