The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19
Verdict of Jury b Complete
 Surprise to Everyone
EIGHT HAS JUST BEGUw'
Aged Banker Receives Verdict Without Sign of Emotion and His Attor- neys Will Take Action at
 Once for New Trial.

Chicago. January 1S.-(Special.)-Joh R. Walsh, once leader in financial circles in Chicago, the most powerful banker in Chicago and declared by J. P. Morgan to be one of the greatest financiers of modern times. is a convict.
 The jury in Judge A. B. Anderson's court after a 36-hour battle in the jury room found Walsh guilty of misapplylng the funds of the Chicago National bank at 8 o'clock this morning, and repeated their verdict in open court at 1O:3O a. m., in one of the most dramatic scenes ever witnessed in a court room.
 The verdict, coming from a clear sky, at the moment when Walsh and his friends family and attorneys expected ac- quittal, fell with stunning force, yet Walsh, 'the man of iron,'' scarcely changed a muscle in his face. Immedi- ately after the verdict, Walsh's attorneys moved for a new trial, and Judge An derson set Tuesday. January 2s, as the date for the hearing
 Means Life Sentence.
 Walsh was found guilty on 54 of the 150 counts in the indictment and the maximum penalty on each is ten years and the minimum five years in the peni- tentiary, so that Walsh may be sentenced either to 540 years or 270 years in prison
 Immediately after sentence is pronounce ed Walshs attorneys will apply to the United States appellate court for a writ of supersedeas, claiming error. The case then will be called in the circuit court of appeals and If error is proved it may be remanded for trial.
 If, however. the circuit court of ap- peals upholds Judge Anderson, an appeal will be made and the case carried to the supreme court of the United States for review.
 MT. Walsh refused to talk. Not word" was all he would say.
 The government attorneys did not ask for any increase in the bonds of $5O0OO and he was allowed to go without the usual formalty of demanding heavier bail.
 Dramatic Scene.
 The reading of the verdict was followed by a scene intensely dramatic. When the jury was boiled at the request ot Attorney John s. Miller of the counsel for the defendant, Elbert Palmer, jury man from Harvard, Ill.,, was overcome by emotion and wept as he signif1ed his acauiescence in the finding. He sat with head bowed upon his hands durlng the preliminary proceedings and failed to flse to his feet as the others had done 10 reply to the interrogation by the clerk. "Was this and is this now your Verulct
 A bailiff touched his arm when his turn to answer came He apparently had not heard tile question and it was repeated. Palmer arose and stood unsteadily, with eyes downcast and muttered something ,lnintelligible to the court and attorneys. Under prompting by Judge Anderson the irror then replied with apparent enort at self-control and while the tears coursed down his cheeks: 'Yes, under the ih- structlons as l understand them.
 Palmer Questioned.
 When the poll was completed Palmer was questioned further by the court at the request of Attorney Miller and Tn ah- swer to the uestion previously put to him' replied:
 'I have to say yes.
 If developed later that Palmer was largely responsible for the long dellbera- ton of the jury. So insistent was he that Walsh should be acquitted that ne forced his fellow jurors to take separate ballots on every one or the loV counts Ill the indictment.
 ..re is such an old man. over 70 years" Is said to have been the constant plea of Palmer. "He was technically guilty, but none of his depostors lost, and what IS the use of sending an old man to prison, he is quoted as 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 consider the age of the defendant and have compassion
 Walsh. the subject of his compassion who sat at a table surrounded by his at torneys appeared less moved by the result of the long trial than almost anybody else concerned He was immediately surround ed by score of personal friends who pressed forward to offer words or sym pathy and encouragement. To these he made brief replies. smiling faintiy as ne shook the proffered hands.
 "Fieht Just Begun"
 Appealed to for an expression of opin- ion as to the verdict, he said:
 .'The fight has Just begun. have noth- ing further to say
 Almost immediately he left the court room.
 The verdict was the result of nearly 36 hours deliberation on the part of the jurors. After having retired at o'clock on Thursday there was no indication that a decision was near until about o'clock this morning, when request for pen and paper was followed by the announcement that verdict had been reached. This. however, was all that was positively known until the announcement was made in court
 The reading was followed by a motion by Attorney Miller for a new trial. Judge Anderson granted permission for the fil- ing of the motion, and said that the at torney would be permitted to make the formal application later and that he would listen to arguments on the same on Jam uary 2S.
 Ridgely Is Pleased.
 William R RidRely United States comm