New-York tribune., 1917-06-13
Two Aliens Guilty
OF Conspiriing to
Block Conscription
Face Two Years in Jail, 0,000
Fine, or Both. in
Sentence To-day

After a trial lasting only two days
two alien nscriptionists-one of
them a professed anarchist-were found
guilty OF conspiracy against the United
States last night by jury in the Fed
eral Court.
The convicted men, Louis Kramer and
Morris Becker, will be sentenced to-day
by Judge Mayer. The maximum PEN
atty for their offence is two years in a
Federal penitentiary, fire of $4,000,
or both.
Kramer and Becker. with Joseph
Walker and Louis Sternberg, were ar
rested at peace meeting at Madison
Square Garden on the night CT May 81.
The specific charge was that they dis
tributed seditious literature and urged
men not to register.
Jury Has Heated Session
The jury had a heated session. The
shouting could be plainly heard in the
corridors of the Federal Building
Words such as anarchists" "Wash-
ngton" and "loyal Americans" were
heard by the crowd outside.
l. was learned after the jury had re-
turned its verdict that the first vote
showed three men against conviction
OF Kramer and Becker, and IL was only
after much discussion that these were
brought around TO the verdict rem
dered. Walkers acquittal, it was
stated. was never in question during
the deliberations.
One of the jurors, said TO have been
the last to accept the majority verdict,
was pale when he walked into court.
When Foreman John G.. Smith an
nounced the verdict Judge Mayer COM
plimented the twelve men.
81 want to thank you, gentlemen,
said the judge. "for what believe to
be a Just verdict. You have done for
this country a satisfactory service. You
have rendered service to the govern
ment."
Judge Mayer then called the acquitted
defendant Walker to the bench.
Young man." he said, "it is not my
habit to address d defendant when he
has been found not guilty. Yet deem
it my duty to say just this TO you.
You are not very smart young fellow
Keep out of the company of undeslr-
ables hereafter and you will be better
off"
There is no chance" said Walker,
plainly showing fear, "of my ever get
ting in such a mess again in a million
years"
Sternberg ard Walker Freed
Sternberg was discharged on the
recommendation of Judge Mayer. In
his charge to the jury Judge Mayer
came 10 the rescue of Walker, and with
the verdict Of conviction rendered last
night against Becker and Kramer the
Jury voted acuuittal for Walker.
A feature of the trial was the testi-
mony Of Louis Kramer, one Of the de-
PENDANTS, who announced with show
of pride that he was an Anarchist.
When his lawyer, Harry Weinberger,
asked him to define his conception of
anarchy, he replied:
Anarchy is a new philosophy OF So
cial order | don't believe in physical
force. police, armies, navies, judges or
courts. do not believe in militarlsm.
| would go against the wall before being
conscripted. ! will not register, and |
do not believe in the military arm of
the government"
Under cross-examniation Kramer said
he was opposed to all government; was
opposed to all laws except ethical laws,
and believed in the breaking of any law
he might regard as against human
rights. He insisted that he would vio-
late any law that would order him TO
do murder.