Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-10
BR0WNEFOUND
GU|LTLESS
BY JURY
PROSECUTION LOSES IN
CHICAGO GRAFT CASE
Democratic Legislative Leader
Acquitted on Second Trial.;
Must Still Face Court on An
other Charge Of Bribery,

I
Chicago. Sept, s.--Attorney Lee
oNeill Browne. of Ottawa, ILL.,, legis-
lative minority leader, charged with
bribery in connection with the cleo
tion of William Lorimer of Chicago to
the United States senate, was ac-
Quilted by a jury in Judge Kersten's
division of the criminal court today'
| The jury which took eight ballots
was out twenty-one hours. On the
first ballot the jury stood eight TO four
I for acuuittal The final juror stand
| ing ont for conviction was won over
to sign the verdict of acqulttal at 2;3b
O'Clock in the afternoon. The verdict
was returned in open court a few
minutes before 3 o'clock.
Immediately the court room WAS in
an uproar. II was ten minutes before
baliffs stopped the cheering.
| Browne was unehing at DOWN
town hotel when he received a tcle-
kphone message informing him that the
Jury had arrived at verdict He
Scrambled into an automobile and was
lwhisked to the court, arriving in time
| to hear the verdict. His eyes filled
with tears as the clerk OF the court
finished reading. A second later he
threw his arms about Attorney Charles
Erbstein OF counsel for the defense.
AlbN iit NttH tiiNAl tifAtENNN ~ NtfN N'ANNt
ders of friends and carried out Of the
court room.
Browne appeared as greatly pleased
AS though he had beer completely ABB
solved from further trouble in regard
to Senator Lorimers election. APP
parentIy he had forgotten that he is
under Indictment on the same charge
and viii have TO face trial at Spring
field H. When this subject was
mentioned to Attorney Erbstein the
lawyer said
Don't worry about Springfield, we
will take care of II when it comes up
~ owe my lif~ g. The lawyers that
defended me" Browne explained
when he caught his breath. II is all
due to their unswerving and absolute
devotion to ME. | owe everything 70
them thank them from my heart.
states Attorney Wayman was put
out by the verdict. A t first he re-
fused to talk. Later in his private
office he made the following state
ment:
''The verdict speaks for itself; the
public knows the evidence. I pre-
sented the evidence and did everything
that a public prosecutor could do. The
state OF Illinois will reap the benefit
of the prosecution regardless OF the
verdict. | have nothing further to
say"
The verdict in the Browne case
came as a dramatic aftermath TO yes
terdays sensational incident between
Mr.. Roosevelt and Senator Lorimer
regarding the Hamilton club banquet. |
Senator Lorimer was attending a
meeting OF directors of the Ia Sale
Street National bank when word was
given him concerning the verdict, A
telephone girl at the bank received the |
Leaving her switchboard |
She hastened to the directors room |
where she handed a paper with the |
words, mot guilty" to John |. Hughes
a director. Mr.. Hughes read the mes
sage and then handed it to Senator
Lorimer.
He read il, tore it up carefully ana
continued his remarks to the directors.
Not until the meeting had adjourned
lid the other directors learn of the
Jerdict
The senator left the bank for home
without discussing the matter, and re-
used to make any statement regard
ng it. lie was as calm and tactirun
Is though nothing unusual had oc-
'urred.