The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-07-03
PUBLISHERS Of jim
JAM JEMS STAND
CONVICTED

agree upon verdict on any of the
counts up to that time. They asked
of the Judge what the sentence would
be in case 3 verdict of guilty was re-
turned and he informed them that that
was entirely at the discretion of the
court and he could give fine of one
dollar or he might inflict the extreme
penalty of five years and $4,000 on
each and every count upon which the
defendants might be found guilty.
Statement by s. H. Clark.
When asked by the Tribune for q
statement regarding the outcome of
the trial last night, Sam H. Clark,
editor of Jim Jam Jems, who was at
the time surrounded by score or
more friends in the lobby of the Nc
Kenzie, said, 81 don't know as have
anything in particular to say, and yet
you might quote me as saying that l
consider the verdict and sentence but
an incident in the career which will
ingly undertook and thoroughly un-
derstood the uncertainties Of. For
many years the ambition of my life
was to launch an Independent publica-
ton wherein I could express unbiased
opinions on all matters of public in
terest, and from the initial number of
Jim Jam Jems to the present time
have written the plain truth. Per-
haps have made mistake in expos
ing too many big frauds and attack
ing too many influential men, but had
l the option right now of wiping out
the record of the past eighteen
months and "taking a fresh start"
would do the same thing over again.
The fact that we were finally found
guilty on two counts Of the indictment
and that penitentiary sentence has
been passed upon both Mr.. Crockard
and myself-although the jury recon-
mended simple fine does not daunt
me from my purpose in the least. The
tremendous circulation of Jim Jam
Jems is proof conclusive that the
thinking people of the United States
want the truth just as ! have writ
ten it. That the best people are
readers of the magazine goes with
out saying, and / know that our con-
viction could never have been secured
by jury who had been constant
readers of the publication or had they
been given the opportunity to pass
upon each issue or number as whole
rather than a few isolated para
graphs and parts of stories such as
were submitted to the jury in this
case. have not committed any
crime and MY whole aim and purpose
has been good. That Jim Jam Jems
has accomplished much good was even
admitted by the government attor-
neysi this prosecution, and | know
ney in this prosecution, and know
Jim Jam Jcms. While the cry has
been raised that we are making a bar
rel Of money out of the publication,
those raising this cry do not stop to
take into consideration the fact that
we have spent thousands of dollars in
securing evidence in the various ex-
posures Jin, Jam Jems has made. It
was not the dollars and cents motive
that actuated us in the publication Of
our magazine, for any sane person
knows that we could have made q
small fortune had we desired to adopt
the money making tactics that were
open to us from the very outset.
"You probably noted the fact that
the verdict or the pronouncing of i
penitentiary sentence did not "feaze"
either Nj. Crockard or myself. We
knew what we were up against and
/ think that we have fairly establish
ed the fact that our greatest asset is
backbone. I speak for Mr.. Crockard,
as well as myself, when say there
is nothing in us but fight. We will
appeal to the higher courts, of course,
and am as confident right now of a
complete aindication as I have been
since the indictment was first return
ed against us.
1--WE will continue to publish Jim
Jam Jems as Of yore, and this Incl
dent is but greater incentive to me
to continue the fight just as we start
ed. Ny conscience is absolutely
clear; do not believe that ! have
committed any crime, and, although
we stand convicted, have no regrets
except for the hundreds, yes, thous-.
ands Of friends who will keenly feel
disappointment.
"As see it, the jury brought in q
compromise verdict, believing that it
would mean a simple fine and that
their recommendation would be con-
sidered by the court, thus ending the
which has created so
much interest throughout the country
for the past eight months. ! am pos
tive, in fact, some Of the jurors have
already stated that they would never
have voted for conviction on single
count did they believe that their ver-
dict would result in penitentiary
sentence.
II could say considerable more, and
undoubtedly will say more in the July
number Of Jim jam Jems, but ! have
covered the situation pretty thorough
ly and don't know Of anything /
could add right now.
"The verdict in this case will have
no effect on future publications. The
magazine was not on trial, only few
articles, or parts Of articles, in some
Of the earlier numbers being under
question and claimed as obscene.