Evening journal., 1911-07-10
CONVICT MAN ON
BRIBERY CHARGE
Benjamin W. COnaway Of
BridGeviIle Sentenced to
6 Months, Takes Appeal

GEORGETOWN. Del. July 10
Benjamin W. Conaway. OF Bridgeulle.
was found guilty by Judges Boyce,
Conrad and Rice in General Sessions
Court Saturday on a charge Of offering
$40 vote bribe TO Raymond Jones, Of
Bridgeville Conway was sentenced to
pay a fine of $500 and serve six months
Imprisonment He was arrested down
South where he went after election
Other alleged bribery charges we're
continued until October.
Daniel o. Hastings and Joseph l..
Cahall who represented Conway, took
an appeal from the courts decision TO
the Supreme Court and gave $4,000
bail, which stays the sentence until the
Supreme Court passes on the case.
During the trial Raymond Jones,
who was the principal witness for the
prosecution, testified that Conaway
approach him, and Charles William
son and hilbert Somers were also
present, between the corner OF Eta
Layton's property and the school
house in Bridgeville, and asked:
How are you fellows going TO vote?"
Jones said he replied: II don't know"
Witness said: "Conaway then Offer
ed US $40 apiece to vote the Re-
publican ticket He then told US
William p Swain was inside the polls
and 20 70 him" Swain, the witness
testified, was one OF the voters assist
ants, and when he saw Conaway that |
night the latter told him to go 70 /
Swain and get his pay
On cross-examination Mr. Hastings |
asked: Jones, did you go to Swain?"
He replied. "yes, sir"
did you get your money!" He |
answered. yes, sir"
"when?" asked Mr.. Hastings "On |
the night following the election be- |
tween and 9 O'clock" Jones re-
piled
Where did you go TO get it?" asked |
Mr. Hastings to which question the
witness replied that "I went to
Swain's house to get my money!" |
Jones stated that a Mr.. Lewis was
there at the time, and the defense |
shortly afterward placed him on the
stand 20 prove that Swain did not /
give him any money on that night as
he had stated. Jones was asked by
Mr. Hastings II he did not tell Ed
ward Smith at the hearing Of Con-
away az Greenwood, before Justice
of the Peace Gibson, that he had bet
ter leave and not testify in the case of
Conway. Jones denied that he ever
had any such conversation with
Smith Smith was later placed on the
stand and swore that such a con-
did take place
hilbert Somers was placed upon the
stand and bore out the testimony OF
Jones about the offer OF money to the
three.
Charles Owens, Of the firm OF Lay
ton and Owens was put upon the
stand and told OF the escape Of Coma
way IN an automobile after the war
rant for his arrest has been sworn
out. and about the persuit he made
with three others in an effort TO cap
ture him. State Detective Walls
testified as 10 the capture Of Con-
away In North Carolina, where he
was travelling under an assumed
name.
conaway took the stand in his be-
half and denied that he ever offered
Jones, Somers or Williamson any
money for their vote William J.
Swain, whom Jones alleged was to pay
them, denied their statements These
were the main witnesses OF the de- (
fense
The defense had as character wit
nesses II. p. Cannon. George p. Ruos,
James Voss, Russell u. Short William
Fl. Gewes and r. F. Ledenham. The
State placed the following witnesses
on the stand 10 testify as to the
truthfulness and veracity OF Jones ana
Williamson: Norman Collision, o. ,.
Wiley, Charles Owens, George r.
Willin, Harry F. Butler and NJ. z.
Allen.
The case was then submitted to the
judges who retired 10 the petit Jury
room and after being in consultation
about fifteen minutes returned with
their verdict