Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1910 — BROWNE FREED BY JURY [ARTICLE]

BROWNE FREED BY JURY

Returns Verdict of Not Guilty in Bribery Case. ■ | * Lee O’Neil Brown was acquitted at Chicago on the charge of bribing C. A White to vote for William Lorimer as United States senator. The Verdict: was reached after the jury had been out twenty-one hours. Browne era* lunching at the Briggs House when he' was notified that the jury was ready ! to report and hastened to . the criminal court building in an automobile. States Attorney Wayman and Attorneys Erbstein were waiting. A moment lot" or* FVwx iurr* v-*-»

later the jury filed in. In the confusion that followed the reading of the verdict, Browne leaped from his seat and embraced Attorney Erbstein. “I thank God,” he cried, as tears streamed down his cheeks. owe my life to the lawyers who defended me, for a verdict of guilty would have meant death to me."

Browne was indicted in May for bribery, the charge being that he paid Charles A. White. State Representative from O’Fallon, 111., SI,OTO In the .Briggs House in accordance with a promise he made to pay that amount, providing White would cast his vote for William Lorimer for senator. Lorimer’s election followed a deadlock in the state legislature that had been prolonged for five months in which Former Senator John J. Hopkins and Lawrence B. Stringer wera the opposing candidates and unable to obtain the necessary vote. • ■ . • • ■%