The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-05-15
FINLEY 70 THE COURT

A $50 fine was the sole product Of
she indictments returned at Columbus
some time ago by Prosecuting Attor-
ney Turner of Franklin county, Re
publican candidate for attorney gener-
al, and about which there was a great
hulIabaloo throughout the state by
standpat Republicans.
Upon the advice Of his counsel Will
liam l.. Finley, chairman of the state
Democratic executive committee, en-
tered a plea of guilty to a technical
violation of the state civil service law
and was fined $50 and costs, The 9th
er persons indicted with him-Emery
I,attaner, bank superintendent, his
chief clerk, Merle Collier, and A. "
Abernathy, secretary of the state tax
commissioners freed. On entering
his plea Mr.. Finley thus addressed the
court:
Il am not a lawyer. Neither am ! a
public officer. The act under which l
was indicted did not go into full effect
until Jan. of this year, The acts com
planned of occurred shortly afterwards
I was not familiar with the statute. 1t
is not yet we'll understood even by
lawyers. There is wide difference of
opinion among good lawyers as to
whether or not any of the acts charg-
ed in the indictment are prohibited by
the civil service law.
Certainly none of these acts has
heretofore been regarded as wrong
either legally or morally, and if they
are. wrong now. it is purely by virtue
of the recent legislative enactment.
The bureau with which | was connect
ed sent out weekly letters, which were
published in numerous newspapers,
Republican as well as Democratic.
These publications related to measures
recommended, and to statutes passed,
as well as their operation as admins
tered by various public agencies.
"The purpose was commendabie. The
expenses incurred were legitimate.
For this purpose the money referred
to in the indictment was contributed
and used. Not one dollar OF these
funds was received by me as compen-
sation for my time or services. Nor
did l receive any compensation from
the state, either directly or indirectly,
my hands are clean And on this point,
as we'll as every other affecting my in
tegrity, | shall at all times challenge
the fullest investigation.
THE charge against me does not in
Volve moral turpitude. The oifense
, charged Is the mere technical violation
of the letter of a statute which had
been in full force but a few days, with
the terms OF which was not faasifar.
| know that was not guilty of any
was violating any statutory provision
When learned that the propriety OF
my conduct was criticised promptly
sent to the prosecuting attorney all
papers and documents in my posses
sion and under my control which might
nave any bearing on the investigation
"All possible assistance was render
ed. ! have been advised by counsel
however, that under rulings made by
tbe court in this case. 1t might be held
that ! was guilty of an offense"
i'inley gave out the following state
mont after he had appeared in court
II am perfectly satisfied with the out
come OF this whole thing, and
wouldn't trade places with Prosecutor
Turner, either in the way that his posi-
ton or mine might be looked upon by
the public or subjected To the test ol
personal self-resp6ct Press bureaus
have been conducted in this city fol
years. / should like TO know whether
Mr. Turner himself has not been con
,tributing to one of them.
His bad faith IN the whole thing /,
shown by his Willingness to nolle In
dictments against public officials il
order to fasten a plea OF guilt on
technicality against me. That Il,
brought the names OF three public of
hcers into disrepute and subjected
their families to heartaches and wor
ries for the purpose, as is now appar
ant, OF making those indictments trad
ing stock against me, 80 to be expectet
from him. He gloats on blood.
taste OF mine may temporarily sausf!
perverted taste.
When my books were submitted Il
him voluntarily, showing Where ever,
dollar had come from and where ever
dollar had been spent, he knew tina
the best he could gain would be hun,
Jury, probably divided ON poiGlca
lines, and he measured me correctl,
when he assumed that 1 would be will
ing TO submit to the plea of technlca
guilt in order 10 save three public OF
hcials from the expense and the ans
ietX Of trials In the courts on indie,
nents for alleged misdemeanors.
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