The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1919-09-18
TQWNLEY TAINTED
WITH D|sLOYALTY
AS WAS ALSO HIS HENcnMAN
JOSEPH GILBERT

/.
&, y
Each Given Thfse Months In JalI
Without Option Of Fine
Three months in jail without option
Of fine. -, a
That was the sentence passed yes
terday on A. G. Townley, president
Of the Nonpartisan League and. his
henchman Joseph Gilbert, charged
with teaching disloyalty to the United
States government and convicted by
a jury Of farmers in Jackson county,
Minnesota. ..
Prosecutor Nicholas and Judge
Dean both went on record as declar-
ing the charges that they had been
politically active against the league,
or prejudiced on other grounds, were
contemplate lies" and were circu-
lated ''for the purpose of distracting
attention from the convention by a
jury Of farmers" 4 -
"Apy organization that is built ur
on falsehood will not long endure .
said Judge Dean, referring to the
Nonpartisan League.
"Lstters Of the Praise~
The Judge, in his address, declared
that he has received various letters
Of comment on the case. some Of
which. praised his conduct and few
Of which criticised his decision. He
declared that all Of the hostile letters
were anonymous, while the compli-
mentary communications sbole signa-
lures. Letters bore postmarl<s from
cities as far east as Atlantic t.tty and
as far west as San Francisco.
Attorney Nicholas injected new MAJ
terial in his charges Of disloyalty
against the league. He declared that
agents Of the league "Are still oIt
preaching sedition; are still out
preaching open revolution: are still
out preaching the overthrow Of the
American constitution"
- r.
Recalls Lssusur spesoh
Nicholas referred specifically to q
speech which Arthur LeSueur. q for.
mer league leader. made recently id
Portland. -
"He tLesueur) openly made tun Of
the American constitution and advo-
Gated the present form or the soviet
government in Russia" said Nicholas.
The prosecuting attorney. replied to
the league charge that he had lied on
the witness stand, regarding his rela-
tions with Ferdinand T. Teigen, the
state star witness. Nicholas read q
portion Of his own testimony to show
that the questions Of the defense re-
garding his early acquaintance and
relations with Teigen were objected
to BY the state and that the objec-
tions were sustained. 49,
nicholas recommended that Judge
Dean give the defendants the limit.
Decide Fine Too Light
The offense upon which they were
convicted is a misdemeanor and nine
ty days is the maximum penalty. The
Judge decided that alternative dne
Of $500 was too light a punishment.
Townley and Gilbert listened quiet
ly to the remarks Of the Judge and
the prosecuting attorney. The court
room was only ---4 filed. Now and
then each of the defendants smiled
sarcastically when fellow leaguer
looked their way.
When Judge Dean closed his state
ment which he read, and which he
later presented to Townley through
the medium Of Sheriff Lee. he imme-
diately called the defendants before
the bar.
Take Sentence Calmly
Townley- and Gilbert walked slowly
to the bench. The Judge snapped out
the words Of his sentence without
looking at either man. Townley put
his hands in his coat pockets; Gil
bert's hands were behind his back.
The defendants took the sentence
solemnly and calmly. More than a
score of Nonpartisan leaguers from
the southern section Of the state
were in the court room. It is under
stood they were ready to furnish new
bonds for Townley and Gilbert. II the
original bonds were rejected. The
prosecuting attorney said the old
bonds were satisfactory and the de-
PENDANTS Immediately left the room.
Neither George Hoke Of Minneapo-
Lis, who was chief counsel for the de-
tense at the trial, nor Representative
George Nordin Of st. Paul, came to
.ackson. The defendants were repre-
sented by Attorneys Pike and Day Of
st. Paul and i--.e did all the talking. !.
Z Judge e. G. Dean Of the district
court that tried Townley and Gilbert
pronounced the sentence yesterday
Afternoon. Townley and Gilbert were
both present and their attorneys
STATED that they would take the case
before the supreme court. Judge
psan granted . axH day stay ,of
sentence and released the men ON