The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-10
BRIBERY CHARGE
NO I SUSTAINED.
Minority Leader Lee O'Neil
Browne Acquitted by
Jury.
DECISION ON EIGHTH BALLOT
Accusation Grew Out of Election
OF Lorimer to
Senate.
DECISION ON EIGHTH BALLOT

Chicago, ILL.,, September 9.-Attorney
Lee O'Neil Browne, of Ottawa. Ill. em-
ocratic legislative leader, charged with
bribery In connection with the election
OF William Lorimar. of Chicago, TO the
United States Senate. was acquitted by
"a jury IN Judge George Kersten's di-
vision of the Criminal Court to-day
The jury. which took eight ballots. was
out twenty-one hours. On the first bal
lot it stood eight to four for acquittal.
The final juror standing out for con-
ytction was won over TO sign the YER
dict of acquittal at 2:35 o'clock in the
afternoon. The verdict was returned
In open court few minutes before 3
o'clock.
Immediately the courtroom was in
an uproar. 1t was ten minutes before
.balltffs stopped the cheering.
Browne was at luncheon when in
formed that verdict had been reached
He reached the court in time to hear
the verdict. His eyes filled with tears
as the clerk of the court finished read
ing. A second later he threw his arms
ABOUT Attorney Charles Erbstein, of
counsel for the defense. Browne was
then hotsted to the shoulders of friends
ana carried out OF the courtroom. amid
handshaktng and cheering.
Still Under Indictment.
Browne appeared as greatly pleased
as though he had been completely alb
solved of further trouble in relation
to the VeSing subject of Senator Lori
mer's election. Apparently he had for
gotten for the time that he is under
indictment on the same charge and
VIII have to face trial at Springfield,
IN Sanganon county. States Attorney
Wayman was plainly put out by the
verdict. At first he refused to talk.
Later he said
The verdict speaks for itself. The
public knows the evidence. | present
ed the evidence and did everything
that public prosecutor could do Tho
State of Illinois will reap the benefit OF
the prosecution, regardless OF the YER
Dict
The verdict in the Browne case came
as dramatic aftermath to yesterdays
sensational incident between Colonel
Roosevelt and Senator Lorimer regard
ing the Hamilton Club banquet.
History OF the Case.
William Lorimer, formerly Con-
gresham, was elected by the Illinois
State Legislature United States Sem
ator in the spring of 19O9 after a dead
lock had existed from January l9 until
May 49, defeating Albert j. Hopkins
the choice of the Republican parfv at
the primaries and of htleegislators in
the Senate.
Representative Charles A. White. OF
O'Fallon, small town in ST Clair
county, ILL.,, who voted for I.orimer. mi
into manuscript form what he ALLEGED
to be the inside history of the Lorimar
election. It, was sold to the Chicnrn.
Tribune and published. White con
fessed In his stony. which he callad
The Jackpot, that he had rece,ve1
$1,000 from Lee O'Neil Browne De,nn-
cratic leader In the lower house. ror
his vote for Lorimer and 5000 as his
share of the jackpot fund. The 500.
ond payment, he said. was made IN 8,
Louis by State Representative Rohart
r. Wilson, of the Sixth District rb,
cago. S1.A-
An investigation was made ! y,
White and the men implicated hv Mn hi,u
we're y taken before the grand iurw nv
hupleeenfasxe then senfessaa II 1bat j. g Bsckemeysr
$1,000 from Browne for HIS vofe te'tan ra.
Lorimer Representative Wilsun Wil.e ,,,9r LOT
denied that he had paid any nonaw
was indicted for perjury, Representp..
tive Michael S: Link was also indioted
and then confessed that he had re-
celYed $1,000 to vote for Lorimer nc "a
reward" ~ 'H 90
speech in the Senate In WashIpgt.eone .ee IN. q
Which he asked for an investigation,
He charged that he was the victim OF
as IAN honorable upright Goa faarins
man" The matter was referred to the
T1or fi,,,ar5 = TT c, ~