The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-01-10
TREASON IS GIVEN
ITS JUST DESERTS
JUDGE WADE PASSES SENTENCE
UPON D. 7. BLopeETT.
DEATH KNELL TO TRAITORS
scathing Arraignment Of Type Of
Which Defendant Was Exponent
-"Eenemy at Home Must Be
Exterminated," Says Judge.

4
Des MONIES, JAN TT sentence
you to twenty years in the federal
penitentiary at Leavenworth.'
Amid a deathlike silence in the
federal court room, Judge Martin J.
Wade late Saturday afternoon pro-
nounced these words upon d. T. Blod-
gett. convicted of treason. The court
room was packed. Dozens were turn
ed away by the bailiffs at the doors.
Il could under the law sentence you
1 to sixty years in prison." said the
judge judge sternly. Men who OPP
pose the government in this hour of
the nations agony ought to be taken
out against stone wall and shot.
But the law is not vindictive. i fix
| your bond at 25,000"
Blodsett started tremblingly toward
, the bench several times during Judge
Wade's speech. Once he interrupt
ed the judge and accused him of in
fiuencing the Jury by giving them
their instructions in a boisterous and
vehement manner
Must Extermnate Traitors.
1.-THE spirit of this nation contin-
ued Judge Wade, sis kindness, toler-
ance and generosity. This nation is
willing to fight the enemy on the
front; she is willing to fight the as
sassins of the air, the pirates of the
seas, and the masters of the most bru-
tai cruelty that the world has ever
known she is willing to fight all of
these, but she will not consent to be
stabbed in the back, and traitors must
sheath their knives or submit to ex-
Examinations"
The entire court room was visibly
stirred by these words and later sew
eral women wept openly when the
judge said
Fathers and mothers are sending
forth their boys to yield their lives
if necessary, in the cause of human
liberty. Men and women are giving
their hard earnings to support these
boys and to make them effective in
this war. Little children are giving
their pennies"
Traitors Neutralize Sacrifices.
isn't it too bad in this nations
hour of trial that few, than God, on
| ly few who are rebels against au-
thority, who are traitors to their
country-seek to neutralize the sacri-
fee of their neighbors."
In referring to Blodgett's record
during the past twenty years, Judge
| Wade said:
Il have looked into your record, Mr..
! Blodgett. l find that you have al
ways manifested supreme contempt
| for instruments of your government.
You have defied the courts. You
have reviled and abused some of the
ablest judges that ever sat upon the
| bench in Iowa. You have libeled and
maligned some of this most glorious
patriots of our great commonwealth.
"You have attempted to have
Judges arrested and prosecuted because
thy disagreed with you about your
rights. You have brought suits for
gross amounts against jurists because
4 lHey nave pCliOihiSu biSAi
duty"
Tells of Criminal Record.
In referring to Blodgetts criminal
record, the judge said:
"You have served time in the peni-
Tertiary. 1t was lesson which you
would not heed. You have refused
by your own acts to conform to the
rules of society. You have no bust
ness at large until you learn that this
nation cannot be compelled to submit
to insult and infamy."
Judge Wade paid but little atte2tion
to the prisoners plea that he was a
raving maniac at the time the sedi-
tious pamphlets were written
"Yoa have manifested an unusual
shrewdness for an insane person in
the court room If your insanity is
sparmodic you should be placed where
| you should have proper care and at
tentlon But as matter of fact you
put up this idea of insanity. only
when you arc hard pressed and need
loophole There is 10 loophole this
, time"