Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-01-11
COL. F. A. CHAPA
IS FOUND GUILTY
AND ~ SENTENCED TO PAY FTNI
or $500.
Most Prominent Rcsisfa in Texas
convicted on Two Counts ~ IN
dictmenf Charging Violation ~
Neutrality Laws. Fro-s.>tS HIS In
noccncc.

ltN laws. and WAS fined SI.ua Spc-
ciiicaily, the defendant was declared
guilty Of settling on foot. aiding M
set ON foot and furnishing the means
to set ON foot military expedition
against Mexico and 0f conspirinr
with others 10 sea on foot such nm
expedition.
The case will not bc appealed Mr.
Chapa saying that ~ cannot AFFORD
the great outlay incident 10 an ap-
peal ia the Federal Court.
The jury. IL was learned. stood
10 10 ? for conviction ~ the first
poll taken 4 short time after their
retirement. the two voting nay he
ing ;. ~ Eaton OF Harlingen and
George Fcderolf of Brow nsviile. Al
Ter discussion of certain point ct
evidence or which Il is said the lat
ter had misconccption. n second
poll was taken ana an voted for com
viction except Mr. Eaton. For the
next twenix-four hours and until the
time Of their discharge the latter
maintained his conviction OF the in
nocence OF the defendant against the
arguments ~ bis fellow jurors and
a. voted NJ On the final ballot which
stood IN to u. and which was taken
after the court had instructed ths
jury that verdict mi .ht ~ reached
~ a majority vote
Thus ended tho most important
ease of the kind ever tried m thc
uited States courts. and one which
viii have an influence On All succeed
INK trials for similar cmenses.
Following the several surprises
that have punciualcd this trial. thc
verdict came ~ the greatest surprise
~ AT to the general public huf to thr
defendants counsel tho surprise was
greatly discounted by me events im-
mediatcly preceding the rendering
81 the verdict
Un tO the time the jury filed into
fhe room shortly after midday IN
response y summons from the
court. very Few Of those interested
an expectation which was strength
cned each surcccdinE hour the jury
remained out
About the middle nf the forenoon.
word had been sent i'm to Judge
Burns from the jury room. that n
was impossible Va reach an agree
meut TO this ~ replied with an
injunction fo try again about i2.i5
rot receiving the desired word. me-
sent for the jury and fOid them that.
w nu verdict was announced hy three
o'clock. he would be cnmuelled either
ia take the twelve with him TO Gal
weston or postpone the term of the
court which was scheduled ~ begin
here last Monday. Several import
ant cases are on the docket for this
term In that district and the princi-
ples and their attorneys have been
waiting there patiently for the COM
inr NJ the court
Judge Burns instructed the jury
also that. if II was not possible for
them ~ agree upon verdict unan-
imously they might decide the fate
of the defendant by majority vote.
adding that N was not his intention.
" Col. Chapa was found guilty to
send him ~ the prnitentiary hut sim
T piy 10 impose fine.
The jury retired again 10 return
within m hour with the verdict oi
guilty.
Mr. Wolters asked that the jury
~ pnllcd. but the Court declined the
request
Following W a list a. the Jurors IN
the case. Charles oiz- foreman. &
H.. Hobbs. J. }. Fox. ii. VI Hall
.. Ramos. y M. Baylcss. 3. X. Bat
bridge n. C Morris NJ ". Hats
mark. ]. y. Cooke. Geo. Fcderoli. :
y. Eaton.
col. rhapa v Sentenced
"A Calling the defendant up for SEN
tcuce Judge Burns asked him.
what would bc your idea 81 2
lust penalty IN your case
-I leave il entirely 40 your Honor
Nr Chapa answered
''What ~ your financial standing
injured Judge Burns.
MIR. chapa replied. "l have mp
business and some property.
~ am well disposed toward you.
Judge Burns went On. and VIII M
send YOU 10 the peni'entiary. m ina
a not a place for men Of your KIND
win impose fine upon you @
SI5oo."
Mr. Chana paid the fine shoFtil
after the pr0nouncement Of sentence
and. with his attorneys left Browns
vile On the evening train
Three Others or those found guilt
I, have paid their fines. These ar
IN Amador Sanchez. Antonio Magnol
A anIn - M0nterras. The remain
ped On page 8,