The Ozark spectator., 1917-05-19
SIMS
 GUILTY IF bR|bE
SENTENCE WAS FIXED AT ONE YEAR IN PENiTENTIARY
 AND $1,90O FINE.
DEFENSE WILL APPEAL CASE
0ims Permitted To Remain Under His Previous Bond Of 10,000-Maxl- mum Sentence of Two Years
 Was Limit of Jury.

Little Rock
 A verdict of guilty was returned by the jury in the Sims bribery case be- fore Judge R. J. Lea, and the punish ment for the former state senator from HaZen was fixed at one year in the penitentiary and a fine of s1,S00.
 Judge Lea permitted Sims to re- main under his previous bond of $10,- 900, pending tho perfection of an appeal by Robert l.. Rogers and Col. George w. Murphy. chief counsel for the defense.
 The maximum sentence which could have been stipulated by the jury for the offense was two years. The jury decided upon only one year. but fixed the maximum fine, which the statute places at twice the amount of the al- legged bribe. Sims was charged with receiving 900 from John F. McGraw on February 23 last, in consideration for his action unfavorable to a trading stamp measure.
 M. K. Dunaway, prosecuting attor
 
 which resulted in the Sims indictment and the indictment of number of others charged with being implicated in conspiracy to introduce hold up" legislation in the last Arkansas Legislature.
 Case Goes To Jury.
 The case was given to the jury shortly after the conclusion of a lengthy address by M E. Dunaway. prosecuting attorney. heard by a crowded court room. Tn dismissing the jury, Judge Lea directed the jury to retire and "get good nights sleep" before beginning its delibera- tions.
 MT. Dunaway devoted some time during his address to reply to the attack by the defense upon his mo- lives in the conduct of the case from its inception. He declared that a sense of his duty to his office and to the people of the district and of the State had actuated him from the very beginning of the case and throughout the trial
 "If I thought the people of this dis trict who entrusted me with this sa- cred office. believed for one instant that l was so base as to act from the low motives which the attorneys for the defense have imputed to me, l would want to sell my home and leave my State and never see it again." MT Dunaway said. But 1 don't think there is a man in Pulaski county who believes such rot. I have no apologies to make for my course. My conscience is void of offense toward God and to- ward man. Throughout the investiga- tion l have been actuated only by mo tives of duty to my office, and have acted only in response to the demands of many good people that expose and prosecute the band of pirates that was organized in Room 404, Hotel Ma rion, to pillage and plunder and hold up the people of Arkansas"
 Refers To insinuations.
 MT. Dunaway referred to insinua- tions that none but Sims ever would be tried. He declared that l. c. Bur gess. principal witness for the State. also under indictment for bribery. either would plead guilty or stand trial
 He characterized the addresses of Col. George W. Murphy and Robert l., Rogers, which precs ded his. as power. ful appeals to sentiment and to pre- 1udice. from the two greatest criminal lawyers of Arkansas and the entire South"
 There are too many facts. too much overwhelming evidence in this case" he said, flor me to devote much time answering their powerful argu- ments and their strong appeals 10 prejudice. And when you consider the evidence in the case. in all it's staggering significance. don't believe you will be swayed from the truth by all the wisdom of Colonel Murphy and all the eloquence of Bob Rogers. I only want to saw, in answer to all their unjust attacks upon me. that I have acted entirely from sense of duty in this legislative investigation"
 MT. Dunaway closed his address with detailed analysis of the evl- dence as given in the trial. He de- clared there could be no doubt of Sims guilt, and urged conviction.
 Rogers Denunciation.
 Mir Rogers, who preceded MT, Dun- away closing just before the recess L~-~~->-~--~--~~--~
 Fortunes "DarIincs."