The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-01-25
JUROR PALMER
S0BS AND WEBPS
BECAUSE HE HAD TO CONVICT
BANKER WALSH.
FOUND GUILTY ON 81 COUNTS
He is Such an Cd Man, Over Sew
enty Years, and What is the Use Of
Sending an Old Man to Prison?"
Pleads Juror Palmer.

Sending an Old Man to Prison?"
Pleads Juror Palmer.
Chicago.-John r. Walsh, former
president of the Chicago National
Bank, which closed its doors in De-
eember, 1905, was found guilty on
fifty-four counts Of the indictments
against him, charging misappropria-
tion Of the banks funds. The YER
dict was returned by jury in the
federal district court here.
Walsh was permitted to remain at
liberty under the bond furnished by
him after the Indictment had been
returned against him one year ago,
pending the hearing of arguments on
January %, on a motion by his coun-
sci for a new trial.
Observation-Disclosures rdlu
The penalty fixed by the statutes
for the offense Of which the aged
financier was convicted is imprison-
ment for not less than five years or
more than ten for each count upon
which his guilt was established.
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 defendant Ebert Pal
mer, juryman from Harvard, Ill,
was overcome by emotion and wept
as he signified his acquiescence in the
finding. He sat with his head bowed
upon his hands during the prelimina-
ry proceedings and failed to rise to
hise feet as the others had done to
reply to the interrogation by the
clerk: "Was this, and is this now
your verdict7 -
A baliff touched his arm when his
turn to answer came. He apparent
ly had not heard the question, and
it was repeated. Palmer rose and
stood unsteadily with eyes cast down
and mutttered something unintelligi-
Bile to the court and attorneys.
Under prompting by Judge Ander
son, the juror then replied, with APP
parent effort. at self-control, and
while the tears coursed down his
cheeks:
eyes, under the instructions as !
understand them
When the poll was completed, Pal
mer was questioned further by the
court at the request of Attorney Mil
ler, and in answer to the question pre-
viously put to him, replied:
80 have to say yes
1t developed later that Palmer was
largely responsible for the long de-
alteration. SO insistent was he that
Walsh should be acquitted that he
forced his fellow jurors to take sep
arate ballots on every one of the $50
counts in the ind% ments.
Oh, The Pity Of It.
''He is such an old man, over sew
enty years." is said to have been the
constant plea of Palmer. "He was
technically guilty, but none Of his de-
positors 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 ju-
ry room, as he begged the others to
consider the age of the defendant and
have compassion.
Walsh, the subject of his compass
sion. who sat at table surrounded
by his attorneys, appeared less moved
by the result Of the long trial than
almost anybody else concerned. He
was Immediately surrounded by a
score of personal friends, who press
edd forward to offer words of SYM
pathy and encouragement. To those,
he made brief replies, smiling faint
ly as he shook the proffered hands.
Appealed to for an expression Of
opinion as to the finding, he said:
"The fight has Just begun, have
nothing to say
Almost Immediately he left the
court room.
The verdict was the result Of near
ly thirty-six hours deliberation on the
part Of the jurors.
The reading was followed by a
motion by Attorney Miller for new
trial. Judge Anderson granted per-
mission for the filing Of the motion,
and said that the attorney would be
permitted to make the formal appll-
cation later and that he would listen
to arguments on the same on Janu-
airy %
William B. Ridgely, United States
comptroller, who reached Chicago, de-
clared that the government was we'll
pleased with the result Of the trial.
cat last one Of this kind OF bank
ers has been found guilty." said MIR.