The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-10
Sensational Charges Of Legis-
lative Bribery Were Not
Proven Say Jurors
ROOSEVELT INCIDENT At the
HAMILTON CLUB DISCUSSED
Former President Based His Emphatic
Refusal to Attend Banquet II Lost.
mer We're There Upon the Facts In.
volved in the Trial Of Browne.

" Nell BROWNE OF ottawa, ILL.,, leg1sla-
tive minority leader charged with
bribery in connection with the elec-
tion Of William Lorimer of Chicago
to the United States senate, was ac-
quilted by jury. in Judge George
Kersten's division of the criminal
court late yesterday The jury, which
took eight ballots, was out twenty -one
hours. On the first ballot the jury
stood eight to four for acquittal. The
hnal Juror standing out for convic-
tion was won over to sign the verdict
Of acquittal at 2:35 o'clock in the aft
ernoon. The verdic. was returned in
open court few minutes before 3
o'clock. Immediately the court room
was in an uproar. II was ten minutes
before the bailiffs stopped the cheer
ing, which percolated through the
corridors and down the elevators of
the criminal court building to the
street.
Browne was lunching at a down
town hotel when he received a tele-
phone message informing him that the
jury had arrived at a verdict. He
scrambled into an automobile and was
hurriedly rushed to the court room
Just as the clerk of the court finished
reading. A second later he threw
his arms about Attorney Charles Erb-
stein of counsel for the defense.
Browne was then hoisted to the shoul-
ders Of friends and carried out of the
court room amid handshaking and
cheering.
Browne appeared as greatly pleased
as though he had been completely ab-
solved Of further trouble in relation
to the vexing subject Of Senator Lori
mer's election. Apparently he had
forgotten for the time that he .iR un-
der indictment. on the same charge
and will have 70 face trial at Spring
held. In SanEanion county. When this
subject was mentioned to Attorney
Erbstein of Brownies counsel, the
lawyer said:
Don't worry about Springfield;
we'll take care of that when it comes
up"
The Roosevelt Incident.
II owe my life to the lawyers that
defended me-" exclaimed Browne
when he caught his breath" 1t is all
due to their unswerving and absolute
devotion to me. owe everything to
them. thank them from my heart. :"
States Attorney Wayman was
plainly put out by the verdict. At
first he refused to talk. Later, in
his private office, he made the follow
ing statement:
"The verdict speaks for itself; the
public knows the evidence. I pre-
sented the evidence and did every
thing that public prosecutor could
do. The state OF Illinois will reap the
benefit of the prosecution regardless
~ $I,a tot
ther to say
The verdict in the Browne. case
came as dramatic aftermath of the
preceding days sensational incident
between Col. Roosevelt and Senator
Lorimer regarding the Hamilton club
banquet. The Roosevelt-Lorimer in
cident was frequently mentioned by
people discussing the Browne YER
dict.
Senator Lorimer was attending a
meeting Of directors Of the Lasalle
Street National bank when word was
given him concerning the verdict. A
telephone girl at the bank received
board, she hastcned to the directors
the words mot guilty to John L.
Ai06uCo' VII 0StOi WI. 11u6uc6 TSdu
the terse message and then handed
it to Senator I.orimer. He read t.
tore 1t up carefully and continued his
remarks to the directors. Not until
the meeting had been adjourned did
the other directors learn of the YER
dict. The senator left the bank for
home without discussing the matter
and refused to make any statement
regarding 1t. He was as calm and
tactiturn as though nothing unusual
had occurred.
The second trial of Browne was be-
gun August I, and has been stubborn
ly contested. One Of the remarkable
features Of ths case was the sum-
moning of nine venires of 100 men
each before the jury was secured.
The last testimony from the wit
ness stand was heard September 1
and much of tho time since then was
consumed In the arguments of States
Attorney Wayman and counsel for the
defendant.
The basis of the indictment against
Browne was that he had bribed Rep
resentative White. Democrat, to
vote for VIM. Lorimer for United
States senator at the close Of the
deadlocked session of the last state
legislature. VI, j(,.F
Browne was specifically charged
with having paid $3.50 to White in the
Briggs house In Chicago after having
given him In SDriRgfield. The charges.
which were incorporated in con-
r taaalnv, hvy phnroann t1H,a Whikn 80 ~.