Evening star., 1918-06-03
RETAINS FREEDOM
ON $4,000 BOND
Mrs. Stokes, Given 10 Years
for Espionage, Will
Appeal Case.
STATEMENT BY COURT
By the Associated Press.

claHSt, Will retain ner nDerty uHueT
$4,000 bond, pending preparation of
bill of exceptions by her attorneys,
who will appeal her case to the United
States circuit court Of appeals. Mrs.
Stokes today was sentenced to serve
ten years in the Missouri state peni-
tentiary, following her conviction May
% on an indictment charging violation
of the espionage act. Judge Van
Valkenburgh granted the defense sixty
days in which to file its bill of ex-
ceptions.
Mrs. Stokes was found guilty on
three counts of the Indictment and
the court imposed a sentence Of ten
years in each count. but announced
that the sentences would run con-
currently. Missouri penitentiary was
chosen, it was announced, because the
federal prison at Leavenworth. Kan,
has no accommodation for woman pris-
oners.
Mrs. Stokes tonight declined to COM
ment upon her sentence. She announced
that she planned to return to her
homo in New York; tomorrow.
May Hear Case in December.
It was said tonight the court Of
appeals may hear the case in Decem-
are upheld and II the defendant can
raise a constitutional question the
case will go to the United States
Supreme Court.
In a statement to the court before
sentence was pronounced Mrs. Stokes
~ aha had assumed II
was her privilege to approve or
criticise any of the war aims" Of the
government. and declared she recog-
nized the cause of Americas en-
trance into war and had at no time
opposed the war.
Judge Reads Statement.
In passing sentence. Judge Van
valkenburgh read prepared state
ment, in which he said:
Il believe this is part Of a sys.
tematic program to create discomfort
with the war, loss of confidence In
the good faith and sincerity under
lying the conduct Of the war, and its
ultimate aims; thereby to cause with
drawal Of support at home and re-
Taxation of effort and effect in the
field. All this to the end that peace
on any terms may be brought about
with Germany. and the interests of
the udtiOu dI large SdCIiHCeo lOE tHo
realization of social and economic
views of certain groups.
Cooperation for this common OBJ
ject among various irresponsible or
visionary elements in the country is
perceptible. Some are undoubtedly
may not be. but the result. should
they succeed. would be the Same.
Revolution, II deemed necessary, 10
aimed at, expected and practically in
vited.
Want Conditions Like Russia.
'The lamentable situation already
brought about in Russia IL the SUBJ
stantial object here. True, such q re-
course. we know that existing condi-
tions here. racial and otherwise, are
widely different. Nevertheless, we
must not encourage harmful activi-
ties by passive indulgence. however
remote their consequences may now
appear"
I'VE have in this class Of cases .
stubborn and determined resistance
to governmental decrees." Judge Van
Valkenburgh continued. TN a de-
mocracy this amounts to defiance Of
the popular will. To Justify the stand
taken. logic. reason and human sym
pathy are speciously invoked. but no
standards OF such are recognized ex-
cept those Of the objectors them
selves. Such opposition amounts to
has been closd by anal action on the
part Of the constitutional authorities.
Under such circumstances the only
practical remedy is a stern and SUBJ
stantiai application OF legal sanctions.
aersfGrs n% for oSs conErs's enacted thi:
was designed to meet = war danger.
It's comparative Importance in the
minds Of Congress IL made manifest
by the penalty professionally. II
not quite. double that for any other
defense defined. except murder, trea-
son and analogous crimes"
Notion for New Trial overrulsd.
Judge Van valkenburgh overruled
q motion for new trial filed by Sey-
mour Stedman, attorney for Mrs.
Stokes. based on the contention that
the court had failed to distinguish
between motive and intent. The court
judgment.
Mr. Stokes was not in the court
room during the proceedings.
Immediately before sentence was
announced Attorney Stsdman stated
that Mrs. Stokes wished to read q
statement. This she was permitted
to do. Tho statement. in part, follows:
Mrs. Stokes Makes Statement
THE communication which I sent
to the Kansas City Star announced
that I was not supporting the war
aims of the government. 1 assumed
among the numerous aims which had
been presented by different Rroups
OF people that IT was my privilege to
approve or criticise any of the war
aims brought forward.
Il have at all times recognized the
cause OF our entrance into the war
war.
Early this year newspapers were
niied with reports of the exception
any large PROFITS secured by what In
generally known as war proflteers.'
and rightly or wrongly / honestIv
feared their dominating infiusncs
over the administration. and l am not
Tree from that apprehension All the
present time"
Mrs Stokes said that in her COM
ferred to the government, meaning
me administration. and continued:
II / have offended In expressing a
criticism which tptimates that the
government Is leaning to one class or
another IT is because I have taken
the provision of the Constitution
concerning liberty Of expression toe
nteraIiy-a language plain and Sim
tuition by an amendment thereto Sy
those who recognised Us Importance
during periods not alone Of peace.
but. also, OF stress"
Not Conscious Of Any Crime.
/ ap, nat nor~nto..