The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1906-04-19
FOUND GUILTY ON
THREE COUNTS
THE FAMOUS GREENE AND GAY
NOR CASE COMES TO AN END
OCCUPIED COURTS II WEEKS
Jurors Were Out Only Three Hours
Judge Pronounced Sentence Of -Four
Years In Prison Fine of $575, 900
Each.

and John F. Gaynor were found guilty
of conspiracy against the government
presenting claims and embezzlement,
in the Federal Court for the Southern
District of Georgia. The defendants
were found guilty upon each of the
indictments with no recommendations.
The verdict was returned after the
jury had been out three hours and. a
half.
For fourteen weeks the case had
been in progress and there was the
stiffness ofthe tomb in the courtroom
as Judge Speer asked the jurors if
they had agreed upon verdict. Fore
man Hope Thomas answered in the
affirmative, and the three indictments
were taken and the findings read by
the clerk. The jury at the request OF
the counsel for the defense, was then
polled, and each member stated that
the verdict rendered upon the indict-
ments were his.
The maximum sentence that the
court could impose under the law is
an aggregate term of seventeen years
in the penitentiary and fine of
$4,000, the amount of the alleged
embezzlement The minimum sentence
permissible under the law is two years
in the penitentiary and fine of $1,000.
They were sentenced by Judge
Speer to serve four years in the fed
eral prison at Atlanta and to pay
each fine of $4,000 the
amount they are charged with
having embezzled. Upon one indict-
ment the sentence was to two years
and upon each of the other indict-
ments four years, but the court d.
rected that the sentence might all be
served concurrently which reduced the
term to four years. Thus, with the
allowance of three months off of each
year during the good behavior OF the
prisoners the sentence is reduced to
three years. The fine need not be
paid, if, on completing the sentence
the prisoners make affidavit that they
are not possessed of more than TWEEN
ty dollars. In lieu of paying the fine
they may serve thirty days longer.
Counsel for the prisoners announce
that an appeal will be taken.
An order of the court grants ten
days for the filing Of bill of excep-
tions upon which motion for new
trial will be predicated.
Judge Speer said: 81 have no dis
position towards these unfortunate
men except to he just as merciful as
my duty under the law will permit. ("
The clerk read the court a commune
cation from the jury in which the
members rendered their heartfelt
thanks to the court, the attorneys on
both sides, the marshal and the other
officers of the court for the kindly
consideration shown them and the
manner in which they had provided
for their comfort and welfare.- Judge
Speer, in reply thanked the jury, and
said:
"Since it is true that no jury in
the United States, perhaps in this
country, has an ordeal more severe
than yours, surely also it is true that
you have rendered service more like
ly to be of benefit to the people of
this great republic in the future. The
court wishes to thank you with all
his heart for the manner in which you
have performed your duty. Wishing
you Godspeed, safe return to your
homes and families, long life and
much happiness, you are discharged
by the court.
Mr. Erwin received a telegram from
Attorney General Moody expressing
the congratulations of the president
, and the Attorney General upon the
outcome of the case upon which Mr..
Erwin has been engaged for seven
years.
John F. Gaynor and Benjamin D.
Greene were indicted in Savannah,
Ga, Dec. s, 1899, charged with en-
bezzlement and defrauding the United
States Government, together with
Captain O5erlin NJ. Carter, in the
performance of Government contracts
for the improvement of the Savannah
River and other river and harbor work
in that district, the illicit profits be-
ing estimated at $2,0OO,OOO.
Gaynor and Greene were arrested
in New York. They contested ex-
tradition to Georgia. and when the
Death From Shock.
N IL IT " nrn 81