Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-01-24
]. R. WALSH, GUILTY
JURY'S VERDICT AGAINST THE
CHICAGO BANKER.
On So Counts of the indictments
Against Him Charging MisappIlca-
tion of Banks Funds-One Juror
Cries When Verdict Was Read
Walsh Out on Bail.


John R. Walsh, former president of
the Chicago National bank, which
closed its doors in December, 1905,
was found guilty at Chicago on 81
counts of the indictments against him
charging misapplication of the bank
funds The verdict was returned by
a jury in the federal district court
here.
Mr.. Walsh was allowed to remain at
liberty on bond furnished by him after
the indictment has been returned
against him, one year ago to a day,
pending the hearing of arguments on
January % on motion by his counsel
for new trial.
The sum of approximately $1,000, 900
was involved in the illegal transac-
tions. The maximum penalty of 10
years on each of the 81 counts consti-
tuting this act would make it possible
for Judge Anderson to impose a SEN
tence of $40 years in the penitentiary.
The reading of the verdict was fol
lowed by a scene intensely dramatic
When the jury was polled at the re-
quest of Attorney John S. Miller OF
counsel for the defense, Ebert Palmer
juror from Harvard, ILL.,, was over
come by emotion and wept as he signi
fed his acquiescence in the finding
He sat with his head bowed upon his
hands during the preliminary proceed
ings and failed to rise to his feet as
Ae others had done to reply to the
Interrogation by the clerk, WAS this
and is this now your verdict?" A bail
Tiff touched his arm when his turn
came to answer. He apparently had
not heard the question, and it was re-
peated. Palmer rose and stood I'm,
steadily, with eyes downcast, and
muttered something unitelligible to
the court and attorneys. Under
prompting by Judge Anderson the
juror then replied with apparent effort
and while the tears course down his
cheeks, yes, under the instructions
as l understand them"
When the poll was completed Palmer
was questioned further by the court
at the request of Attorney Miller and
in answer to the question previously
put to him replied: 81 have to say
yes
Pity for Aged Offender.
1t developed later that Palmer was
largely responsible for the long delib
Grafton of the jury. So insistent was
he that Walsh be acquitted that he
forced his fellow jurors to take sep
arate ballots on every one of the ISL
counts in the indictment.
He is sucn an old man-over II
years." is said to have been the con
slant plea of Palmer. HE was tech
nically guilty, but none of his deposi
tors lost, and what is the use of send
ing an old man to prison?" he il
quoted sa having urged upon the
other jurors time after time. He il
said to have wept at times in the jur!
room as he begged the others to con
slider the age of the defendant anC
have compassion.
The verdict was the result of nearl!
So hours deliberation on the part o
the jurors.
Walsh, the subject of his compass
sion, who sat at table surrounded
by his attorneys, appeared less moveC
by the result of the long trial thar
almost anybody else concerned.
Charge Against Walsh.
The charge against Walsh grew on
of the closing in 1905 of the Chicago
80 National bank, of which Walsh wal
president, and its allied institutions
the Home Savings bank and thu
Equitable Trust company. Walsh wa
accused of having loaned funds o
these institutions, aggregating 16
100000, to fictitious and insufficient.
secured struggling enterprises whicl
he himself had founded and practical
ly owned.
The directors of the bank testifiet
they were not consulted by Walsh a
to the making of the loans; that the,
knew nothing of them. Twenty-six o
the notes were described as mem
orandum" notes and they formed on
of the chief features of the trial. The,
represented more than 100000.
The defense took the ground tina
all of the Walsh enterprises wer
built up in order to save and protec
original loans by Walsh in good faith
immigrants Rush to Europe.
The rush of migration to return t