The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1914-05-08
Councilman Biteman
A Free Man
BRIBERY CHARGE OUT OF COURT
Case Dismissed at Close Of States Evidence wit.
neSSeS for Defense Not Called

Councilman W Biteman is tree
man again, the case against him on
the cha ge Of accepting a bTib1 having
failed
Ills preliminary examination VAS
held before Probate Judge Reed In
OGeur d'Alene Tuesday afternoon It
was bet for trial at two O'Clock and
at that time the G rridors leading to
the courtroom we're Gro sded With st.
Maries people Glanoing over the
crowd one could easily fancy himself
Ia st Mares as the principal husi
ness men of the city we're we'll repre-
sented. having been subpoenaed as
witnesses In the case
Acting City Attorney Taylor ap-
peared for the state. assisted by
County Attorney Wernette MoNaugh
ton q Berg and Oil Potts appeared
for Biteman
l. Martin was the fist witness
sworn for the state and told of the
alleged hribing of MIR Rltemsn lie
claimed 90 have given biteman
twentyii Eve dollars under the under
standing that he. Biteman. would
"lis down" aud give up his fight
against tha houses of prostitution His
story WAS practically tina same rs
given ia the Record OF last Friday
tie stated that A Robinson had
given him fifty dollars, twenty five
tor himself and twenty dve TO be
given to Bitemau In case he could
get Biteman to stop his 1ght on
the fancy honses
The money he testified. was given
him hy Robinson IN ha,k rom In
lirsasnn & Hopkins saloon and WAS
"a ten dollar bills lie testified that
he had a talk with Blteman at his
home on the subject and Bitemau
agreed to the proposition That he
arranged with BitemRu TO meet him
down town In short time, when he
would give him the money
His story Of the paying over the
money and paying bill at Carleton
was substantially the came as told by
Mr. Bilttman In his statement IN Fri
days Record, except hs insisted that
the money was paid to Biteman to
influence him as stated above aud
not iL payment of a hoard bill. as
WAS claimed Gy Bitaman, although he
did admit, on CROSS examination,
that he owed BitemRn a board bill
Oounoilmen W / Geist aud AL
Wunderllok we're put on the stand
ny the state aud testified that prior
to May goth. Biteman had attacked
the houses of III fame in the council
meetings and had demanded aud in
sisted on the ordinance against them
being enforced
That after that time he had said
nothing more and that he voted fol
the repeal Of the ordinance later on
At the conclusion of the state''
case, Mr. Potts, attorney for Mr. Bite
man. moved that the case be dis
missed and Mr. Blteman disohrged on
the ground that even it the states
evidence was true, no crime bad
been committed
tie read the section Of law ielat
Ing to accepting a hTibe TO the edec
that the money must have been pait
30 Influence the councilman actioai
regard to soms matter or subject
pending before the council ant
stated that the state had not shown
that any matter was pending hefor'
the council
The judge took a recess of half al
hour to look up the authorities on lh'
matter and on reconvening court HI
granted the motion 10 dismiss th,
ease and discharge the defendant
Attorney Warnette then dismissed
tie action against Robinson aud he
was discharged
The crime charged against the twi
men is a very serioue one In thu
eyes Of the law. the penalty upol
conviction being from two to four
teen years In the penirentihry