The Almshouse Grand Jury Faces a Conflict of Interest
Jurors with business ties to the contractor under investigation are allowed to remain on the case after an unusual courtroom scene.
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 grand jury has commenced its inquiry into the county hospital matter, having concluded the hearing of testimony in reference to the looting of the city treasury. Yesterday morning, George B. Adair and John Leek, two of the members of the jury, appeared before Judge Humes to make inquiry concerning their qualifications to sit in the investigation, Mr. Adair being a bondsman of Contractor Rigby, and Mr. Leek being a subcontractor. Judge Humes said any member of the jury was at liberty to ask his fellow members to excuse him if he had any conscientious scruples about sitting because of business or other connections with any of the parties interested. Mr. Adair wanted to explain his position, but the court would not allow it. After retiring to the jury room, Mr. Adair explained that he became Mr. Rigby's bondsman as the representative of the Gordon Hardware Company, and without knowing him, and Mr. Leek explained that he was simply a subcontractor and had no personal interest in Mr. Rigby. It was voted by the jurors that Mr. Adair and Mr. Leek should be allowed to act in the almshouse inquiry, and the jury then commenced work.
“Judge Humes said any member of the jury was at liberty to ask his fellow members to excuse him if he had any conscientious scruples about sitting.”
Public corruption investigations often stumble over the 'small-town' nature of civic life, where potential investigators are socially and professionally tied to the targets of inquiry. The incident highlights the inherent fragility of grand juries in a city where the contractor class often overlaps with the civic establishment.
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