The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-03-28
SENTENCED
To LeaVenWOfh Prison For
Three Years
Was ". P. Harrison Former
Capitalist
Sinks Into Chair When Hears
The Sentence
Motion For A New Trial Is
OVerruIed
ii sT 81f 1
Defendant Also Gut Fine OF
$1,000 And Cost

C1nclnnau, u, Marcn zo-WiIliam
P. Harrison tren-5led as he read from
the lips Of Federal Judge Hollister
Friday, the words that his ears could
not hear, and which ordered him sent
to the federal penitentiary at Leaven.
worth, Kansas, for three years and
imposed a fine Of 81 900 for using the
mails with intent to defraud. Harrf-
son is almost deaf.
"Mr. Harrison will please stand up, /"
said the Judge.
Harrison did not hear, but his at
torneys signified to him what to do.
AS he arose he showed, for the first
time during the trial, the signs of the
strain he has been under. The hand
that went to his left ear to aid his
hearing shook like leaf in the wind
as the Judge began delivering his SEN
tence.
As Judge Hollister reviewed the tri-
al Harrison's nervousness increased
When sentence was pronounced, he
strained his eyes to catch the words
from the lips of the Judge. At the
words, Il sentence you to pay fine
of $500 on each of the two indict-
menfs." Harrison smiled, but the smile
faded as the Judge continued, "and
sentence you to serve one and one
half years on each indictment in the
federal prison at Leayenworth, Kan"
Harrison sank back in his chair and
seemed stunned.
A motion for new trial was filed
before sentence was passed, but was
overruied
A motion for stay Of execution to
allow his attorneys to take an appeal
to the federal Circuit court of appeals
was made, and Harrison was released
on $4,000 bond, signed by F. H. Kin
ney and Joseph Levitch.
The case against Harrison has at
tracted countrywide attention as his
firm, The World Manufacturing COM
pany, does one of the biggest mail
order businesses in the United States.
The indictment against Harrison fol-
lowed his arrest by the postoffice in-
spectors. He was charged with hav-
ing used the malls to defraud in the
sale of 'The easy way clothes wash
er" and "The home vacuum cleaner"
The trial began February 81. Both
sides summoned witnesses from dis
tant points of the country. The DEM
onstration of the workings of the vacu-
um cleaner and the washing machine
to the jury formed one of the interest
ing features of the trial.
Judge Haynes brought into court
250,OOO letters from the files of the
World Manufacturing company, which
he threatened to read, but they were
not introduced.
The attention of the government
was called to Harrison's mail order
business some years ago when he was
arrested and tried on the charge of
using the United States mail for i'm
moral purposes in connection with the
sale OF a vapor bath cabinet. He was
acquitted of that charge, but ever
since the government inspectors have
had an eye on his business.
He was arrested several months
ago on the charges under which he
was convicted and the trial has been
going on about a month. The jury
was out six hours before it brought
in verdict of guilty on seven counts.
Harrison has been spoken of as a
millionaire, but 1t is reported now
that he is practically broke" Practi-
cally all of his wealth was made out
of the mail order business. He started
in the pump business in Columbus and
failed He then saw the possibilities
of the mail order business and made
money rapidly for a number OF years
Outside OF that business, however, he
made several investments that turned
out bad One was in a 20,0O0acre
tract Of rice land His investment in
Columbus was not highly productive
and he lost heavily when he with sew
eral other Columbus men went into a
deal for a lot Of property north of
Columbus which it was thought at that
time the government would take over
for a military post.
Harrison moved to Cincinnati in