New-York tribune., 1910-09-10
0'NE|L BROWNE FREED
Democratic Leader in Illinois
Legislature Acquitted.
TRIED ON BRIBERY CHARGE
Accusation Followed the Elec,
ton of William Lorimer to
United States Senate.

Chicago. Sept 9-IIec O'NeiI Browne. ~
ottawa. Ill, Democratic legislative leader.
charged with bribery in connection with
the election OF William I,orimer. Of Chi
cago. to the United States Senate was ae-
quilted by jury in Judge George Kersten.s
division OF the Criminal Court to-day.
The jury. which took eight ballots. wss
out tVventy-one hours. on the first ballot
it stood eight to four for acquittaL The
final juror standing out for conviction Es4
won over to sign the verdict OF acquiffsI
at 2:35 O'Clock I'm the afternoon. The vqr-
dict was returned in open court feyv
minutes before 3 o'clock. ImmedfateIv the
courtroom was in an uproar- II was ten
minutes before bailiffs succeeded in stop
ping the cheering
Browne was at luncheon when he wss
told by telephone that verdict had been
reached. He scrambled into an automobile
and was Whsked TO the court arriving IN
time to hear the reading Of the verdict
His eyes filled with tears as the clerk OF
the court finished reading A second later
he threw his arms about Charles Erhst~fn.
of counsel for the defence. Browne was
then hoisted TO the shoulders OF friends
and carried out cf the courtroom amid
handshaking and cheering
Browne appeared as greatly pleased "a
though ne had been completely absoIvea
of further trouble in relation 10 the rexinz
subject Of Senator Lorimer's election. A.
psrently he had forgotten for the time that
he is under Indictment on the same charge
and viii have to face trial at Springfield
in Sangamon County. When this subject
was mentioned to Mr. Erbstsin Of Brownies
counsel. the lawyer said:
Don't worry about Springfield; we'I
take care Of that wnen r. comes up.'
Il owe my life 10 the lawyers that de-
fonded me-" exclaimed Browne when he
caught his breath. 1T is al due IN their
answering and absolute devotion to me.
I owe everything 10 them I thank them
from my heart"
States Attorney Waymau was plainly
put ont by the verdict At first he refuSed
to talk. Later. in his private Office, he
made the following statement;
The verdict speaks FOR itself; the pub
lie knows the evidence I presented tbs
evidence and did everything that Il pubic
prosecutor could do The State Of Illinois
will reap the benefit of the prosecution. r.
gardIess of the verdict I have nothing
further to say"
The verdict in the Browne case came as
d dramatic aftermath 10 yesterdays sen
sational incident between Colonel Eoose-
welt and Senator Ilorimer regarding tbs
Hamilton club banquet The Roosevelt
Lorimer incident was frequently mentiorNd
by persons discussing the Browne verdict
Senator LOrimeT was attending a meet
ing OF directors OF the La Sale Street Ma
tiOnai Bank when word was given him
concerning the verdict \ telephone girl
the bank received the message. Leav-
ing her switchboard, she hastCred 20 the
directors room. where she handed a paper
with the words Not guilty TO john T..
hughes, a director Nr. Hughes read tie
terse message and then handed it % Sen
ator Lormer. He read IL. tore II up care
fully and continued his remarks to fHe
directors. Not until the meeting had ad-
journed did the other directors learn o
the verdict
The Senator left the bank for home with
out discussing the matter and refused .
make any statement regarding II. He Vas
as calm and taciturn as though nothing
unusual had occurred