Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-29
THE POLITICAL ASSESSMENT CASE.
The Jury In the Criminal Court Today Ac-
quits verser.

xne Jury In the Criminal Court Today Ac-
quits yerser.
TESTIMONY TAKEN IN THE cAsE-rHE ARGUMENTS
TO THE JURY--JCD0E BRApLEY's COMMENTS on
THE coMPREHENsIvESEss OF TIE LAW AND TIE
INTENTION OF CONGRESS
in the Criminal Court yesterday the case OF
John J. Verser came up. verser 10 charged
with violating the civil service law by solicit
ing and receiving contributions for political
purposes through the following circulars of the
Old Dominion Republican League:
AS citizen of Virginia you are Of course in
terested In the campaign now in progress in
our state, which is to determine its future
political status The Old Dominion League
was organized to assist in the election Of the
republican ticket, and respectfully asks your
cooperation by your becoming a member and
making such further contribution to aid in the
campaign as your means will permit.
Initiation fee. 81. Dues. 25 cents per month.
MIR. Burke reserved his opening for the de-
PENDANT
District Attorney Cole asked if the govern
ment was not entitled to have the defendant at
the bar
Mr.. Burke remarked that Mr.. verser was in
court and 1t was required that tho defendant
should be In court, for the charge a mis-
demeanor. For the reason that there would be
some question as to whom the money was
paid he chad suggested that Mr.. Verser should
not occupy the usual place of the defendant.
MIR. Cole expressed himself as satisfied If
Mr.. Verser was in the room.
MISS BISoLEy's EVIDENCE.
Miss Margaret Bingley testified that she was
copyist in the bureau of education and in
September, 1889, she received one of the circu-
lars inviting contributions, and the same day
she went to the headquarters of the league at
the Lenox and paid, she thought. q dollar.
There were two gentlemen present she thought,
and Mr.. Newton, who she asked for, was not
there.
On cross-examination she said the dollar was
paid as initiation fee the circular stating that
amount for mutation and % cents per month
as dues She was quite certain that it was MIR.
Brooke Smith to whom she paid the money.
SECRETARY SMITHS TESTIMONY.
William Brooke Smith testified that ne was q
journalist, and in 1889, being out of work, he
was the secretary of the Old Dominion League.
The circulars were directed to be prepared and
sent out at the first meeting, and the executive
committee helda meeting for the purpose. Mr..
Hill prepared the circulars and witness signed
and sent them out There were several hundred
sent out. and as far as he knew not single one
was sent through the post office. He had list
of oil Virginians in Office in the District. The
circulars were directed to all such, and mem
bers would take them, agreeing to deliver them.
The officers were C. A. Newton,
president; w. c. Elan. D. J. Goodwin
and Z. N. Hill, vice presidents, Mr.. Verser.
treasurer, and witness, secretary. He knew
Miss Bingley and remembered when she called
and paid him the dollar as initiation fee. There
were no others present and Mr.. Verser was not
there. At night he paid the dollar into the
| treasury with other funds Mr.. Nerser had
nothing to do with giving out the circulars
but probably was present when members were
Loeb tt,nv.,
money as initiation fees and dues. After the
! circulars were sent out responses came, and as
| they were directed to ali Virginians they knew
some OF the responses were from democrats as
well as republicans. and in one case a Mr..
Iasker contributed IS. Mr.. Verser. he thought,
was absent from but one meeting He did not
know where the minutes of the league were, but
Mr.. Newton had them year ago.
PAULUs p. GLASS.
This morning Paulus P. Glass was the first
| witness and he testified that he was employed
at the government printing Office and the de-
PENDANT, Mr.. Verser, was employed there. He
| received one of the circulars, but did not do
| anything In consequence. He had contributed
90 for campaign purposes, paying it to
kind to him and he determined to assist
| him. He had received a note from
Mr. Jones and he told him that he expected to
| send his contribution to his home at Petersburg
| duu tAdt lie WOulu pay us own way nome TO
Petersburg. Subsequently he conyersed with
| Mr.. Nerser. Mr.. Jones having stated that the
| association was in want of funds, and gave him
80 to assis: in sending voters home. He did
not give him the money as treasurer of the
club. and he received receipt signed Vim.
Brooke Smith, secretary. Witness received the
circular at the proof room of the government
printing office, through the mail.
vERsER DID NOT SOLICIT.
On croes-ayarinatio n Wi said NJ Tar.
ser did not solicit the money. He had asked
Mr.. verser to change $40 bill, and when he
| said that he had not the change an engagement
| was made to meet that evening at the Metro
| politan Hotel, and when he saw Mr.. Verser he
| handed the money over. 1t was personal
| matter. and before the club was formed he had
made up his mind to assist Gen. Malone. He
had requested Mr.. Verser previously to take
| the money to the club.
JOHN d. LrGoS.
John D. Lyon testified that he was en-
pioyed at the government printing Office in
September, 1889, and he made a contribution
to the league through Mr.. Verser. He had re-
| ceived a circular while at work.
On croSs-examination witness said that he
went to Verser and paid his money, saying that
/ he had received a circular, and his impression
was that MIR. Verser said he knew nothing of
| the circular.
! On redirect examination witness said he
made the contribution because he thought II
| was his prerogative.
Mr.. Armes asked if witness voted and the
| court ruled it out
| Re-cross-Met Mr.. Verser on the street and
| introduced himself. Anew that Verser was
| treasurer by signing his name on the circular.
He only knew that the object of the league was
| to assist voters. He had never joined the
| league.
| by Mr.. Armes-He could not say that he told
| Verser that he (witness) was employed in the
| government printing Office.
| wM. r. BURGESS.
| VIM. R. Burgess testified that he was in the
government printing Office; that he received a
circular, knew the defendant, and remembered
speaking to him about the league, but could
| not remember that Mr.. Verser spoke about the
| circular.
| JOHN 7. WELSH.
| John T. Welsh, chief time clerk government
printing Office, testified that the record showed
that Mr.. Verser was employed in the Office; that
he was appointed July Is, 1883, as helper and
| was paid by the hour.
Mr.. Glass was appointed October 1884. dis
| charged September i5, 1888, and reappointed
in january 1859, ard Mr.. Lyon was appointed
| December 6, 1866.
| W. c. ELAN.
". C. Elan, chief railroad division, general
land office, appointed September, 1889.
| testified that he attended the first meeting of
| 81, H.