Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-22

CINCINNATI, Ohio, February %
George B. Cox, for years head of the re-
publican organization in Cincinnati,
prominent factor in state and national
politics. president of the Cincinnati Trust
Company and widely known as an owner
of theatrical property. yesterday was in
dicted by the Hamilton county grand
jury on charge of perjury.
Intention to appoint committee of
three members of the Hamilton county
bar ito prefer and prosecute charges
of contempt against g. b. Cox ana
morning newspaper was announced by
Judge German of the court of common
pleas today. The declaration came
after the judge had read a statement
by Cox, in which the grand jury and
the methods by which it was drawn
were severely cenSured.
The statement charged that the entire
proceedings leading up to the lndlctmeht
for perjury were actuated by ponucai
motives and that the jury was selected
by the Judge personally instead Of being
drawn from names placed in the Jury
Wheel by the jury commissioners of the
county
To Name Committee.
The court DECLARED yesterday that the
constitution of the grand jury was legal
in every respect, and declared that
structures upon 1t might be treated as
contempt of court Judge German said
today that he had ample precedent for
his contemplated action and that the
committee would be announced tomor
row.
The basis of the indictment is that Cox
allegedy testified falsely before a grand
jury March q. 1906, denying that he re-
ceived any of the interest money which
several banks. according to disclosures
before the Drake investigating commit
tee, paid to county treaSurers as recon-
pense for the deposit of county funds
The specific case on which the jury act
ed occurred in the administration of John
III. Gibson, who served two terms as
county treasurer, from 1900 to 1891 Glib
son testified before the grand jury Nor
day that Cox had received S4S..rD of the
S91 1854 Which the banks gave Gibson
as 'gratuities'' during the latters serv
ice.
Gibson paid .O64 into the county
treasury in 1906. following an investiga-
ton by the grand jury of the Drake dis
closures. Two other treasurers, Tiiden
f. French and Rudolph II. Hynicka, re-
spectively, paid $50 40 and s5s.44o to the
county.
Goes to Courthouse at Once.
Immediately after Mr.. Cox had been
informed of the indictment he prepared
to leave his Office in the Cincinnati Trust
Company building and go to the court
house to enter appearance and give
bond Less than an hour after the jury
report Cox appeared at the courthouse.
Prosecuting Attorney Henry I. Hunt
recommended OF Judge German that bail
be fixed at 81 eco. The required bond was
given by Cox, with Abraham Furst as
surety. No date for Coxs appearance In
court was set.
Although this is the first time that any
formal accusation ever has been placed
against Mr.. Cox, there was nothing In
his attitude TO indicate that he was per-
turbed by the Indictment
Why this looks like republican con-
vention,'' he exclaimed when he entered
Judge Gorman's courtroom to give BOND
M Cox. in speaking of the indctmelt
said:
Il 10 not regard this "a an indictment
in the true sense of such action. Ii
vs. purely a political move and was
brought about by political conditions.
Says Jury Illegally Drawn.
The jury which brought the indi.t-
men. .as selected By democratic judge,
vino drew the names of the grand jurors
from, his Inside pocket, instead of from
tie jury wheel. as the law requires.
'.'rhe people. irrespective of politics,
know, / believe. that never in my career
have | been accused of telling 4 false
hood | regarde the action of the grand
jury as of the most serious attacks
and one of the most outrageous pr y
cedrres. emanating from body connected
Will, 4 Court | will leave my side of
this affair TO the facts as brought out
in the trial. In the meantime l ask the
puJi To suspend Judgment
The law under which the grand jury
returned The indictment provides that, in
case of conviction for perjury, the pen
atty shall lie imprisonment for not NOR
than ter years slor for less than three.
Judge Addresses Jury.
When the bils against Mr.. Cox and a
few other men for ordinary criminal
cases We're returned in court Judge Cor
man directed that the usual formalities