New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
Judge Assailed
Bv Klan Offers
ChangedRuling
Oklahoma .Jurist. Who Fled
After Demonstration Over
Dismissal Of Bank Failure
Probe. Would Revive Jury
Bar Opposes Proposal
Okmulgec Man Declares He
Is Victim of Following
Advice of State Official
Special Dispatch to Tho Tribune

OkMULGEE, Okla. Feb. 1l.-Judge
family yesterday to Coyle, Okla, after
the Ku Klux Klan here had made a
demonstration In protest against the
judges sudden dismissal of grand
jury Thursday, to-day telegraphed d
County Attorney james Hepburn that
he would yield to popular feeling and
withdraw his dismissal of the jury.
But members of the Okmulgee bar, who
undertook to answer the message.
telegraphed to Judge Christopher that
any attempt on your part to reconvene
the grand jury or call another at this
time would be unwise." At the time of
its dismissal, the jury was said to be
preparing score of indictments
against we'll known citizens here IN
connection with the failure of the Com
nerce Bank Of Okmulgee
Judge Christopher's telegram to the
County Attorney said:
"I am overcome by the terrible news
paper stories, for ! believed my de-
cision was correct | did not intend to
hurt the people, but now feel that
their will should prevail in the matter
Of grand jury. and | am willing to set
aside Thursdays order and have the
old jury continue its work. I feel am
an inocent victim of following the ad-
vice and directions of Attorney Cen
eral Freezing. who has charge of crimi-
nal appeals and claimed q loss of many
thousands Of dollars to our county un-
less new jury was drawn. You know
me we'll and surely can certify that
| have always been an honest, clean,
moral man and can help to reinstate
Il
of the good people"
Lawyers Oppose Judges Return
Tell him not to come back" was
the way A. Z. Graham, attorney, ex
pressed his views at a meeting of bar
members at the courthouse to-day.
"My money is in that bank and he's
helping them get away with it, was
the statement of another Other law
yers, however. while condemning the
jurist, said that no such warning as
Mr.. Graham suggested should be sent.
The idea. it was agreed should be
given the judge, but couched in diff
ferent language.
Members of the bar found that as
legal proposition the discharged grand
jury could be reimpaneled. They felt
that there were too many chances Of
techncalties being raised and that any
indictments that would be voted might
be invalidated
The probability of reimpanelng the
Old grand jury was given the most Sc
we're blow by Gordon Clark, foreman OF
tae jury. Clark appeared at the meet
ing of the lawyers. He said:
"lf he is permitted to come back
first, and | might add that | believe
70 of -
Of the jury
Clark ~as bitter and said other
things.
Whether Judge Christopher will at
tempt to return after receiving the
message is not known tonight. Wheth-
er he does or does not it appears a
we'll settled question he will not recon
vene the old grand jury and will not
have anything to do with future in
vestigations.
new grand jury has been sum-
moned to appear Monday by Judge
Mark l.. Bozarth. of the district.
County Attorney Hepburn made TIE
statement tonight that no attempt
would be made by his Office to place
evidence before the grand jury of the
failure of the Bank of Commerce be-
fore February 81.
Law Violated, Judge Says
OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla. Feb. II fBv
The Associated Press After | had
empanellod the grand jury" Judge
Christopher explained over the tele-
phone from Coyle to-day, sit occurred
TO nc that | had not followed the law
in the matter and | dismissed it.
My enthusiasm in the effort to OBJ
tam the best grand jury possible for
this work" the Judge continued, made
me select the best twelve men. in nv
Opinion, out Of the forty-eight which
had been summoned. But according to
the law | should have picked the first
twelve who qualified instead OF select
ing those who in my opinion were best
suited to serve