Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-31
GILL NOT GUILTY"
SAYS JURY AFTER
ALL NIGHT SESSION
Rockingham, POOlman, Doom
McLennan and PeySer
Are Free
ATTORNEYS WEPT AND
GILL WEPT WITH THEM
Billingsley Told Straight Story
But His Reputation
Weakened It

Seattle, WASH, Mar. 3l.-Mayor Hir- !
am c. Gill, Chief of Police Charles l..
and Detectives Poolman,
Doom, lMcLennan and Peyser were de-
clared "not guilty" today of the
charge of conspiracy in the illegal ship
ment of liquor into dry territory, filed
against them by the United States gov
The verdict was reached by the fed
eral jury at $3.50 o'clock this morning,
after celebrating since 526 clock last
night.
Because the defendants and attorneys
did not assemble until 9:45, it was not
read until then.
The foreman of the jury was t. NJ.
Bennett.
When the verdict was announced,
Wilmon Tucker and Walter Fulton, two
of the defense attorneys, broke down
and wept.
Mayor Gill remained almost motion
less for an instant, then a big wide
smile spread over his face. Later he,
too, broke down and wept, and kissed
his law partner, Herman Fry Beck
ingham patted his weeping attorney and
boyhood friend, Fulton, on the back.
The defendants then stepped to the
jury box and shook hands with each of
the Jurors. The crowds swarmcd around
and congratulated Gill and the other
acquitted men.
Rev. Percy, one of the jurors, declar-
ed that cat no time was he certain, but
he could not vote to convict because
then the punishment would have fallen
on the families of these men, though a
doubt existed as to their guilt"
When the booze graft case went to
the jury Friday evening, the IL men
had mass of conflicting statements
which were charges and denials Of
wholesale municipal corruption.
If the government s case were found
ed on truth-Logan Billingsley, chief
bootlegger here, himself under indict,
ment, his brothers and their allies sold
whiskey behind the protection bought
from city officials from the mayor
down.
If the defense theory were right, Bill
Kingsley, bent ON revenge against Gill,
the man who smashed his drug store,
started rumor of bribery he never ac-
complished, and used it to put United
States Attorney Clay Allen off his
trail.
Either the officials of Seattle sold
out to the clover bootlegger for money,
or spider-like crook spun web to
enmesh honest men.
These squarcly conflicting stories
were presented to the jurors by some OF
the best legal talent in the northwest
Fred and Logan Billingsley swore
they paid $4,000 to Mayor Gill and ST.
200 to Chief of Police Rockingham and
$40 barrel protection money to the
detectives. A booze.graft trial has been
in session four weeks, but preliminary
rumors and government investigation
started four months ago.
A federal jury, in December indicted
Logan Billingsley and his brothers, aft
er ex-Patrolman Edward Margett, 6
rival bootlegger, and Eddie Baker, man
ager of the Jesse Moore-Hunt company
Of San Francisco, had turned over in
eliminating evidence. Logan and FREQ
Billingsley pleaded guilty and are nov
awaiting sentence.
On this evidence and the stories tolC
by Logan Billingsley, and his borthers
Fred and Ora, Mayor Gill, Chief Beck
Iingham, ex-Sheriff Modge and City De
tectives Meyer Peyser, Jack Poolman
| Dan McLennan and James Doom wer'
indicted late in January.
They were charged with conspirac.
to violate the federal laws governing
the interstate shipments of liquor.
The Billingsley story which startle'
the town, charged Mayor Gill and tn
other defendants with shocking corrup
tion.
United States Attorney Clay Allie
was obliged to call FOR assistance, an
Attorney General Reames Of Portland
was commissioned an assistant attorne
general and sent to Seattle to handl
the prosecution.
Gill was defended by former State ST.
preme Court Judge Frederick Bausma
and Wilmon Tucker, president of tn
state and county bar associations.
The charges against ex-Sheriff Hodg
were dismissed by directed verde
from Judge Netterer at the end of tn
first week for want of evidence. H
was defended by his law partner, form
{ er Superior Court Judge William
? Bell