South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-06
ROBERTS AND CO-DEFENDANTS
. FOUND GUILTY Of CONSPIRACY
Jury in Federal Court at indianapolis Returns
Verdict Holding Tene FIaute Men Res
ponsible for Gigantic Frauds in Elections.
Jury CASTS ONE BALLOT
ON EACH ISSUE INVOLVED

INDIANAPOLIS. April 6.-AIayor
Dom NJ Roberts. County Judge ELI
II. Redman, Sheriff Dennis Shea and
p other Terre Haate politicians to-
day We're found guilty Of conspiracy
TO defraud the United States govern
ment in illegal acts at the last general
election. OF the original 121 men
caught III the federal drag net cast by
the grand jury, 80 pleaded guilty. The
others have been on trial before Fed
eral Judge Albert =. Anderson for
nearly three weeks. Fred Morrison,
one of the defendants, changed his
plea of guilty last Saturday
William j. SchWaninger of Jeffer-
sOnVille, Ind, foreman OF the jurors
returned the verdict
AS soon as the verdict was read the
court announced that the p men had
been found guilty and that those who
had entered pleas of guilty would be
arraigned at 9 o'clock next Monday
morning for sentence.
None of the men except Alexander
Aczel, who was unable to give bond,
viii be taken into custody until after
the atTaignment of all the others.
who are under bond.
Verdict Quietly Received.
The verdict was received quietly by
all the defendants and there was no
demonstration.
Counsel Stanley for the defendants
announced that the case will be ap-
pealed
The conviction of the Terre Haute
men marked the first attempt OF the
federal government in the United
States to prosecute perpetrators OF
election frauds The defendants at
the start of the trial disputed Judge
Andersons jurisdiction in the case but
~
applied to the case because a United
States senator and a congressman we're
being elected
Jury Takes Two Ballots.
The jury deliberated but two hours
last night and then took two ballots
and went to bed The first ballot was
on the question was there a cOnspir-
aCy - The second was as TO whether
the p defendants were involved in the
conspiracy.
well. we didn't hang" unused
Mayor Dom NJ. Roberts in spirit of
bravery after court adjourned, but II
was only in spirit. To all appearances
Roberts was deeply worried as were all
the defendants with the exception of
a few of the reputed gamblers.
Prior to the appearance of the jury
the group of p defendants proved
strange study. Worry was written ON
every face despite their attempts TO
appear confident and hopeful Roberts
could find little to say in whispered
conversations to his wife and two
little daughters, who were present
Mrs Edward DriscOH and her
daughter, Maxine, sat with Driscon.
the child playfully tossing an orange.
Several of the defendants "kidded'
each other and defendant Strauss.
liquor salesman, provided amusement
for the others by losing his temper.
AS the jury filed in a hush fell over
the defendant group as a hope beam
ed for them.
Attorneys Consult.
1t was an audible sigh of relief when
Judge Anderson announced that the
standing bonds would prevail until the
convicted men appear for sentence
Monday
No sooner had court adjourned
than hasty consultation was held by
the attorneys for Roberts, Redman
and Shea
Congressman Stanley announced 10
the court that the case viii be APP
pealed just after the verdict was rem
dered.
Mrs. Roberts was heard TO remark.
That was the worst case of justice