The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-08-19
|. v. v. LEADERS
FACE LONG TERMS
One Hundred Convicted i'm
Conspiracy to Disrupt Ma
TONS War Program
JURY TOOK BUT AN
HOUR TO DECIDE
Attorneys for Defence Submitted Case
Without Argument-Judge Lands in
His Charge Withdrew One Count of
Indictment.

CHICAGO, Aug l9.-One hundred
leaders of the Industrial Workers of the
World were found guilty as charged in
the Indictment by the jury after one
hours deliberation at their trial for con-
spiracy to disrupt the nations war pro-
gram late Saturday. Arguments for a.
new trial win be heard next week.
The defendants, including William d.
big BID Haywood, general secretary
treasurer of the l. W. w, the highest
position in the organization, face a maxi
mum penalty of y years in prison and
$4,000 fine each.
Federal Judge X. NJ lands, in his
charge to the jury, withdrew the fifth
and last count of the Indictment, which
charged conspiracy to violate the postal
laws, and particularly that section ey-
Guiding from the mails enterprises in the
nature of schemes to defraud.
The remaining four counts Of the in
dictment specifically charge violation of
the espionage act, the section of the GRIM
nal code prohibiting interference with
the civil rights of citizens, the selective
service act and the conspiracy statute
The close of the case which has been
before the court for 1873 days, was sud
den. Two minor witnesses testified at
the morning session, and following them
Frank X. Nebeeker, chief counsel for the
government began his closing argument,
for which he was allowed two hours, but
consumed scarcely half that time. George
f. Nanderver, head of the defence legal
staff, to the surprise of all in the court
room. declared that he would submit the
case to the jury without making closing
statement.
In his closing argument Atty. Nebeeker
said:
you have been engaged in one of the
most epoch making trials in the history
of the country We obey the decisions
of the highest court, and that is the on
Is way that republic can live Any
| thing that strikes ut that is danger
Gus thing
The wisdom OF the decisions of tile
courts of this country is not at issue
The Industrial system is not on trial
| this case Is not against any interests OF
| honest workingmen nor against any pa
| triotic labor organization And no eff
| fort il being made by the government
1 w justify Hiob lht blsDe1 uS-
| portations or other awless acts
AT its very start the l. w w struck
at the foundations Of our government
Is it not peculiar that in every state oil
the Union these fellows got into trouble:
| In a little town an ordinance is passed;
they come and violate it and say they
are going To violate it.
The documents issued by the defend
ants themselves are enough to convict
them. When YOU consider the definitions
made by the witnesses on the stand and
compare them with what they have writ
ten and the books they authorized. the
case of the government is complete"
] After the instructions of Judge Lands
the jury retired at 40 and Just one
hour later announced that it's verdict was
ready The court hastily assembled and
the verdict was read at 525
There was no demonstration and the
| defendants were returned to their cell,
after Judee Landis had announced that
he would hear arguments for new tria
next week, the exact date to be set later