Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-26
.S|LL|TOE FINED $50
AFTER CONVICTION ON
CONTEMPT CHARGE
Accused of Talking to a Juror in
the George Brewer
Case.
COURT GIVES WARNING

Walter r. Siliitoo, charged with con-
tempt of court, for speaking to John :.
Hamilton, juror in the George Brewer
case, was found guilty by Judges Conrad
and Heisel in Court of General Sessions
today and was fined $50 and costs In
default of PAYNE OF which TO serve 30
DAYS in the worllhouse.
In imposing sentence Judge Helsel said
that the court had carefully considered
thFcase and what had been said. He said
| that there seemed to be no connection be-
| tween Sillitoes talking with the Juror and
the defendant in the case. Continuing,
Judge Heisel said that off the court
thought there was some connection, the
punishment would have been more severe
thnn that which was imposed
Judge Heisel said il is reprehensible on
/ the part OF anyone 10 approach any juror
while on duty at court. Every juror, he
said, has the right 20 hear cases without
/ being talked to before, during or after the
! trial In this case Judge HeIsel said. the
/ sentence was imposed as punishment 10
/ Silhtoe and warning to Others and 20
| show that the case could not be passed
| over lightly. He also said that after care
/ full consideration the court had found
! Sillitoe guilty of contempt and imposed
/ the fine of $50 and costs, or 80 DAYS ~
/ the workhouse.
After sentence had been imposed
Judge Heisel said that If the court thought
/ there had been malevoient intention there
would not have been any hesitancy ii,
sending the defendant TO jail for a con
siaerable period of time.
HAMILTON TIL is OF coSvrnsArloS.
Jchn s. Hamilton, who was first called
testified that on the day following the
starting af the frlsl, he WAS stopped by
Sillitne, who asked him What did they
/ do with the Brewer Gaze" after which,
he said be replied: We've been dischare-
ed till Monday morning when we'll hear
/ the lawyers arguments ard the charge,
/ He said he followed this up with-a state
mentf 10 the effect that he could not dis
/ cuss the case and be would have to report
| the incident TO the court
/ When asked If he hadn't replied moth
ing" to Sillitoes first question. Hamilton
said he mioht have said 'ncthins." but
: that If he did he followed up with an ex-
/ planatory statement Mr. Hamilton said
| he did not think Sillitoe Was try-in~ 70
. influence him.
| srLLrToE's VERSION.
SilItoe said he had made statemen,
was mighty strong case until the police
officers testified, before Hamilton had
made a statement that the jury had not
been discharged. SiIlitoe then said they
! separated at once. He said he did no,
know the case had not been closed.
David j. Reinhardt. former attorney
general, testified that he had known
Sillitoe vor about twenty years. He said
that the defendant had been OF consider
able assistance to the attorney-general :
Office during his four years and that he
had always regarded Sillitoe as man OF
integrity.
Judge Heisel asked Acknowledgement
Townsend if any effort had been made to
ascertain If Sillitoe had been interested
in the case for the defendant. To this
MrlTownsend replied that there was no
connection and that Sillitoe has even been
OF assistance to his Office. In concluding
Attorney-General Townsend emphasized
the point that he did not uphold the
practice of Jurors being approached
George S. Brewer was on trial charged
with serious offense against Anna
Converse. After announcement had been
made of Juror being sopken to, mis-
trial was declared in the case.