The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-06

Less than two minutes after the IL
Jurors in the West-Hodges damage
suit reached their room, the electric
buzzer announced a verdict and the IL
men filed back into court with unan-
imous verdict for Governor George H.
Hodges. Arguments in the case closed
at 11:27. At just 1882. the jurors had
elected foreman. taken one ballot and
We're ready to report.
The sudden termination today of the
sensational suit against the governor,
was spectacular in many details. A
scene seldom witnessed in a court room
followed the reading of Judge Dana's
instructions to the jury, when attor-
neys for Mrs. West announced that
they We're beaten and left the court
room with their client and her bosom
friend, Mrs. Laura Buckwalter. At
torneys Hungate and Simon for Mrs.
West had refused to argue the case.
For an hour and a half the three law
yers representing Governor Hodges re-
viewed the weeks testimony and con-
cluded with a plea for hasty verdict
and vindication of the state executive.
No Loophole in Record.
Less than five minutes after the ar
guments had been closed George Kline,
court reporter. was reading the verdict.
That no technical loop-holes might ap-
pear in the record, Judge Dana ordered
that the jury be polled. Calling each
of the IL men by name. Kline asked:
rs that your verdict?"
1T is,'' was the solemn response Of
each of the men who had sat through
the weeks trial of the farcical case
against the governor.
Governor Hodges was not in the court
room when the verdict was read, nor
had he appeared in the court room in
the closing hours of the case. He had
been in constant attendance throughout
fhn trial He left the i'm
mediately after the testimony was con-
cluded late Friday afternoon.
No Demonstration.
AS the jurors filed into the court
room. through side door-the nearest
possible entrance on their return from
their two minutes of deliberation-
Judge Dana admonished the crowd in
the court room that no demonstration
would be permitted.
THE court will not approve or per-
init any demonstration of approval OF
disa pproval of the verdict said the
court in anticipation of a possible out
burst of applause from the men and
women who have been in attendance
during the weeks trial. The admonitiop
was sufficient. The smile on the faces
of the twelve jurors as they took their
seats was reflected in the faces of the
men and women waiting for the veri-
fication of the one verdict that they
knew would be returned as a result OF
the testimony offered in the case
Democrat as Foreman.
After the verdict had been read and
the jury polled, Judge Dana thanked
the men for their faithful service and
Immediately adjourned court until Mon.
day morning.
Almost before the jurors had reached
their room to sign a verdict they had
elected Fritz J. Luenberger as fore
man. Luenberger was the lone Demo
crat on the jury. The remaining Il
men on the panel. selected to try the
case against the Democratic governor
are Republicans.
Mr. Foreman, have you brought
back verdict?' asked Judge Dana,
I'VE have" responded Luenberger, a.
he arose from his seat.
Then hand it lc the reporter
Kline then read the brief findings Of
the jury.
The Courts Instructions.
In his instructions as to the law and
the evidence in the case, the court held
in part:
"The controversy in this case between
plaintiff and defendant arose ove1
the copies Of certain letters which
plaintiff attempted to remove from tht
governors office without his consen
and against his protest. and in thu.
connection you are instructed. tha
the letters in controversy were the
private papers of Governor Hodge.
and plaintiff had no right to taks
them or copies thereof. from his Of