Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1915 — ROBERTS AND PALS TO SERVE IN PEN [ARTICLE]

ROBERTS AND PALS TO SERVE IN PEN

SENTENCES VARY FROM 1 DAY TO 6 YEARS—SOME TO APPEAL AND OTHERS SURRENDER TO INEVITABLE. JUDGE REDMAN GETS 5 YEARS 106 Convicted of Election Frauds— Most of Them Will Go to Ft. Leavenworth, Kans., Where They Will Find Conditions Very CrowdedFour Men Who Gave Up the Fight Are Allowed to Go to Their Homes and Instructed to Personally Report at the Prison Next Monday.

Judge Anderson passed sentence in the federal court at Indianapolis Monday morning on the 116 men sentenced in the vote fraud cases which have been attracting much attention since last November. The court room and corridors were crowded early with people who wished to view the novel spectacle of 116 men being sentenced to prison. It was necessary to remove the jury box and the witness stand to make room for the prisoners to line up before the judge. Five of the convicted men were absent when court convened. Four of the men who had appealed the case decided to withdraw their names and start immediately to serve their sentences. The men were George Sovem, gambler, John Masselink, city sealer, Arthur Gillis, an undertaker, and Joseph Straus, a political worker. Judge Anderson allowed them to return immediately to their homes in Terre Haute after he had passed sentence upon them, with the promise that they would start for Leavenworth not later than Sunday noon.

The men filed into the courtroom shortly before 10 o’clock. Mayor Roberts was at the head of the procession and tried to appear unconcerned and had a smile on his face which was forced. Judge Eli Redman appeared the least unconcerned of the prisoners. Dennis Shea popular favorite of the crowd anct Ms good humored Irish smile did not desert him. Asked if he had anything to say, he replied: “Hell, no, no matter what happens to me, I would not have anything to say.” When Judge Anderson entered the room all the men stood up hurriedly. They appeared to be as much interested in what was in store for their fellow conspirators as to the sentences they themselves were to receive.

• By the time Judge Anderson had begun to pronounce sentence Roberts’ smile left his face aid dark circles appeared under his eyes. He blankly at the court when he heard the sentence which would send him to Leavenworth for six years with a $2,000 fine tacked on. Dennis Shea was the next on the list but he carried such an indifferent attitude that anyone that did not know him could not detect by his facial expression which of the prisoners were being sentenced. Judge Redman was next and received the severest scortching of any of them. Roberts’ smile returned when Redman received his flaying. As more men were sentenced Roberts regained his composure and seemed immensely pleased. They say misery loves company and it whs thought that the aphorism was making good in the case of Roberts. The underdogs, the men from the slums, were agreeably surprised When the sentences were passed on them. They had received all the raw ends of the deal during the entire trial and it was only natural that they should receive more severe sentences. An unusual feature of the trial among the entire 116 men that there was not a single man who feared to take his medicine. During the entire proceedings there was no emotion displayed and there was not a single tear shed, even by the wives and relatives of the convicted men. The men will all be allowed to go by themselves to Leavenworth to enter prison and serve their terms. The sentences ranged all the way from Mayor Roberts’ sentence of 6 years down to one day with a SIOO fine attached. Four of the men were allowed to go free, viz. Wesley, Godfrey, Tierney, Hill and Gosnell. The sentences of four were reserved, John Nugent, Frank Hess, Jack Hides and John Bruens. , .. Word received from Leavenworth was to the effect that if the Terre Haute officials were sent there they would have to be housed in dormitories and it win be a task tat the

prison officials to find something for them to do. The sentences of the most prominent men follow: Mayor Roberts, 6 years and a $2,000 fine. Dennis Shea, sheriff, and Judge Eli Redmanr 5 years at Leavenworth and a SI,OOO fine. Harry Montgomery, president of the board of public works, Thomas Smith, city court judge, Edward Driscoll, assistant engineer, and George Ehrhart, member of the board of public works, three years in Leavenworth and a S6OO fine. Lewis Nunley, assistant engineer, Elmer Talbott, former city comptroller, Hilton Redman, son of Mi Redman, William S. Crockett, and John Green, two years in Leavenworth and a fine of SIOO. John Holler, former chief of police, one year and a day in Leavenworth and a fine of sl. The rest of the sentences ranged from six months down to one day. Well, Donn, you should worry, you’ll get a haircut free of charge,