Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-09
BERGER AND HIS
AIDES DISLOYAL
Jury Finds Socialists Guilty-AttOr-
neys to Present Arguments
for New Trial.


Chicago, Jan. 9.-Attorneys for
the five Socialists convicted in fed
eral court of conspiracy to hinder
/ the government war program be-
gan today the preparation of argu-
ments in support of their motion
fer new trial. which will be heard
! two weeks from today before Judge
Landis. Should the motion for a
new trial be denied the five men
| will be sentenced.
Victor l.. Berger, Milwaukee poll
t-Cian-publisher, and the only So
C.alist elected last fall to the 66tn
congress, and four other national
leaders of the Socialist party, were
found guilty of sedition and disloy-
atty under the espionage act by a
Jury in Judge Lands court late
Yesterday. Berger's conviction bars
him from congress.
Those convicted with Berger for
0bstructing the nations war pro-
gram against Germany and now
facing sentences of from one to
twenty years in a federal prison,
ines of from $1,000 to $4,000, or
both, are:
Adolph Germer. national secre-
tary of the Socialist party.
William f. Kruse, national secre-
tary of the Young Peoples Socialist
party-the "Yipsels."
J. Louis Engdahl, editor of the
American Socialist and a party
leader.
Irwin st. John Tucker, Protestant
Episcopalian rector, former news
paperman and red" propagandist.
Sentence Is Withheld.
The five defendants were released
nnder $4,000 bonds each pending
hearing of a motion for a new trial
on Jan. %. Sentence was withheld
by Judge Lands until that time.
The verdict-a sweeping victory
FOR the government in its fight
against the red fiag" and the sedi-
tious propagandists-- as ter
rife blow to the defendants. They
had confidently believed that the
FIVE weeks of radical preaching"
given before the jury had convert
ed" at least one. None, save Ber-
ger, had counted upon an acquit-
tai, but all had believed a hung
Jury" would result.
While out from II a. m. until 4
p. m, the jury took but three bal
lots. The first stood 10 to 2 for
conviction, the second II to l, and
the third was unanimous guilty"
The court room was jammed v1;:l
Socialists, l. W. w, Bolsheviki, and
every division coming under the
red flag" when the jury made its
"nding. With all business suspend
cd in the federal building in honor
Of Theodore Roosevelt during the
afternoon, they had packed the cor
ridors.
Radicals Seem Stunned.
AS soon as Bailiff Joseph Buck
ner, in charge of tho jury, appeared
and announced a verdict a squad
Cf plainclothes men and deputy
marshals took possession. They
scattered throughout the court room
prepared to meet any demonstra-
ton. But none occurred. Even
the most radical of the radicals in
that place of justice seemed !
stunned
Berger appeared almost lifeless !
as he sat, his huge bulk crunched !
Up in a chair behind his array of
counsel. He seemed more deeply !
moved than the others, tears
down his cheeks. He did I
not look up even when Joseph /
O'Sullivan, the court clerk, polled /
the jury. each member of that body |
arising in answer to his name and |
the judgment guilty"
Judge Lands made no comment |
on the verdict, confning himself to !
merely thanking the II men for
their long services Iii the jury box.
Berger Makes Brief Statement.
After the jurors had filed back
10 their room Berger was surround
ed by his wife, two daughters, and
l. score of women. The other de-
fendants nervously wandered about
me room while their counsel were
making the usual formal motions
and arranging for their release on
rrevious bonds. The now deposed
elect, the only Social
st to survive in last falls elections
and who now also goes into Obliv-
on. finally aroused himself.
Somewhat shakiiy, his emotion
z1eatly accentuating his broad
Ierman accent. he said:
AZ am completely surprised. am
10 more guilty of this crime than
ne Judge on the bench. l have
ived in accordance with these prin-
7iples for 81 years and now l must
.uffer for them"
NOT IN BERLIN.
Berlin, Jan. S.-(By the Associat-