Evening journal., 1917-12-20
JAIL SENTENCES IN
CONSPIRACY Cases
Ningate, Concannon, Wahl
and Hood Go Up for
Three Months
IS OUTCOME OF
WET AND DRY FIGHT

Maris Wingaie, Harry Mahl, Thomas
1oncannon and Charles Hood, the latter
3 Negro, pleaded guilty before Judges
3oyce and Rice In Court Of General Ses-
.ions this morning TO charges Of con-
.piracy 10 obstruct public justice in en-
icing away from the state witnesses
an election case involving Wingatc,
NhO Is bridgetender at seventh street
bridge
Samuel A. jackson and Neliie Ben
son, a Negress. entered pleas of not
guilty on the same charge, and nOlle
1roseQuis were entered hy Attorney
General Renharlt
Wingate. CQncannon. Mahl and Hood
we're each sentenced 10 serve three
months in the workhouse. 90 pay "a
Inc of $1,000 and costs ln default of
ayment OF fne they must serve NX
90 oval imprisonment
"This Is another one Of the very seri-
.a e. peen before The
,0urt this tcrm-one Of The cases that
laNc pulled at our hearslrings because
# me character of the men involved.
Judge Boyce said in imposing ihc sen
encc tie told the prisoned that hc las
lad the case under consideration for
some time. and that while it is a mis-
lonpanOf. Ii rs "a crime of high grade.
"it appears that the case not only
involved obstruciing public Justice hiii
also Of interfering with elections thc
'0url continued 1T is Of the utmost
Importance that our elections Doe con
ucted honestly and that the voters act
ir"o~d'ng to their own will and vote
honestly The case strikes at the very
We Judge Rice and myself tant
eel that we can send YOU out into civ
lization on probation OF only with a
inc" Judge Boyce told the men. That
would be a blow TO civilization
I'm sentencing them. ne asserted. hc
was taking into consideration their
previous good regulations and the sud
len impulse under which they had
tcted, and said that few could bring
better character Witnesses than they
ld. Sentence was thcn imposed
The affair is an outcome Of the i'Nvet'
and "dry" election last month. Win
gate was arrested prior 90 the election
on a charge OF influencing i0o Negroes
90 register illegally. Efforts Were
made 10 send out of the state ihc Ne
-roes John Lee and Wesley Postel.
who had been summoned 90 appear
against Wingatc ai hearing before
Magistrate Harry p Slradlcy. The po-
lice heard Of the circumstances aud ar
rested Lee and postcl as they were
about TO leave on train, apparently
for Florida. Hood was with them AMI
in his possession were. found two tick
cts for Florida. COncannon and lNall
also were at the station. Ice and Pos
tel were promised money 20 get out ot
the state in addition Go their fares io
Florida.
Character Witnesses were produced
by Philip l. Garrett 60 testify 70 the
previous good regulations Of concan-
non and Wahl. Among those who ap-
pearcd fcr the former were George =.
Capelle. Lewis ~asse. the Rev. Frances
Connolly and State senator Thomas NJ.
Monaghan. while Charles a. liurlock.
Howard Ward aud Charles J.. SaNlor
were among those who appeared ioF
Wahl
Concannon is the owner Of a saloon at
Seventh and Lombard streets, and
Wahl is a bartender for him.
Among the character witnesses pro-
duced by Harry p loslyn in behalf OF
Wingate were Postmaster James j..
English and Peter a. Horty.
Character witnesses for Hood were
Questioned by Attorney General Rein
hardt. as TO their knowledge Of the
defendants having been arrested on a
number Of occasions.
Mr.. Renhardt asked them as TO
whether they knew Of his being in
.ourt once on a charge Of murder, put
acquitted. and on another, charge.
Detective Benson testified that he
knew that Hood had been convicted i'm
he Federal Cogri for keeping a speak
'asy.
Mr.. Joslyn pleaded for Wlngate that
le was a man of a. years and with six
'hildrcn dependent upon him, and spoke
lf the previous excellent reputation he
1Ore.
When the men were arraigncd, Arm0n
D. Chaytor. Jr., requested 10 withdraw
he demurrer filed in the case. This
vas allowed.