Bribery Scandal Rocks Great Northern Condemnation Trial
A railroad condemnation suit descends into chaos as court witnesses reveal a plot to buy off the jury.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The proceedings in Judge Osborn's court, in the trial of the Great Northern railroad to condemn a depot site from the Columbia and Puget Sound railroad, opened yesterday with sensational charges of bribery. It was announced that some of the jurors had been approached with suggestions of bribery. Judge Burke said, 'I have learned that a notorious gambler of this city has approached some of the jurors... If you will take your cue in this damage suit from witnesses of the defense it will be worth $1,000.' Juror F.J. Wilder testified that J.S. Edwards, a bookkeeper at Considine's theater, told him he could get $1,000 to $1,500 if he followed the counsel for the Oregon Improvement Company. Judge Osborn ordered warrants for the arrest of Eugene Way and J.S. Edwards for contempt of court.
“You will get $1,000 or $1,500 if they get their price, and you will get your cue from the counsel for the Oregon Improvement Company.”
Court corruption scandals are a constant in urban history, showing how local legal battles over land and rail access were often fought with back-alley deals as much as in the courtroom. This story showcases the tension between corporate expansion and the integrity of the civic process.
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