New-York tribune., 1910-06-30
BROWNE JURY D|SAGREES
Most FIagrant Case of Jury Fix
ing, Says States Attorney.
"PACKED FROM THE START"
Case Under Consideration ia
Hours, Breaking All Records
in Chicago.

Chicago, June 1s-Folowing the an
nouncement to-day Of a mistrial in the
case of Lee O'Neil Browne charged with
! bribery in connection with the election OF
William Lorimer to the United States
Senate, States Attorney Wayman declared
that the jury had been packed.
This is the most fragrant case of jury
! fixing l have ever seem he said. 1T
would seem that these courtroors were
| constructed TO make It easy TO flag the
jurors and this case is good example.
The jury was packed from the start
Zone juror was the kingpin of them all.
| 1t is strange that men who have been
| hanging about the courtroom day after
day almost minute after minute, should
have been detected in a building across the
street from the jury room, and should walk
| off arm in arm with the jurors who stood
! for acqUitta1."
| Notwithstanding the statement of several
jurors that they stood eight to four for
conviction throughout. Mr.. Wayman de-
clared that the jury at one time stood II
to / for conviction. The States Attorney
declared that men had been signalling
jurors from the windows of a hotel across
| the street from the criminal court building.
! Il won't have those fellows around the
courtroom again. tagging the jurors he
| added. IF they attempt it in the next
trial or IN any other trial, I shall have
| them arrested at once. One big fellow
worked some of the younger fellows or
| the jury to his side. He was the kingpr
of them all
| -'One of the jurors told that there
was enough evidence introduced to convict
fifty men. Those who were for acquitta
| declared that White was a liar. that
Beckemeyer was a liar, and that Link wa:
O liar, and that there was no evidence in
troduced at all. Three men confessed t
receiving bribes, and yet there were -four
men on that jury who failed to convict
! a pretty state of affairs"
Mr Wayman's comments caused a sena
tion, and later he attempted to modify hi
remarks. saying:
II cid not think that my remarks. a
least all of them. were to be published
What 1 wanted to say was that there wa
considerable suspicious tagging and wink
ing at jurors
The jury was out 115 hours, the longes
session By forty-one hours ever held by {
jury in Chicago. Twenty-four ballots wer.
taken. the count throughout standing eigh
for conviction and four for acquittal, /
was said. The jurors who stood fast il
fendant throughout the long vigil wer
Charles Spare, William R. Lowe. William
H. Hennessy and Walter J. Hermanson.
/ The jury had been out since Friday after
noon. The longest previous session in thi
county occurred in the first trial of Adoln,
Leutgert for wife murder when the ses
sion lasted seventy-four hours without q,
agreement.
Judge McSurely said that ho ,,,o,,Ils -.
motion for new trial week from 10
day.
Here are the explanations Of the me,
who composed the determined n,inority.
charles spare-I felt throughout the tria
that Browne was innocent. This feelin,
was increased with the arguments in tn
jury room after we had retired to ballot
William K Lowe-I did not belive tha
Representative White was telling tbe
| truth. ''ie
William H. Hennessey-I was not con
WINGED of Brownies alleged guilt: the state
! evidence was not strong enough
Walter j. Hermanson-I oh1ected TO
vote of guilty because OF the circumsta ntia
character of the evidence Whites wor
did not impress me- =" vi
Lee . Neill Browne, leader OF the Demo
cratic minority in the House of Represen
tatlves at Springfield, was charged snecir
lcaily with having paid Representativ.
Charles A. White 1000 TO east his vo.,
Tor William Lorimer for United State
Senator. White was the principal witness
Tor the state. Representatives IL J. c
Beckemeyer and Michael s. Link also tes
titled on the stand. stating that they ha,
| received slVO each as payment for thei
Lorlmer votes. The alleged promise I,
pay White the bribe Is said 20 have baer
made at Springfield where Browne is tnde
| indictment charged with bribery