The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-07-07
SENATOR MITCHELL GUILTY
RRACTICED FOR PAY BEFORE
DEPARTMENT.
Oregon Senator in Tolls for Violating
Federal Law-SimilaF TO
Burton Case.

The Indictment Of Senator Mitchell,
which has resulted in conviction, was
based upon the violation, while Unit
ed States senator, Of the law that pro-
hibits him from appearing before the
government departments as a paid
counsel, directly or Indirectly, for a
client In this respect Mitchell com
mitted the same Offense against the
government as did Senator Burton.
Portland, Ore, July Amidst a
din and clatter Of fireworks, exploded
in honor Of the natal day Of the cOun-
try he had served as United States
senator during p years Of his life,
John H Mitchell listened to the words
prOnOuncing him guilty Of having
violated that law which precluded him
as a United States senator from &C
cepting pay for practicing before the
departments Of the federal govern
ment Those who had witnessed the
trial or who knew Senator AitcheII's
great popularity in this state were so
fully impressed with the belief that
failure Of the jury to come to an i'm
mediate verdict meant disagreement
that when it was announced that the
jury had arrived at a decision hardly
any but the little group Of newspaper
men remained
With almost electric swiftness, how
ever, the news circulated and when
the baliffs who had been sent sour
Tying to bring to the court Judge De
haven, United tates District Attorney
Heney, Senator Mitchell and his at
tOrneys, Judge Bennett and Senator
Thurston had notified the interested
parties and had secured their pres
snce, the room was more than com
fortably filed.
Senator Mitchell was the first to
appear, then Judge Dehaven and
Judge Bennett Mr.. Heney was not
present and Senator Thurston did not
reach the court room until the verdict
had been read.
1T Was Guilty.
Judge Dehaven almost Immediately
directed that the jury be brought in
and they fled in from the jury room
to their box The judge inquired
whether the verdict had been agreed
upon and Foreman Steiner Of the jury
replied that it had. The verdict was
handed to him in ( sealed envelope
Judge Dehaven tore it open and read
over the document and passed il to
Captain J. A. Sladen, clerk Of the
court, who read it aloud. While the
clerk was reading the verdict the
noise on the outside had so increased
that those in the room were able to
catch but two phrases: Guilty and
'leniency OF the court
As the word guilty was prom
Ounced Senator Mitchell seemed as
though turned TO stone The nervous
strOking OF his head which had con-
tinued throughout the proceedings,
stopped. Not a muscle twitched until
Judge Bennett arose and asked that
the jury be polled. When he sat down,
Senator Mitchell learned toward the
attorney and whispered cit was
guilty"
AS the poll proceeded Senator
Mitchell scanned each juror narrow
~, hoping against hope that a mega
tive would be heard from one OF the
twelve. As one after the other agreed
to the verdict Mr.. AIitchell's lips drew
closer and closer in the effort to steel
himself against his evident disap-
pOintment.
As the last man answered yes
Judge Bennett arose and moved the
defendant be granted a new trial.
Judge Dehayen set the hearing Of the
motion for next Monday, and then
after dismissing the jury adjourned
the court Then and only then Sen
atOr Mitchell showed plainly the men
tai torture he was enduring