Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-08-09
BRIDE RECEIVERS
SENTENCED TO PEN
Five Convicted Legislators Of This
State Are Given From Five TO
SIX Years Each.

~ 1888 $500.
WEBSTER SPRINGS, w. Va. Ang.
5. S. IT, G. Rhodes, of Mingo county:
Rath DUFF. Of Jackson county; Dr. II.
f. Asbury. of Putnam county; DR.. b.
A. Smith, OF Roane county. and David
f. Hin. OF Mason county, were sen
fenced to the penitentiary Yesterday
by Judge w. s O'Brien for having
accepted brides TO vote FOR Col w. s.
Edwards for United States senator.
Rhodes, Duff and DR.. Asbury were
given six years each; Senator Smith
five years and six months. and Hill
five years. All were disqualified for
life from holding public Office in West
Virginia
The sentencing of the men came
shortly after Hill, the fifth legislator
to Band trial, had been convicted
HilI was the last of the FIVE to be sen.
tence, and Judge 0Brien told him
that he had taken INTO consideration
the fact that Hi had not committed
perjury.
More than two months have been
consumed in the trial of these cases.
the first of their kind in West yir
ginia. Two legislators remain to be
tried.
The jury found Hill guilty soon af-
ter the case was given to it. Henry
Brannon. former member Of the SUI
preme Court of Appeals, was the only
attorney to speak in Hills defense.
Sentence Suspended For go Days.
An arrest of Judgment and stay Of
execution for 80 days was gwen to
allow application for appeals to the
state Supreme Court.
Before sentencing them Judge
o'Brien asked each of the convicted
leg slators 4 he had anything to say.
Why sentence should not be imposed
Nothing to say replied S. U.,G.
Rhodes. who was accused of Offering
to sell the votes of seven legislators
to several candidates for United
States senator last winter.
Il have nothing to say" Rath Duff,
Rhodes chief lieutenant. said. AS.
bury answered in clear voice I'm
not guilty and Hll and Senator
Smith did not reply.
The courtroom was crowded when
Judge oBrien began his address. He
said:
''Juries of your countrymen have
found you guilty as charged in the in
dictment, and in the light of the
world and the evidence this court is
impelled to declare these verd'cts
true. BY overwhelming testimony it
has been shown that you committed
a crime affecting the public welfare
and should not be acquitted"
Judge uphoIds Entrapment.
The judge congratulated Thomas
Townsend for his effort to detect and
break up the practice of bribery at
the legislature, which, he sad, was
generally believed to have existed
for many years.
"The Prosecuting Attorney OF Kan
awha county was acting within the
province of his sworn duty when he
employed detectives and others to en-
trap YOU" Judge O'Brien said in
the futherance of his purpose he had
the right to obtain money from 9th
ers for such purpose and to provide
money to detectives"
Misdemeanor indictments are pend
ing agaist George s. Vanmeter and
Rev. #. ]. Smith, members of the leg
islature. A continuance has been
granted in the case of Delegate Smith
vanmeter who arrived last night but
if his case is taken up at this term OF
court it will require several days 70
empannel a new jury.
Men Arrested In February
The FIVE convicted Legislators were
arrested In Charleston hotel on FEB
ruary IL by Sheriff Bonner Hill in the
presence of Public Prosecutor Town
send. who, with the aid of private
detective, investigated the rumors OF
br berry which were being circulated
at that time in regard to the sena-
tor'al election. They We're taken be
fore a justice OF the peace, where
they waived hearing and all held IN
$4,000 bond. On February IA at a
SPECIAL session of the grand jury they
were indicted. Charges were made
at this time by Delegate $. Y. q
Rhodes. one Of the convicted legls
lators. that Colonel William Seymour
Edwards. one of the candidates foi
United States senator had offered
brides. These charges fell fiat, how