Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1902 — JUDGE’S REMARKS ARE CAUSTIC [ARTICLE]

JUDGE’S REMARKS ARE CAUSTIC

Severely Scores Men Who Plead Guilty in Michigan Fraud Case. J. R. Hunter, J. W. Woodworth, H. P. Kauffer and S. N. Bickerstaff of the Henderson-Ames company of Kalamazoo appeared in the Circuit court at Lansing, Mich., and pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to defraud the state of Michigan by their connection with the military clothing frauds. The charge against them was changed from perjury in connection with their testimony before the grand jury that investigated the frauds, to conspiracy to defraud the state. Hunter. Woodworth and Kauffer were each fined $2,000 by Judge Wiest and Bickerstaff was fined $1,200 with the alternative in each case of two years in prison if the fines were not paid. In passing sentence Judge Wiest scored the respondents unmercifully. He said that they in the eyes of the court, and that the court was induced to impose fines, not from pity, but from the fact that for a century courts have recognized the facts that accomplices arc user’ by states in the aid of justice are titled to consideration.