The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-03-23
Grand Jury Makes a
Statement In Its Re-
port to the Court.
*
FEW ARE
Jury Confesses That 1t Was
Blocked by Conspiracy of
Corrupt Politicians.

Daqytile. Iu.-The vesmillioz
County vote inquiry. which ofncial.
OF Speaker Cannon's home county
started eight weeks age. has ended
almost q complete failure.
The grand Jury was dismissed By
Judge Kimbrough until April IL. the
day preceding the city election. after
returning thirty-seven indictments,
hut fourteen Of which were for po-
lttical o6enses. No politicians OF
prominent men we're indicted. the &C.
cused being precinct captains and
workers about the polls.
Text Of Resolutions.
The resolutions by the grand jury.
addressed to residents Of Vermillion
county are as follows:
Whereas. we. the members Of the
grand jury selected and serving for
the January term. 1911, Of the Cir
cult Court of vermillion County, IL
ltnois. have concluded our work for
the present sitting and have decided
to adjourn until the further orders
of the court: aud
Whereas, We deem it proper and
desirable to acquaint the citizens OF
vermtllion County with certain facts
that have come to our knowledge,
and with certain difficulties that have
sobstructed our investigations, We
adopt this method to report:
81. That a most astounding state
of political corruption prevails In
Vermillion County. and especially in
Danvitie township; that the election
laws have been openly and frequently
violated. and that vast sums Of mon
ey frequently have been used in cor
rupting the electorate.
"2. That. owing to the suppress
sion OF evidence and a we'll planned
conspiracy to conceal crime By the
Wholesale commission of perjury. the
corrupt politicians have rendered 1t
extremely difficult for the grand Jury
to obtain proof Of the violations Of
tho election laws.
Raps County officials.
"S.-That the grand Jury has been
unfortunate iu not having the co-ope-
ration and loyal support OF the sher-
if aud his assistants In the investiga-
ton Of election bribery, these officials
apparently beng in sympathy with
these suspected of election o6enses.
"4.-That political corruption FREE
quently has found encouragement in
the acts Of public officials, a notable
instance OF recent occurrence being
the appointment of one W. c. Brown
as an election commissioner of he
City Of Danvi1ie by County Judge
Lawrence T. Allen.
"5.-That proof was furnished the
grand jury that an u~nreasonably
large fund was contributed for cleo
tion purposes in the recent cam
paign and that much Of such fund was
expended for corrupt purposes in the
bribing OF voters.
"6.-That the grand jury has had
the constant and hearty support at
all times of Circuit Judge E. r. Fl.
Kimbrough. without whose aid its
labors would have been without re-
suits and Judge Kimbrough has stood
alone among the public officials of
Vermillion County in urging and aid
ing this body to investigate evasions
of the election laws.
Business Men Hit.
"7.-That frequent attempts have
been made BY men prominent in po-
.litical business circles in Danville to
induce the grand jury to abandon the
investigation of election bribery,
their apparent purpose being to
shield men high in the public service
from exposure through indictment of
their criminal supporters. and
Whereas. These facts are Of vital
importance to the citizens of Vermil-
ion county. and conditions are such
as to demand q vigorous and unceas-
ing enforcement Of the law and an
unrelenting prosecution Of all who
shall violate the sanctity Of the bal
lot, therefore be 1t
Resolved. That We appeal to all
good citizens Of vermilion county tu
s every honorable and legal means
to suppress political corruption in
all its forms and to hold Up to pub
lie scorn every man who encourages
it or participates in election bribery
and to that end that the law may be
effectively and impartially enforced,
we recommend that another compe-
tent and reliable attorney be appoint
ed to assist In the trial Of all crimi-
nal cases CROWN govt Of violations OF
the election laws. Be It further
Asks Browns Removal.
RESOLVED. That we believe that
the public welfare Of the city Of Dan.
Vile demands that County Judge
Lawrence T. Allen remove w. G.
Brown from the ONCE Of election com.
missioner Of such city; and DO II fur.
ther