Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-09-13

49, $3.50 A~~~9S 49, 50AS3O AASAAO SAAO VII
tinuance upon the motion of the dis
trict attorney. This motion was not
strenuously resisted by the counsel for
jeremiah Patton. They offered a for
NAL objection for the prisoner, which
was overruled, and the exception was
entered on the record. The Judge dis
charged the jury. ordered new panel
and took up the trial of some petty
revenue cases, the assistant district
attorney appearing for the govern
ment.
Stetheimer explained the meaning
of this continuance to the public by
covertly suggesting the story told to
the judge. The public was appeased
with the promise of more and promin-
ent victims, and the district attorney
stood justified in the conduct of his
case. Moreover, his reputation for
shrewdness was established, and his
figure as far-sighted, incorruptible
public servant on the trail of higher
thieves heightened, widened, doomed
larger. He left Immediately for New
York accompanied by his wife, who
was taken to the station in an ambu-
lance.
Jacob Solmeyer arranged meeting
of some Of the more prosperous look
ing of his clients and took the district
attorney before them. They discussed
the problems of the great combine.
questioned the lawyer at length upon
the status Of their rights under the
interstate Commerce Act, the posi-
bility of Federal investigation, the
effect of such a move on the bonds of
the trust as a security, and the
scope of the act in its criminal fea-
lures.
The district attorney slurred over
the difficulties in the Federal statue,
individual punishment for violation of
the act was already dead letter, that
the act itself.was largely a bugaboo to
appease the farmer. He urged the
combine and promised immunity in
Missouri. Solmeyer's bankers" ad-
upon the loan to the contemplated
combine. However, they agreed to
employ the district attorney, in case
the loan was made, and to pay him
twenty-five thousand dollars year.
Solmeyer gave the man an addition
al one thousand dollars, and he return
ed to st. Louis.
On Thursday morning Jacob Sol
meyer reported to Randolph Mason,
and told Of the transaction in detail.
He was puzzled to the finger tips and
curious to know Mason's object. But
he was a man of discretion, aware of
the value of silence and the folly of
any query put to Randolph Mason.
His theory was that Mason wished to
make case against the district attor-
ney looking to his removal, and in test
Of this theory he venture@ to present
his report carefully in writing, attach
ing to it a sworn stenographic report
of the district attorneys speech to the
bankers" including his offer of pro-
lection against the Interstate Com
merce Act.
Randolph Mason tossed the papers
into the CRATE when Solmeyer had fin
ished, concluded the conference, and
dismissed him.
In the hall the old German blinked
behind his thick glasses. 'Mein Colt!
Mr.. Parks" he said, "vat does Ran
dolph Mason mean? He pay six thou
sand dollars to get der district attor-
ney on record, den he burns der rec
ord"
"Solmeyer," 1 replied, II do not
know who was the man in the iron
mask. I do not know what melody it
was the sirens sang, neither do I
know what Randolph Mason means"
And yet was not in the least puz-
zled. I thought ] saw clearly into the
solution Of it all. Mason's ruse had
failed-that was the reading of the rid
die. He had planned to lure the dis
trict attorney out of st. Louis and
thereby cripple the prosecution; but
the shrewdness of the man had fore
stalled him. Mason had warned Pat
ton to oppose continuance; he evil
IDENTIFY counted upon his counsel to
resist Will SUCH tl6Ol Iunk CAO OOuA
would go on with the trial; he had not
dreamed of mere objection on the
record. The plan had gone to pieces.
/ had just pieced out and rounded
up my theory as the correct solution
of this otherwise inexplicable side.
play, when Randolph Mason came out
of his room, walked past me in the
hall and started up the stairway. He
stopped on the third step and looked
down at me.
Parks" ne said, Ego out to st.
Louis at the next term of the court,
and move it to discharge jeremiah
Patton. On your table is citation to
the only case you will require" Then
he went on up the stairway, his hand
sliding along the mahogany rail.
Thus my theory, like that of Jacob
Solmeyer, was snuffed out.
My train to st. Louis was eight
hours late because of floods in the
Ohio valley. The case of jeremiah
Patton had been called FOR retrial
when finally reached the United