Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1908-01-25
WALSH
GUILTY
JURY AGAINST NOTED
CHICAGO BANKER.
DRAMATIC SCENE IN COURT
ROOM WHEN JURY WAS
POLLED.

John r. Walsh, former president of
the Chicago National bank, which
closed its doors in December, 1905,
was found guilty at Chicago on "a
counts of the indictments against him
charging misapplication of the bank S
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 2S on a motion by his counsel
for a new trial
The sum of approximately $1,000, 900
was involved in the Illegal transac-
tons. The maximum penalty of 10
years on each of the "a 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
the others had done to reply to the
Interrogation by the clerk, WAS this
and is this now your verdict" A bail.
if touched his arm when his turn
came to answer He apparently had
not heard the question, and it was re.
pcated. Palmer rose and stood I'm.
steadily, with eyes downcast, and
muttered something unitelligible t.
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 | 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: Il have to say
yes.
Pity for Aged Offender
1t developed later that Palmer was
largely responsible for the long DELHI
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 $50
counts in the Indictment
He is sucn an old man-oyer 70
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 is
quoted sa having urged upon the
other jurors time after time. He is
said TO have wept at times in the jury
room as he begged the others to con
slider the age of the defendant and
have compassion.
The verdict was the result of nearly
SO hours deliberation on the part of
the jurors.
Walsh, the subject of his compass
sion, who sat at a table surrounded
by his attorneys, appeared less moved
by the result of the long trial than
almost anybody else concerned.
Charge Against Walsh.
The charge against Walsh grew out
of the closing in 1905 OF the Chicago
National bank, of which Walsh was
president, and it's allied institutions,
the Home Savings bank and the
Equitable Trust company. Walsh was
accused of having loaned funds of
these institutions, aggregating 49,
100000, to fictitious and insufflciently
secured struggling enterprises which
he himself had founded and practical
ly owned.