The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-04-06
DEFENDANTS D0WNCAST BY yURY'S FINDING
Dom Roberts Loses Hope While Other Convicted Men Have
Nothing to Say They File From Court Room-Tral Wa,
First Attempt Of Government to Prosecute Perpetrators Of
Election Fraud.-Men Out on Bond Not Taken Into Gus
tody-Defense viii Appeal From Verdict
INDIANAPOLIS, April 5.-Ms

INDIANAPOLIS, April 5.-Mayor
Dom NJ. Roberts. County Judge Eli
H. Redman, Sheriff Dennis Shea. and
the other Terre Haute politicians to-
day were found guilty of conspiracy
to defraud the United States in illegal
acts at the last general election. OF
the original 116 men caught in the
federal drag net, ninety pleaded
before Federal Judge Albert E. Ander-
son for nearly three weeks. Fred
Morrison, one OF the defendants,
changed his plea of not guilty to guilty
last week.
court announced that the men had
been found guilty and that those that
had entered pleas OF guilty would be
arraigned at 9 o'clock next Monday
morning for sentence.
Out On Bail.
None OF the men except Alexander
Aczel, who was liable to give bond
will be taken into custody until after
the arraingment Of all the others who
are under bond.
The verdict was received quietly by
all the defendants and there was no
uCuOu6t4 oIlOu SouuSA oloulCJ III
the defendants announced that the
verdict would be appealed. The con-
viction of the Terre Haute men marks
the first attempt of the federal gov
eminent to prosecute perpetrators Of
election frauds. The defendants at
the start of the trial disputed Judge
Anderson's Jurisdiction in the case.
but he held that federal laws obtain
ed because a United States senator
and a congressman were being elect
ed.
In Session Two Hours.
The jury deliberated only two hours.
and then took two ballots and went
to bed. The first ballot was on the
question: WAS there a conspiracy"
The second was as to whether the
twenty-seven defendants we're involy-
ed in the conspiracy.
well, we did not hang" mused
Mayor Dom Roberts after court ad-
journed, but the muse" 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 twenty-seven defendants pre-
sented a strange appearance. Worry
was written on all faces, despite their
attempts to look hopeful. Roberts
could find little to say in whispered
conversation to his wife and 'wo little
daughters who were present.
Watch for Jury.
Mrs Edward Driscoll and her daugh-
ter sat with Driscoll, the child play
fully tossing an orange. Several Of
the defendants joked while Joe
Strauss, liquor salesman, provided
amusement for the others by losing his
temper. AS the jury filed in, a hush
fell over the defendants. as hope
against hope" look beamed from their
eyes.
There was an audible sigh Of relief
when Judge Anderson announced that
the standing bonds would prevail un-
til the convicted men appear for SEN
tence Monday. No sooner had court
adjourned than a hasty consultation
was held by the attorneys for Roberts
Redman and Shea.
Congressman Stanley had announc-
ed to the court that the case would
be appealed just after the verdict was
rendered.
Believes Il Unfair.
Mrs. Roberts was heard to remark:
THAT was the worst case OF justice
ever heard of. It wasn't fair. That's
all there is to It.
Judge Redman said: 'Well We
might have expected 1t, but this is not
the end Of 1t"
A majority OF the convicted men
FASTENED from the court without max
ing any comment.
The court was late In convening be-
cause Of the tardiness Of Judge Ander-
son. OF the immense crowd that
sought admission only q small portion
could be accommodated.
Vice and Politics.
The governments evidence, includ-
ing that of more than eighty confessed
conspirators In election irregularities,
indicated that election frauds In TerY :.
Haute have been going On for yoo9
CONTINUED On Pago Tnree.l