Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-09
VICTOR BERGER, TRAITOR,
FEDERAL JURY DECIDES
-Four Other Socialists Surprised /;
Had Hope for Hung jury;
Bolshcviki Stunned.

Chicago, Jan. 9-Victor l.. Berger,
Milwaukee politiclan-pubIIsher the only
Socialist elected last Fall u the sixty
sixth Congress, and four other national
leaders Of the Socialist Party, were found
guilty by q jury in Federal Court last
evening Of sedltlon and disl0yalty under
the Espionage act. Berger's conviction
bars him from Congress.
Those convicted with Berger for Oh
structing the nations war program against
Germany and with him now facing
sentences Of from one to 20 years in
prison, or fines Of from 81 900 To 80, 900,
or both are.
AdoIph Gcrrner, National Secretary Of
the Socialist Party.
William r. KrIse, National Secretary
Of the Young Peoples Socialist Party
the "Yipsels."
J. Louis Engdahl, editor Of The Ameri-
can Socialist.
Irwin ST. John Tucker, Protestant
Episcopal rector and former newspaper
man.
The five defendants, were released
under $4,000 bonds each, pending hear
ing Of motion for a new trial On January
%. Sentence was withheld by Judge
Lsndis until that time.
SURPRISE TO THE DEFENDANTS
The verdict, sweeping victory for the
! government, came as . surprise 70 the
| defendants. They had believed that the
/ five weeks Of radical preaching before
| the jury had converted" at least one
/ member Of that body. None, save Berger,
| had counted upon an acquftal, but had
| believed a "hung Jury would reenlt.
While out from | q. m. until 4 AZ p. m,
the iurv took only three ballots. The
first stood 10 to ? for conviction, the
second IL TO /, and the third unanimous,
BorsHEvrEI STUNNED.
The courtroom was iammed with
| Socialists. I. w. w, and Bolshevlki
when the jury reported its finding. They
| made no demonstration, seeming stunned
| Berger seemed more deeply moved Al
/ the result than the other defendants,
tears streaming down his cheeks.
Judge Lands made no comment on
| the verdict conhnlng himself TO thanking
the y men for their long service IN the
! jury box.
Berger said sonwhat shakily, his
emotion greatly accentuating his broad
! German accent.
BERGER wHIMPERs At VERDICT.
II am completely surprised am no
more guilty Of this crime than the Judge
on the bench / have lived in accord
anoe with these principles Tor thirty
seven wears. and now | must suffer IoI
them.
Germer made no statement except tina;
the verdict was g shocking surpnse.
The Others had nothing TO say.
Seyn our Stedman, chief OF counsel
who. with William Cunnea, Swan John.
son. Harry Cochems, defended the
accused men. was cryptic In his utter
ances. He is one Of the principal iesders
OF the Socialist party.
Now thst the controlling faction haE
shown the dragons teeth, We viii SET
now far they can 90, he said, addlng
that if such ) step became necessary tht
conviction would be taken 10 the Su
preme Court OF the United States FOL
review.
SOCIALISTS TRAITORS.
What transpired IN the Jury room was
related by A. l. Hendee, the foreman
We paid more attention 70 the docu'
mentary evidence than 10 the testimony,
he said. We were unanimous IN declaring
the proclamation and war pEogrsm' OF tbs
Socialist party, passed At 81. Louis, 10 n
traitorous document. Such grewsom,
and scurrllous pamphlets as The PrlcC
We ray anu why We SHoutd iHti, y
we'll as the strong anti-war editorials II
Berger's newspaper, The Milwaukee,
Leader. and the printed propagaDda urging
opposition to the draft, convicted the de
fendants on their face.
TRIED 10 HINDER NAuoN
The fact that the arnistlce hsS beer
signed cut no figure in our dehbeFauons
The documentary evidence showed tha
these men had deliberatel, il wartime