The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-02-26
GORE EXONERATED BY JURY.
Evidence by Plaintiff Declared to be
insufficient for Suit.

United States Senator Thomas P.
Gore was to-day exonerated of
charges of improper conduct by a
verdict in his favor returned in dis
trict court here in the suit for $780,
600 damages instituted by Mrs. Min
ME E. Bond, of Oklahoma City.
The verdict was returned at $40
D. M, ten minutes after the case was
given to the jury. Only one ballot
was taken.
1--WE find" the jury stated in the
verdict, 1.-The evidence submitted by
the plaintiff entirely insufficient upon
which to base a suit; that said evil
dence wholly exonerates the defend
ant, and had the defendant, at the
conclusion of the plaintiffs evidence,
announced that he desired to intro
duce no evidence and rested his case,
our verdict would have been the
same in that event as now returned
by us, in favor Of the defendant"
Verdict Brings Applause.
Despite the efforts of bailiffs to
maintain order when the last words
of the verdict, "Favcr Of the defen-
dant," were read the crowd, which
taxed the capacity of the court room,
turned into cheering throng, order
" but no less determined to give vent
to their feelings.
Those displeased by the verdict
forced their way to the doors and
left in silence amid the bantering of
the senator's friends.
Senator Gore heard the jury's de-
eision without change of coun-
tenance Mrs. Gore was the
first to grasp his hand. When she
turned and shook hands with Henry
Carpenter, the foreman, tears were
on the cheeks of both herself and the
aged farmer.
''The verdict confirms my faith
that truth will triumph said Sena-
tor Gore. II never for moment
doubted the outcome at the hands of
the jury
From the time the jurors left the
room to prepare their verdict until
the demonstration was under way,
Mrs. Bond sat in silence, leaning on
a table and scribbling on a piece of
paper.
Appeal to Supreme Court.
E. Giddings, chief of. counsel for
Mrs. Bond, stated tonight that an ap-
peal to the supreme court would be
taken on the grounds that applause
and demonstrations in the court
room during the trial had Influenced
the jury.
Senator Gore stated that he would
remain in Oklahoma City until Sat-
urday, when he will go to Hot
Springs for a short vacation before
returning to Washington.
The termination of the trial, which
has attracted more attention and has
been more vigorously contested than
any held in Oklahoma in recent
wears, came at the end of day de-
voted to argument by opposing coun-
sci, in which words were not spared
in denouncing witnesses and oppos-
ing parties to the suit.
Robert L. Rogers, of Little Rock,
Ark, of counsel for Senator Gore
made the direct charge that J. F.
McMurray, prominent Oklahoma
lawyer, now living in Washington,
planned the alleged conspiracy
which the defence declared resulted
in the charges that the senator at
tempted to assault Mrs. Bond in
Washington hotel last March, the
basis for the suit.
Allegation of Plaintiff.
Trial of the suit began last We'd
nesday. In her declaration Mrs.
Bond alleged that the senator attack
ed her while she was in conference
with him at hotel in Washington
last March, in connection with the
possible appointment OF her husband,
Julian Bond, as internal revenue COL
lector at Oklahoma City. Gore seiz-
ed her, she alleged, throwing her
violently across bed and she freed
herself only after several men ap-
peared in the doorway of the room.
In the scufie, Mrs. Bond asserted,
her face was scratched and hand
lacerated by fragments of her broken
eyeglasses.
In his answer Senator Gore made
general denial of the charges and as
a counter charge alleged that the suit
was instigated by coterie Of his po-
litical opponents who had failed in
their efforts to secure Federal pat
ronaDp