Evening journal., 1911-02-09
TWO YEARS
FOR RASH
While Being Sentenced for
Perjury Defendant Accuses
State Treasurer Moore
CLEMENCY PLEA FOR
THE DEFENDANT FAILS

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
GEORGETOWN, Del. Feb. with
eyes filled with tears, John Rash, OF
Laurel. who at the April term of court
last year. entered a plea of mot
guilty" to the charge of perjury in
the alleged bribery case of Howard
Whaley and who at tho last October
term of court stood trial which re-
suited in a divided jury. went into
court yesterday and changed his plea
to guilty.
Rash was the prosecuting witness
in the alleged bribery case OF Whaley,
whom he charged with trying to in
timidate him to vote the Republican
ticket in 1908 by giving him $40. An
examination was later conducted by
Charles s. Richards. who was then
county Deputy Attorney General, at
the Laurel House, and Rash's testi-
mony taken down by Stenographe1
Dorsey, Of Wilmington AT the trial
Of Whaley. Rash denied that he had
been offered any money by Whaley
and denied the stenographic statement
made at Laurel. Notwithstanding that
he was the prosecuting witness. Be
cause of these denials he was IN
dicted on a charge OF perjury. As a
result OF the jury disagreeing at the
last term Of court, the case was CON
tinued until this term.
Rash after changing his plea yes
terday was asked If he had anything
to say. whereupon he arose. and ad-
dressing the court told how he had
been led by those higher up" into
committing the deed with which he
was chargeod.
Accuses State Treasurer.
Rash said: "I want to tell who got
me into this thing and everything
about IT.. Ode Moore (meaning State
Treasurer David o. MOore) Is the
man who got me to do all this, and
he paid me all the time.
"I have got letters here 20 prove
that he has done t. Rash then
reached into his pocket and brought
forth a bundle Of papers
Continuing he said "Mr Moore
told me II I would keep him out OF
trouble he would GO me out. and hs
would pay melto 90 r. And he wen
10 work TO hire counsel for me. ant
! have letters to show H. He gavl
Walter Hayes $13210. aud gave him
check the last term OF court whel
he defended me He promised q
pay me to not get him into any trou
Bile. ! have wife and three children
but / ask for the mercy Of the court
Before sentence was imposed. VIII
liam r. Kurtz, a Wilmington attorney
who was present at the examination
Of RASH at Laurel. arose aud i'm "A
lengthy talk asked that the court be
as lienent with the prisoner as pos
sible. stating in substance that he
was impressed at the time that Rash
testified before Mr.. Richards that he
told the truth. but when the '1nlu-
ence" began TO bear upon him his
weakness gave way which resulted
in his downfall. Mr.. Kurtz said he
thought It proper for him to speak a
few words I'm behalf of Rash. being as
familiar with the case as he was.
| Deputy-Attorney Jones said that tax
ing all the circumstances into con-
sideration he hardly felt inclined 10
ask the court TO impose the full pen
atty as prescribed by law.
Gets Two Years Sentence.
In imposing the sentence. Judge
Boyce addressing Rash. said:
As this case must be very dis
] tressing 10 you and especially to tho
innocent ones in your home, il is
also very painful to use.
There is, indeed. a black record In
Broad Creek hundred. by reason OF
the election cases, out Of which thi,
! prosecution grew; a record that Is
disgraceful TO this county.
While the appeal that has beer
made for you does appeal to us. and
indeed, moves us TO feelings of tn,
greatest lieniency towards you. yer
we have very grave and responsible,
duty to perform. and we must foregt
our feelings produced by this appea
painful as IL may be.
You may not have realized il. and
many people generally do not appear
to have realized It, yet the highes
things of this life-those that add 4
our comfort and convenience-ar,
dependent upon truth telling, espec.
tally in courts Of justice where life