The Detroit times., 1915-03-29

Trial III ats While
Judge Connolly
Probes Matter
JOHN F. GERKE is
MAN APPROACHED
Promptly Reports In
cident to COurt-Mis-
trial Improbable

ehV Nhaist VI hiayhk hibs TunCtS
Bomholt was Unexpectedly arrested.
Saturday morning. when Judge Con.
molly called John r. Gerke. No. los
Jay-st., one Of the Jurors. 10 the
stand.
Mr.. Gcrke. after being sworn. said
that after h, left the court room at
! o'clock. Friday afternoon, he was
met on the street by two men. One
Of them said to his companion: Tell
him 10 wait for me-" indicating a
man across the street. and after he
had gone said 10 Gerke: You're a
juror in the Becker case. aren't
your
II told him I was" said Mr. Gerke.
"He said: My name Is Otto Shau-
ski said I am glad TO know you,
OTTO He said: You're juror in
the Becker case. Try 10 do what
you can for her-she's my mother
] said: 4 can't talk with you about
that. and left him. | had my lunch.
and then came back and told the
court about t."
Otto Shauski turned out TO be
Otto Felske. one OF Mrs. Becker's
sons by her FIRST husband. Prose
cutting Attorney Jasnowski called
Fclski's name, and man arose
among the spectators. Gerke identi.
: fed him as the person who had &C
oosted him.
Mr.. Gerke said that the occur.
renee would not influence him In any
way In his verdict, but there was
CONSERVATION among the lawyers for
few minutes. and Judge Connolly
was visibly worried.
The question u.s." said the court.
'how many OF the other jurors have
been approached In q similar way.
II was a very stupid performance. to
say the least Knowing Mr.. Gerke
as I do. I believe that his verdict
would not be influenced. but I can
not tel as the effect OF this Incident
on the men whom ! do not know"
Judge Connolly then called for the
Jury list and asked each juror II
anyone had spoken TO him. or had
tried 20 speak to him about the
Becker case. or IL he knew Otto Eel
ske. Each Juror replied in the mega.
tive.
Then for several minutes Judge
Connolly thought deeply. while the
attorneys sadly considered the pos
slbility OF repeating the lons-drawn-
out, arduous task OF securing jury.
Counsel for both sides declared that
they were satisfied to 20 on with the
present jury. Finally, the court sent
the Jury from the room and the at
torneys grouped themselves about
the bench.
"Fciske's act Is OF such nature
as 10 deserve serious consideration
said Prohecuting Attorney Jasnow-
ski. "Felski IL old enough TO know
that TO approach Juror in that way
"a not an act OF stupidity. bat seri.
Gus ng-doing. I ask that he be
detained until can make an investi-
cation"
II think that a very short ques-
tioning Of Feiske will reveal his
mentality" said Attorney Thomas
w. Thompson. who claims that Eel
ski Is. 10 certain extent, weak
minded.
without implying anything re-
garding the counsel for the prisoner.
I claim that he can't tell how far
this matter may extend" said Mr..
Jasnowski. This may be only the
first indication Of far-reaching
scheme for tampering with the
Jury"
"The effect on the other Jurors In
the point that disturbs," said the
court. "Mr. Gerke did not know
Feiske--he thought that the man
said that his name was Shauskl. ]
acauit Mr.. Gerke OF any wrong-do-
ing. for | know him TO he an honest
man. and the fact that he came right
10 me with his statement shows that
he realized the seriousness OF the
matter and wished to be fair. But
the matter to be considered Is. not
the effect on Mr.. Gerke. but on the
other Jurors. that any attempt to
influence one OF their number In be-
half OF the defendant may have"
Judge Connolly ordered Felske to
be taken into custody, and he was
pIaced under arrest. The court then
adjourned the case until Monday aft
ernoon NJ 2 o'clock.
Mr.. Gerke made an afidavit az to
Felske's conduct. and q bench war
rant was Issued for him. charging
him with contempt Of court He win
have HIS hearing. MONDAY afternoon
Former Judge Stewart Hanley was
appoInted amicus curiae by Judge
Connolly. Felske was taken to the
county jail.
During this proceeding. Mrs. Beck
or never lifted her head, and paid
no attention TO her sons dilemma
FeIske also looked stolidly on with
his weak blue eyes, and seemed quite
unaware that anything serious had
happened.
The punishment for contempt OF