Charges Of Bribery

Joliet, Hls., March 1.- When proceedings opened in Judge Hilscher's court at Joliet, where the suit oí the drainage board has been in progress, it was evident had hapened during the night. This was clearly denoted by the air of expectancy in the courtroom. An unusually large crowd had gathered in the expectation of hearing something sensational. Sensational charges of attempted bribery in connection with drainage board condemnation suits now on trial in Judge Hilscher's court at Joliet will be made in court here by the attorneys ior the board. The charges will involve a number of Joliet's most prominent citizens. It will be claimed that money has been used to influence the findings of the jury. The speciflc allegatiotjs will be that a conspiracy has been entered into whereby property worth $35 or $40 is to be declared worth $120 and $125 per foot. Members of Jury Approached. The attorneys for the board assert that they have evidence to show that members of the jury have been approached and that local prejudices have been appealed to by the emissaries of the alleged bribe-givers. The argument that Joliet gains Iittle by the drainage channel scheme, while.being made to some extent a sufferer from Chicago's sewage, has been utilized with skill and effect. This local feeling of Iittle gain and the supposed great loss from a sanitary point of view to Joliet has, the drainage board attorneys say, been crystallizing in the penitentiary city for many years, and now, when at last the residents of Will county have an opportunity to mulct heavily the taxpayers of the drainage district, they have, the attorneys claim, entered into a conspiracy to obtain exorbitant prices for the land to be condemned. Snit lieing Triert in a Batch. Just who are the particular jurymen against whom accusations are to be made it is impossible to learn. The suits in conneetion with which the allegations of bribery are to be made are for the condemnation of property fronting on the Des Plaines river and extending for a half mile betweeen Jackson and Jefferson streets. The suits are being tried in a batch by one jury. The six principal defendants or property owners are: R. E. Barber, attorney; M. E. Bannon. grocer; J. P. King, lumberman; Wilcox Bros., carriage manufacturers; W. J. Adam, barbed wire manufacturer. All these defendants are ranked among the wealthiest men of Joliet. There are about twenty-five minor defendants, the value of whose property will average about $500. Many Peculiar Developments. It is claimed that local sentiment is averse te. the interests of the drainage board. The progress of the trial is marked by many peculiar developments. Numerous witnesses have been summoned on each side to testify as to the value of the property in dispute. The average number of these expert witnesses has been twenty-two to each piece of property. Two of the most prominent and highly respected of these appraisers have differed conspicuously and inexplicably in their estimates. Attorney F. W. C. Hayes, representing the drainage board, is here giving his personal attention to the case. He expressed himself as confident that the promised disclosures would get some of the most prominent residents of Will county into serious trouble. The number of jurors under suspicion is given as flve.