The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-11-15
Beard Found Guilty
On First Two Counts

counts charging first, with making
and conveying false reports and
statements with the intent to inter
fere with the operation and success
of the military and naval forces of
the United States, and second, with
an attempt to cause mutiny and dis
loyalty. Evidence in the case was
concluded yesterday afternoon and
six addresses were made to the jury
today three for the defense by Sam
Adams T. P. Cothran and A. H. Dean
and three for the government by As
sistant District Attorneys Wyche and
Mays and District Attorney Thur
mond The jury was out less than
an hour.
The penalty for the offense is
within the discretion of the Judge
and is from one day to 20 years in
prison or a fine of from 81 to $4,000
or both. No notice has been given of
an appeal for new trial
Basis of Indictment.
The case was called yesterday af-
ternoon at o'clock and jury, rep
resentative of the Western District,
was selected in very short time, less
than a dozen being excused. The
government opened it's case by estab-
fishing the fact that The Scimitar
was published at Abbeville, before it
was denied the use of the mails, and
that Mr.. Beard was it's editor and re-
4 f.. ii. II h.
caption, "The Great Fizzler," a So
briquet he gave President Wilson, on
which the indictment was based, on
three counts as follows: First, max
ing and conveying false reports and
statements while the United States
was at war with the intent to inter-
fere with the operation and success
of the military and naval forces and
to support the success of the enemy;
second, attempt to cause insubordi-
nation, disloyalty, mutiny and refus-
al of duty in the militia and naval
forces, and third, to obstruct recruit
ing and enlistment in the service of
the United States.
"The Great Fizzler" Editorial
The editorial was discussion of
Americas entrance into the war and
contained such expressions as these:
cit (the war) is the most ridiculous
episode in history; it was staged for
the occasion and fulfllment of pre-
election pledges and to secure the
support OF the money power; Presi
dent Wilson played the Lady Boun-
tiful' to the bankrupts of Europe to
scatter our tax money by mortgaging
the future; Congress baked at moth
ing to impoverish the country and
its members were fools, towards, trai-
tors, grafters and Tories" The edi-
torial also said that the American SOL
diers on the Mexican border were
"shanghaied into signing the Federal
oath" so that they could be sent to
England.
Distinguished Witnesses.
| The governments first witnesses,
after the preliminaries, were Sena-
tor E. d. Smith, Congressman James
F. Byrnes, and Congressman Fred
H. Dominick, who were called to tes-
tify that the criticism of the Presi-
dent and national lawmakers was
false. Congressman Byrnes had found
no fool, towards, traitors or graft
ers, nor did Senator Smith, who also
paid tribute to President Wilson as
being the "peer intellectually of any
man in America and who, in a pecu-
| liar executive sense, the superior"
The Senator stated further that the
President went as far as he could
honorably to keep the country out of
war.
Congressman Dominick.
Congressman Dominick said that
he had heard charges of graft on the
outside of Congress and that one
man, Mr.. Hefflin, of Alabama, had
made the charge on the floor of the
House, but he could say nothing of
his own knowledge as to their truth
or falsity. Mr.. Dominick also re-
ferred to his vote against the war
declaration, and speaking for him
self, declared that he voted accord
ing to the dictates of his own con-
science. He said that the Good Fri
day morning on which the vote was
taken was the saddest and most Sc
rious event he had ever witnessed
The government presented other
witnesses for the purpose of estab-
fishing Mr.. Boards opposition to the
draft law and this point caused long
arguments on both sides on the
ground of the admissibility of such
evidence. Judge Johnson let three
Witnesses testify b,t ,,of;6oJ +lo