The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-08-06
LOOSE TONGUES
MUST NOT WAC,
SAYS AMlD0N
No Time for Foolish Talking. De.
clares Federal Court
Jurist @
$4,000 FINE FOR SIMMONS
Benedict Man Convicted Under
Espionage Act Is Given
.> Light Penalty
$4,000 FINE FOR SIMMONS

=. p. Simmons of Benedict, indicted
ON three counts under the espionsk,
act of June Is, 1917, was convicted
on the third count by federal cour
jury which returned its verdict this
morning, commenting Simmons to tn,
clemency OF the court. The cour
assessed a fine of 800 as the Bene
dict mans punishment. The coun,
under which. he was convicted charg
ed interference with recruiting for
the naval forces of the United State,
"This is time for men to bride
their tongues said the court in sen
fencing Simmons. "You have talked
too much and you have talked foolish
ly. | realize that you are from Mis-,
souri,. that warm southern blood flows
In your veins, and that you are prone
to be hot-headed. l am not able to
think Of you as actually disloyal. I
don't believe you intend to be unpa,
triotic. But you talked too much.
"This Is a time when men are Sc.
we're in their judgments. Men 60
about casting javelins at one another
and all must suffer. You have sut
fered in this case The rights OF the
individual are small, but the rights OF
the nation are large. am glad the
jury had the grace to accompany Its
verdict with recommendation for ex,
treme leniency. and will accord I,
to you in the minimum fine. Go back
to your community with malice to.
ward none and charity toward all. Be.
have yourself. and don't go back in a
spirit Of anger and retaliation"
Simmons asked permission to speak
for himself. He was too affected to
say much. but he intimated that his
arrest, indictment and conviction were
the result of a "frame-up" The court
recited to him the tale of the Man on
the cross. and his plea: Forgive
them Father, for they know not what
they do
The case against Fred ]. Hottie OF
Williston, indicted under the espion-
age act. was called shortly before
noon today. Judge w. H. Barnett of
Fargo is defending.
Big business started this war for
self-aggrandizement~ and Wilson took
hold of 1t and made it wOrld-war for
democracy"
This in effect was one of the state
ments attributed to E. e. Simmons,
Benedict liveryman. charged with vio-
lation Of the espionage act. who talk
ed from the witness stand for two
hours in his own defense in federal
court Monday afternoon.
Simmons confined himself largely to
the discussion of economic questions
out of which he believed the war grew
and of economic conditions growing
out of the war. He was changed by
the prosecution with having said that
the allies were getting the worst Of
it in the big scrap in France. and
that the munition makers and big
business interests aw their loans
ieopardized. and that to save them the
United States declared war.
Mr.. Simmons expressed himself as
very much opposed to prOfiteering
and he declared he believed that this
evil thrived under war conditions He
showed much knowledge OF social
economy and socialism. was outspoken
in his views, and talked steadily for
two hours with little prompting.
J. A. Hyland of Bismarck defended
and District Attorney NJ. A. Hildreth
Many people from Bene>
dict and vicinity were in town as wit
nesses. Simmons at various times
has been in the land business. in the
livery business apd engaged in sptheE!d
pursuits In eBnedict. ~