The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-15
In S tie ad, H e Stoutly
Maintains His En-
tire Innocence.
NO KNOWLEDGE
OF OTHERS GUILT
Bornbshell Which Convicted
Sergeant-at-Arrns Was Said to
Be Preparing for Ohio Poll
ticians Fails to Materialize.
Throws Himself on
Mercy of Court.

Dayton. O.. September 14.-Rodncy
j. Diegle, the elusive convicted SER
geant-at-arms OF the Ohio State SEN
ate. has not confessed. After much
ado lest the man sentenced to three
years in the penitentiary for compile
ity in bribery would make sensational
revelations to save himself from pris-
on. Diegle appeared here to-day and
declared he had absolutely no knowl-
edge Of the guilt OF any one and
steadfastly maintained innocence OF
the crime for which he was convicted.
Asserting in u lengthy statement
that he had mo confession of any
character y any sort to make" Diegle
has thrown himself upon the mercy of
the court which sentenced MIN to
prison. but tomorrow his attorneys
will enter motion for suspension of
sentence pending appeal of his case
before the Circuit Court OF Appeals.
Statement to Public.
Dlegle. reported for several days to
have been at French Lick and many
other places preparing a bombshell for
Ohio politicians in order to secure a
further stay of sentence, suspended
until next Monday. came in from a
farm near here this afternoon. He met
his wife in the office of c. j. Mattern.
one of his counsel, and there wrote a
communication to the public. 1t con-
tanned no information on which the
prosecutors or Attorney General OF
Ohio could base further prosecutions
of alleged Legislative corruption. He
said in part:
Il wish to emphatically repeat at
this time what 1 have always strenu-
ously maintained since the very incep-
ton of the alleged Legislative expos
ure. that l have no confession of any
character or of any sort to make.
"A confession prima facie implies
guilt or guilty knowledge. ain not
guilty, have no guilty knowledge of
the guilt OF others. and say this now,
even in the face OF an adverse fnding
OF jury"
Continuing, the former State officer
maintained that he hae executed his
DUTY faithfully and honestly. but ad
mitted that he had accepted extra COM
pensation. for years the custom OF
the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate.
for furnishing informtion to persons
interested in the status of legislation.
However," he continued. ~ can
truthfully say that evry one of the
thirty-four members of the Ohio Sem
ate will make affidavits that from the
pS . " tHe SlOSe VI TIE ldot SeS-
sion never asked one of them to vote
either for or against any measure or
any BILL
Now. with reference to the last ses-
sion. If the money was actually used for
the purpose of influencing legislation.
1t was entirely without my knowledge.
I never did see any money unlawfully
used
He Carried No Message.
Regarding tbs charge against him
that he carried a message from F. S.
Harrison to Senator l. X. Andrews, by
reason of which Andrews. indicted with
him, solicited and accepted money to
influence his vote, Diegle wrote: II
never carried a message from Harrison
to Andrews. never arranged a meeting
between these men. and at that time
didn't know that Senator Andrews
knew such man as Harrison"
After making public his statement
Dtegle departed for Springfield, Ohio,
with his wife. expecting to return here
tomorrow, when his case comes mp
In the Circuit Court. If the court sets
a time for hearing on the appeal. q
further stay will be granted OF execu-
ton of the sentence of the lower court,
which expires Monday