New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-29
'SALAS CONVICTED
OF CANAL FRAUD
Quick Verdict Declares
Tobacco Deal Was Con-
spiracy Against U. S.
BURKE, BRIDE TAKER,
RAkED BY DEFENCE
Sentence May Be Pronounced
Wednesday-Other Trials TO
Take Place Soon.

A jury in the Federal Court yester-
day. after half an hours deliberation.
found that Jacob L. Salas. in agree
INK TO give John Burke. former man
ager OF the Panama Canal Zones com
missary department. one-third OF the
$4,000 profit on 100000 worth Of to-
baccO sold 10 the government. was
guilty Of conspiring against the United
States.
The trial Of Salas. a tobacco mer-
chant. accused Of bribing Burke that
the commissary department might buy
the goods he furnished, had been go
ing on since Nonday before Judge
Hunt. Burke. who turned states evi-
dence, admitted he received 500 900 as
his share.
SalaS wae indicted with Burke and
Ricardo Bermudez. well known man
IN Central America. These. II IS as
serted by the Federal authorities.
agreed to split the profits on the to-
bacco sies TO he government Others
Under indictment for the alleged Pam
anna Canal frauds will soon be brought
to trial. Pasquale Canvaggio's case IS
scheduled 20 90 on Tuesday. Isaac
brandon's June :. and Robert WilcoX's
later. Bermudez's case will be sand
wiched in when convenient time ia
found.
William Rand. jr.. counsel for Salas,
laid emphasis in his summing up on
the fact that Burke, "a hundred times
more guilty Of wrongdoing than any
one else" was TO get immunity for
delivering up Salas and other mer-
chants who dealt with him.
Frank +. Carstarphen. Assistant
United States Attorney. referring 10
Salas's alleged association with the
conspiracy. said that when Burke want
ed his paw "he Sneaked up Bottle Al
ley TO the modern drugstore run By
the defendant and there received his
draft in a sealed envelope" He eX-
planned that when the little coterie Of
Spanish-American gentlemen" was no
longer able 70 maintain a monopoly
in dealing with the commissary dc
partment. Bermudez came along with
his plan for bribing Burke. and con
tended that the governments proht
on the tobacco supplied by Salas vas
smaller than on any other sort.
After reading a summary Of the
lengthy indictment. Judge Hunt
charged the jury that there could be
no doubt that the Panama Railroad
was government institution which
the defence had attempted to deny
and that, in consequence. a conspiracy
to defraud the road was one TO de-
fraud the United states. This CON
spiracy. he said. had to ne followed
By an overt act to carry out the terms
Of the agreement
The jury retired At $50, and at 5
O'Clock announced that a verdict had
been found. but because Judge Hunt
was engaged with another case IT was
not until 6:25 that the jurors were
permitted TO return TO the courtroom:
After their finding, Mr. Rand moved
that the verdict be set aside and that
new trial be given the defendant,
but both motions were denied.
Salas was allowed 10 leave with his
counsel. and will return Wednesday.
He will probably be sentenced then.
although this may be deferred until
all the men charged with conspiracy
have been tried.
Witnesses yesterday included George
r. Lewis. an attorney in Mr.. Rand' :
office. who testified that Burke's name
had been removed from the record OF
Government employees after ne had
been transferred from the service OF
me Isthmian Canal Commission TO that
Of the Panama Railroad, and several
character witnesses for the defendaht'
Burke was not in court when ire ses-
SION began. but arrived in time for
the attorneys summing up.