The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-07-22
Gets THREE
YEARS IN JAIL
Mayor Of Lawrence Guilty Of
Conspiracy to Bride
$1,000 FINE ALSO IMPOSED
-Four of His Political Allies Are Con-
Victed With Hn1-Three Receive
Prison Sentences, While One is
Paroied For Giving States Evidence
First Mayor In History of Massa-
chusetts to Be Jailed

'SlhoSAhS W SS OciiSd
Salem, Mass, July 14.-Mayor
William T. White, George B. Smart,
Samuel Kress, ex-Alderman Matthew
Burns and Ernest DUDE, all of Law
renee, were found guilty of conspiracy
in an attempt to bride ex-Alderman
Xavier Legrende and ex-Alderman
Carl A. Woekel in an effort to have
Chief James A. Hamilton of the Law
renee fire department removed from
office.
Mayor White received a sentence Of
three years in the house of correc-
ton at Lawrence and a fine of $1,000.
Smart was sentenced to eighteen
months, Krest to three and one-half
years and Burns to two years in the
same institution. DUDE was paroled
on giving states evidence against the
other defendants, and Thomas A.
Keegan was found not guilty.
The Lawrence bribery" case has
been on trial for two weeks. The
governments case was finished at
1920 yesterday AFTERNOON, and few
momsnts later the case went to the
jury. Shortly after o'clock the jury
came in with the verdict.
Judge Schofield was not long in an
nouncing his sentence. He spoke of
the enormity of the offense against
city officials for violating the dignity
of their office. He also censured the
other men for working in cooperation
with the mayor in his Illegal work.
DUDE, White, Smart and Krest
were in court when the verdict of
guilty was announced against them.
The district attorney moved that DUDE
be placed on probation on account of
aiding in the conviction of the other
defendants. This recommendation
was accepted by the court and he was
placed on probation.
Mayor White was first to receive his
sentence. He showed much signs OF
nervousness. 1t was expected by his
friends that he would probably be
placed on probation on account of the
dignity of his office. The court then
llC oChAthNCs NhiCu vac
read by the clerk. The mayor looked
and then fell back into
his chair. His face was colorless.
Smart was next to be sentenced,
receiving eighteen months. Krest's
and Burns sentences followed. All
were much surprised.
Attorney Sullivan, who has been
the defendants, immedi-
ately offered exceptions. He was
given two weeks in which to file them.
The four prisoners were Immediate
ly taken to the detention room, hand
cuffed by the court officers. Shortly |
after o'clock, accompanied by two
sheriffs, the men were taken to Law
renee 10 commence their sentences.
IL is expected, however, that bonds
will be furnished for the quartet until |
the final disposition of the exceptions
have been taken and to decide whether
a new trial will be granted by the
court.
Thomas A. Keegan, who is well
known in Lawrence political circles,
is now a free man. He was found
not guilty and left the court immedi-
ately.
White, Burns, Smart, DUDE and
Keegan were indicted by the grand
Jury on May 10 last. The charge
against White and the other defend
ants convicted was that they con-
spired to bride certain aldermen TO
prevent, by absenting themselves, the
election Of James A. Hamilton as
chief OF the fire department.
This is the first time in the history
OF the commonwealth that the mayor
Of a city has been sentenced to prison.
II is also the first time that such a
large number Of city officials have
been indicted at one time and later
convicted.