The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-01-15
men
PLEAD GUILTY
Indiana Election Thieves
On Mercy of Court.
Terrc Haute Democrats Are Up
Against Federal Court At
Indianapolis.

Indianapolis. Ind, Jan. 12.-Ad-
hitting that they had participated
in the alleged conspiracy to corrupt
the election of November 8, 1914.
in Terre Haute, eighty men out of
ia under arrest pleaded guilty be-
fore Judge A. B. Anderson in the
United States district court here to-
day. Sentence was not pronounced.
Mayor Dom M. Roberts, of Terre
Haute; Circuit Court Judge Eli H.
Redman, Sheriff Dennis Shea and
others who were represented by Rep
resentative A. o. Stanley. of Ken
lucky. filed demurrers to the charges
contained in the indictment, which
was returned the day before last
Christmas. The demurrers will be
argued January 20
]. E. Edward Holler, who until
few days ago was chief OF police of
Terre Haute, and John F. Nugent,
former night chief of police, were
among those who pleaded guilty.
With the exception of Holler and
Nugent all OF the city and county Of
ficials who were indicted fled de-
murrers.
After the ia men had pleaded
Judge Anderson instructed that all
those who had pleaded guilty could
return to their homes and await the
summons of United States District
Attorney Frank c. Daley. The same
freedom was granted those who had
pleaded not guilty. and then the
court set January 20 as the date to
hear the arguments on the demur-
rers.
Details Of Demurrer.
The demurrer filed in behalf of
Mayor Roberts sets forth CD the
court has no jurisdiction in the case;
CD the facts are not sufficient to
constitute a public offense; (3) the
facts are not sufficient to constitute
crime or misdemeanor; ca the
fourth count in the indictment is
duplicitous in that it attempts to
state in single count more than
one seperate and distinct offense,
and CD the indictment Is vague.
With only one or two exceptions
each of the prisoners spoke plainly
when called upon to plead. Daniel
Alban. the second man called, stood
and wetted his lips for several sec
onds and then only nodded his head
affirmatively when the court asked
If he were guilty. He was the first
to plead guilty. Alexander Aczel.
the first called, having pleaded not
guilty.
Jesse Powell attempted to give
some details regarding his part in
the alleged conspiracy. He said he
was mixed up in the registrations,
but did not know anything about the
conspiracy.
did you register more than
once?". asked Judge Anderson.
"Yes." admitted the prisoner. "Tll
plead guilty to that. but not to con-
spiracy."
After Judge Anderson had ex-
planned the meaning of the word
conspiracy more fully, Powell said.
II guess I'm guilty, then"
Prisoners Crowd Court Room.
The defndants. all of whom had
been released on bonds Of personal
recognized. were ushered into the
court room and seated one at a
time. The jury box had been re-
moved and few other alterations
were necessary to find room for all
of the ia prisoners. said to have
been the largest number ever ar
raigned at one time in United
States court.
Mayor Roberts was among the last
to enter the court room. He took
seat beside his counsel. Represen-
tative Stanley. and frequently con-
suited him. He also turned to look
at many OF the defendants as they
uttered their pleas of guilty. Judge
Redman and his son. Hilton. also
had seats at the counsel table.