Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1920 — NEWBERRY AND SIXTEEN OTHERS [ARTICLE]

NEWBERRY AND SIXTEEN OTHERS

Found Guilty of Election Conspiracy In Michigan. JURY WAS OUT 42 HOURS Mtn Found Guilty Were Accused of Conspiring to Exceed Expenditures Allowed for Campaign Purposes. Grand Rapids, Micb., Mcb. 20. — United States Senator Truman H. Newberry wus this afternoon sentenced io serve two years in federal prison and fined SIO,OOO following bis conviction on election fraud charges. Sentence was passed by Judge Clarence W. Session of the United States district court. Just before Judge Sessions pronounced sentence attorneys for the defense moved for a stay of Judgment and also for a new trial. The motions were denied. Grand Rapids, Micb.. Mcb. 20.— Truman H. Newberry, United States senator from Michigan (republican), was found guilty of fraud In obtaining his election in 1918 by a Jury in United States district court here today. The Jury reported at 11:20 o’clock this morning after deliberating since 5 p. m. Thursday. The Jurors found that Newberry conspired with bls associates to cause the expenditure during the campaign of a sum of money in excess of the amount allowed under the federal corrupt practices act. The maximum penalty provided for the offense is two years imprisonment and a fine of SIO,OOO. Sixteen others were found guilty with Newberry. They all were leading defendants. The remainder of the 85 defendants were acquitted on the charge of conspiring to violate the corrupt practices act. All of the defendants were found not guilty on the sixth count, charging conspiracy to use the United states mails to defraud. The others found guilty follow: Paul King, Detroit, who managed the Newberry campaign. Frederick Cody, New York city, legislative agent and Newberry’s right-hand man. Charles Floyd, Grand Rapids, manager of the Newberry campaign. Allan Templeton, head of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce. Hannibal Hopkins, publicity agent for the Newberry campaign. B. Frank Emory of Detroit. Harry O. Turner of Detroit. E. V. Chilson, former secretary of state, Lansing. Roger M. Andrews, publisher, Menominee. John S. Newberry, brother of Senator Newberry, who furnished $99,900 for the campaign. Milton Oakman, Detroit, manager of the Wayne county Newberry committee. >| William J. Mlckel, Oshkosh, Wls., Newberry worker. Richard Fletcher, state labor commissioner. Silas J. McGregor, Delta,. Fred Henry, Flint. George S. Ladd, Sturbridge, Mass., a good roads lecturer. The Jury’s first ballot was on the question of whether or not there was a tonspiracy. It stood 8 in favor to 4 against. Within a few minutes the vote was unanimous in deciding that there was a conspiracy, according to juror reports. Jurors went down the list, debating and balloting on each man to decide whether or not he was a party to the conspiracy. Martin Block of Char'.evoix was foreman of the jury. The verdict was a great shock to those found guilty, as they were expressing confidence of acquittal a few minutes before the verdict was read. Senator Newberry sat as if in a daze when his name, the first to be read, was followed by the word “guilty.” Mrs. Newberry, sitting at bls side, patted bls hand as if unconsciously. His son Phelps op the other side, put his arm around his father’s shoulders and blinked to keep back the tears.

Tears of joy and tears of sorrow came to the eyes of wives of the defendants in the courtroom as the last of the 17 names were read. Eyes of many of the men were red as they filed slowly out of the courtroom. Senator Newberry later issued the following statement: “There Is nothing In the jury’s

verdict that will cause me to hang my head. Until my conscience and the supreme court decides that 1 have wronged the people of Michigan, I will retain my seat in the United States senate.”