Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-08-15
Ex-SoIon, Convicted of Bri-
berry, Now a Free Man.
SERVED over SEVEN MONTHS
Former State Senator Issues State
ment in Which He Asserts He Is
Gultless of Charge for Which
He Was punished.
Special Columbus Correspondent.

Aug. IL, after serving more
than seven months for brib-
cry, LeForrest e. Andrews of Iron
ton, former state senator, still main
tanned his innocence. 81 am abso-
lutely guiltless of the charge for
which l was punished" was the ex-
solon's parting statement as he bade
farewell to prison officials and at.
taches. For the newspapers Mr..
Andrews issued long and rather
remarkable statement reiterating
cence, and maintaining the innocence
of Rodney ]. Diegle, former SEN
ate sergeant-at-arms, who is still
serving sentence for bribery.
"Diegle had nothing to do with the
bribery cases." said Andrews in his
statement. "He had no more to do
with my going to the Chittenden ho-
tel than did the prosecutor of Frank
lin county" This reference is to the
charge that Diegle acted as go-be-
tween for the convicted legislators
and those attempting to bribe them.
The charges were founded on dicta-
graph evidence taken at the Chitten-
den hotel.
Served Over Seven Months.
Andrews was sentenced to serve
nine months, the smallest penalty
meted out to any of those involved in
the bribery cases. Considering good
time, his actual sentence only slight
ly exceeded seven months. He became
free on Sunday midnight. He declares
that he is going home to his family in
Lawrence county and take long rest
before resuming his profession of
lawyer. During his term he served
as librarian in the penitentary library
and spent his spare hours playing
checkers. He delivered several ad-
dresses to the prisoners on Sundays.
Diegle undoubtedly will use Andrews
statement as leverage to secure a
parole. He has already given up all
hope Of pardon. However, there is
such a bitter opposition to his release
that it is extremely doubtful if he
will be freed for his term expires
next May. Former Senator Isaac f.
Huffman must serve until March, 1915,
on bribery charge, and former Sen
ator George X. Cetone until May,
1915, on a similar charge.
Must Observe Nine-Hour Day.
Few department stores or mercan-
tile establishments of any sort will be
able to remain open for business here
after on Saturday evenings unless
they make complete re-adjustment
of the hours of their women employees
This will be the result of the opera
ton of the new law which includes
mercantile establishments among
those which must observe the nine
hour workday for women statute. I'm
der the new statute, if mercantile es-
adjustments want to remain open on
Saturday evenings, it will be neces-
sary for them in most cases to either
create double shifts or to double the
number of their employees. In most of
the cities of the state, the large de-
partment stores have already planned
to close at o'clock on Saturday
nights. Villages are not affected by
the new statute.
VIII ASK Tor new Law.
Because of the big controversy that
has arisen over the circulation of ref
erendum petitions, Gov. Cox will
recommend to the legislature at its
special session next winter that 1t en-
act a law making it necessary that
those who circulate I. C r. petitions
be compelled to state when filing
them the amount of expenses incurred
in the securing of names. The law
as 1t now stands requires an itemized
statement only after the proposition
concerned in the petition has been
voted upon. Gov. Cox holds that this
provision is about as effective as the
plan of locking the barn door after the
horse Is stolen. His decision to ask
for the new law is the result OF the
action of the Equity association In
filing petitions on the Warnes and
Fitzpatrick laws. "It must have cost
$1,000 day to circulate these Pc
titions and ! believe the public should
know all about the expense before
they are compelled to vote upon the
proposition" says the governor.
Liquor Board Resumes Work.
The state liquor license commission
resumed on Tuesday it's personal
analysis of those who aspire to be-
come members of the various county
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