The San Francisco call., 1910-06-22
DEFENSE SHUTS
LORIMER OUT
OF GRAFT TRIAL
Attorneys for Alleged Briber of
Illinois Legislators Rest
Case Abruptly
Prosecution Declares Defense
Feared Further Testimony
of Its Own Witnesses
Browne, LOri.ner and Lieuten=
ant Governor Were Ex-
pected TO Testify

n HICAGO. June 21.-Precluding
the possibility of the defendant
going on the stand in his own
behalf and shutting out all testimony
that Senator William Lorimer might
have 10 offer in denial of the charge
that his scat in the United states SEN
ate was purchased, lawyers for Lee
O'Nem Browne abruptly ended their
case in the criminal court here at noon
today.
The sudden move Of the defense was
wholly unexpected. More than fifty
witnesses for the defense were thus ex-
cluded. Several OF these. in addition TO
Browne and Senator Lorimer, were
considered important. Among them
was Lieutenant Governor John c.
Oglesby. who arrived in Chicago from
Springfield this morning
it is said that Brownies counsel be-
licve their case stands or falls upon
whittier the jury is willing to accept
the testimony Of Representative
Charles A. White. who made the first
testimony in the alleged bribery scan
dal- II is hoped by the defense that
the jury viii look upon Whites tes-
timony as doubtful.
Attorney W S Forest, who has led
the defense Of Browne. has insisted
from the beginning that he is not con
cerned materially over the outcome in
the criminal court. but that he has
made a legal case for his client to
stand on in a higher court
States Attorney Wayman. however.
SAYS that Browne and his lawyers fear
10 allow the case TO be probed further;
that even with their own witnesses
they dare not chance an unexpected
slip.
Although WsYman began his closing
argument TO the jury comparatively
carly in the afternoon. he had not fin
ished when court was adjourned for
the day.
Wsyman said in part:
You gentlemen may live TO see cor
rUption grow deeper than has been
manifested in this case, but when cor
ruption is deeper than is clearly shown
in this case Illinois viii have ceased to
be state Of the union.
-Murderers may go free; larceny is
excused by the law, and a man may go
out in the night and rob to feed
starving family, but there is no justi-
hcation for bribery. It can not go un-
punished.
The fact that more than so demo-
Gratis voted for Senator Lorimer, re-
= publican, shows in itselfthat there was
bribery.
White and the defendant met in the
Briggs house in Chicago. White went
to the room of Browne the day after
they arrived. Browne was partly
dressed and had no coat on.
Browne laid II $50 bills on the table
and White picked them up. He put
them in an envelope and put it in his
pocket.
Browne said: You viii need a safety
pin TO hold the envelope secure and
he gave White q pin.
Browne told White then that he
was going to the Southern hotel, St.
Louis. to pay Lorimer money TO other
legislators.
The only thing before YOU jurors is
whether Browne paid White $3.50 in
The Briggs house here in Chicago.
Browne paid $1,000 to Link and
Beckenmeyer in St. Louis because it is
no crime to do so there. 1t is out OF
the Jurisdiction of Illinois"
states Attorney Wayman was asked
% by Forrest to elect on what count he
win ask the jury to convict Browne.
H-ayrnan declined to do SO. Judge Nc
Surely refused TO instruct the prosecu-
tor to so elect.
Forrest said there were so many va
riations about the indictment that the
defense could not prepare instructions
10 the jury. Judge Mcsurely told For
rest TO prepare the instructions for the
defense.
90 Forrest made exception to the courts
refusal to define the issues in the case
and asked for q hours in which to pre-
= pare Instructions of the defense after
the prosecution had entered theirs This
also was overruled.
Investigators Named
WASHINGTON. June 2I-chairman
Burrows of the senate committee on
privileges and elections today named
the subcommittee which is to inves-
tigste the charges Of bribery in con-
,eotso, with the aaoc+sa, - s-....-
Lorimer Of Illinois. The committee is
composed OF Senator'S Burrows. Dilling-
ham. Gamble, Hepburn. Frazer Payntcr.