The Carlisle independent., 1917-05-17
SENATOR $. |. SIMS
 DECLARED GUILTY
$ GIVEN ONE YEAR IN THE PENI- TENTlARY AND A FINE
 OF $f,soo. .
CASE WILL BE APPEALED
Sims Was Charged With Receiving 5000 From John E. McGraw in Con- sideration For His Action Unfav-
 orable To a Trading Stamp Bill.
Little Rock

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.SO0
 Judge Lea permitted Sims to re- main under his previous bond of s10,- GOO. pending the 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 E. McGraw on February 23 last, in consideration for his action unfavorable to a trading stamp measure.
 NJ. E. Dunaway, prosecuting attor ney, instituted the investigation which resulted in the Sims indictment and the indictment of number of others charged with being implicated in a 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 NJ. E. Dunaway, prosecuting attorney. heard by crowded court room. In dismissing the jury, Judge Lea directed the jury to retire and "get good nights sleep" before beginning it's delibera- tions.
 MT. Dunaway devoted some time during his address to a reply to the attack by the defense upon his mo tives in the conduct of the case from its inception. He declared that sense of his duty to his office and to the psogis of tse district and of fhe State had aetuated him from the tery beginning on the case and throughout the trial.
 eff I thought the people of this dis trict, who entrusted me with this sa- cred office. believed for one instant that I was so base as to act from the low motives which the attorneys for the defense have imputed to me, would want to sell my home and leave my State and never see it again." MT. Dunaway said. But don't think there is a man in Pulaski county who believes such rot. have no apologies to make for my course. My conscience is void of offense toward God and to- ward man. Throughout the investiga- ton have been actuated only by mo- tiYes 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 pi1lage and plunder and hold up the people of Arkansas"
 Refers To insinuations.
 Mir. Dunaway referred to insinua- tions that none but Sims ever would be tried. He declared that | c. Bur- gess, principal witness for the State, also under indictment for bribery, either would plead guilty or stand trial.
 lie characterized the addresses Of Col. George w. Murphy and Robert L. Rogers, which preceded his, as power ful appeals to sentiment and to pre- judice, 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 to 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 a sense of duty In this legislative investigation"
 MT. Dunaway closed his address with a detailed analysis of the evil dence as given in the trial. He de- ciared there could be no doubt of Sims guilt, and urged conviction.
 Rogers DenuncIation.
 MT. Rogers, who preceded Mir Dun- away closing just before the recess
 Fortunes "DarIings"