The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-28
JUDGE ADSOLVES SOTT|LE.
HEARS EVIDENCE ON III. F.. HO.
CAMS CHARGES OF ATTEMPT
AT BRIBERY,
Judge Bowman Says Mr.. Stoncy Pre-
sented the Matter in Excellent
Manner.

Charleston, April 26.-The rule tt
snow cause against James sottile
president OF the Charleston.Isle o
Palms Traction Company, as to VIII,
he should not be adjudged in con.
tempt of court. and punished, as a re-
suit OF Charges made by H. Franl
hogan, Juror. that Mr.. sottile offer.
ed him bribe to hang the jur,
charged with suit against tn,
traction company, If the accuser were
10 be drawn on that jury, was dis.
missed by Judge I. w. Bowman yes.
terday. Judge Bowman stopped tho
case before the defense had complet.
Cd putting on the stand all its witness.
es and said that he was not going {,
near any more of the testimony. n<
tnen announced that the rule TO show
cause was dismissed, which mean;
that the defendant was absolved OF
the charge.
The case had been set for Il
o'clock and when the hour arrived
every seat In the court room was oc-
cupied. practically all the members o.
the local bar being present and many
or the leading business men of III.
city. Both Mr.. Sottile and Mr.. HOGAN
were vehement in their testimony at
times and frequently the court had %
rap for order. Questions and ao
swers at times caused laughter, so
much so that Judge Bowman in
structed the sheriff to bring the next
offender up before him.
There was much interest in the
case and few words Of the testimony
were missed by the large number of
spectators.
Mr.. Hogan adhered to the state
ments made In his affidavit concerning
the charge OF bribery on the part of
Mr.. sottile. Thursday in open court
he accused the defendant of attempt
ing to bribe him to hang the jury IL
he were drawn on the case Of Aaron
Fechter. az administrator Of the
estate Of Hyman Zerlin. deceased,
against the Charleston-Is Isle Of Palms
Traction Company for $4,000 dam
ages.
Mr.. Sottile denied that he had ever
mentioned to Mr.. Hogan anytime
about the case nor had he offered him
one cent Of money. but on the other
hand charged Mr.. Hogan with asking
him for bribe. declaring that Mr.
Hogan said that he could get more
than 800 from Mr.. Louis M. Shimel,
counsel for the plaintiff in the case
but that as he was friendly with Mr.
Sottile he would rather work for him
There were several character wit
nesses for the defendant and it was
while presenting these that Judge
Bowman stopped the case and render
Su NChuiCts xtutAcOSS ISlNtIS,
Esq, was counsel for the traction
company I'm the case. He also repre-
sented Mr.. sottile yesterday and was
his principal witness.
Witnesses for the state were: II
Frank Hogan. Mrs. H. Frank Hogan
Fl. Frank Hogan, Jr., william II.
Dunkin. clerk Of court; o. G. w. Mar
Jenhoff. Louis M. Shimel, John Sack,
Edward Escoffier. ]. G. Voss and Po-
liceman Fred Slender.
Witnesses for the defense were:
James Sottile. M. Rutledge Rivers. A.
Clifford Thompson. j. L. David, Will
liam M. Bird and Henry Schachte.
After dismissine the rule to show
cause Judge Bowman said that he
wished publicly to commend Solicitor
Thomas p. stoney for his work in the
case. adding that he had done splen
didly in preparing and presenting the
matter.