Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-06-04
INDICTMENTS
ARE QUASHED
Demonstration Over the Return o!
the Degunct Bank Officers
Officers Make Speeches

1t was considerable of demonstra
ton that greeted the return home to-
night from Eau Claire of Messrs. G. E.
Newman, L. E. McGill and j. A. Cor
bett, the three officers of the defunct
First National Bank. The Indictment
against them was quashed in the feder-
al court this morning.
A huge bonfire was blazing, the banC
playing and cannon crackers booming
when the 500 limited pulled in at 11:30.
A crowd of a couple of hundred men
and boys had assembled and greeted
them with cheers as they were escorted
from the depot in E. M. Worden's au-
: tomobile. Then, in the midst of the
crowd, young Robt. F. Corbett mounted
the auto and in few words welcomed
them home.
The crowd then repaired to Bakers
saloon, where Messrs. Newman and
McGill were called upon to make
speeches and responded.
Mr.. McGill expressed his appreciation
of the demonstration over their return,
and said that their recent trouble had
proved who were their real friends,
and that was worth all the suffering
they had undergone. He was satisfied
that the Indictment found against them
was the result OF the scheming machln-
ations of their political enemies, who
had succeeded in putting them to con-
siderable trouble and expense, but now
that it was all over he was willing to
forget and if possible, forgive. He
said that there were those present
whom the bank officers had saved from
financial ruin, meaning their bondsmen.
Mr.. Newman also urged that for the
good of Ladysmith we quit quarreling.
He said that he had never worried over
the outcome of the indictment against
them; that none of the bank officers in
dicted had ever misappropriated any of
its funds nor wilfully made any false
reports. He further stated that they
had sacrificed much, that his own home
had been sold, and sufficient funds
turned over to Receiver Earling to
enable the payment of one hundred
cents on the dollar, but as yet only Is
per cent has been paid. He said that
some of those who tried to blacken
their characters would yet probably
land behind prison bars where they be-
lOnged.
Both speakers lauded the integrity
of Johnnie" Corbett, which was loud
ly applauded, for his refusal to testify
to anything but the truth against them,
even on the assurance of immunity for
himself. They said that the govern
ment was ashamed to prosecute that
young man on so fimsy charge.
The motion of Attorney John Barnes,
upon which the decision of Judge San
born was rendered quashing a part of
the indictment, as published in the
Eau Claire Telegram, stated that the
statute did not make it a crime to de-
ceive the comptroller of the currency,
to whom the alleged false report was
made, but rather it was crime to de-
ceive an agent appointed to look into
the banks affairs. That part of the
Indictment was stricken out by the
court Wednesday afternoon. The bal
ance of the Indictment was quashed and
the prisoners and their bondsmen dis
charged this morning, on the grounds
that the remaining charge in the in
dictment, of making false entries with
the intent of injuring or defrauding the
bank, would not constitute crime, as
the bank could not be injured or de-
frauded by false entries in report
made to the comptroller of the cur
rency.
The case may be taken before the
supreme court for review, but such ac-
ton, it is believed, cannot affect the
defendants.
Among those who went to Eau Claire
in connection with the case were: J. w.
Fritz, H. w. True, Robt Corbett, j.
M. Hurless, T. M. Thomas, M. G.
Davis, O. E. Peterson, j. P. Peterson,
Adam Carter, Lester Carter, w. T.
Rooney, Sam Clough, DR.. H. R. T.
Ross, M. K. Nally, J. T. Crosgriff.