Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-09
JURY coNvicvs e0NAllSre OF
CONSPIRACY AGAINST
GovERhME NT.
rWENTY.YEAR TERM
MAY Dc iMPoseo.
Conviction viii Deprive Berger q
Right to Take Seat - Congress, 70
Which He Has Been e'sotsd-Sheds
Tears az Verdict 10 Rssd-Rslsassd
on Bends-Motion for New Trial.

CHICAGO. Jan. 9--victor l.. Berger,
Milwaukee politician publisher. and the
only socialist elected last fall to the
sixty sixth congress. and four other ma
tional leaders OF the socialist party.
were found guilty of sedition and die
loyalty under the espionage act by
a jury in Judge Landis' court late yes
terday. Berger's conviction bars him
from congress.
Those convicted with Berger for OBJ
structing the nations war program
against Germany ard row facing SEN
fences of from one to twenty years in
a federal prison, fines Of from $1,000
TO $4,000. or both. are:
Adolph Germer. national sevretlry
of the socialist party.
William +. Kruse. national secretary
Of the young peoples socialist party
the "Yipsels."
J. Louis Engdahl. editor of the Amer
lean Socialist and party leader.
Irwin st. John Tucker, Protestant
Episcopslian rector. former newspaper
man. and red" propaEandist.
Sentence Is Withheld.
The five defendants were released
under $40. 900 bonds each pending hear
ing Of a motion for a new trial on Jan.
2S. Sentence was withheld by Judge
Lands until that time.
The verdict-a sweeping victory for
the government in its fight against the
red flag" and the seditious propa-
sandists-came as a terrific blow TO
the defendants. They had confidently
believed that the five weeks Of radical
preaching" given before the jury had
CONVERTED" at least one. None, save
Berger had counted upon an Acauit-
tai. but all had believed hung jury"
would result.
While out from II a. N. until $50
y. m. the jury took but three ballots.
The first stood 10 to 2 for conviction
the second IL to 1, and the third was
a unanimous guilty"
The courtroom was damned with
socialists. I. W. W.. bolsheviki. ana
every division coming under the red
flag" when the Jury made its finding
With all business suspended in the
federal building in honor Of Theodore
Roosevelt during the afternoon Ihey
had packed the corridors.
Radicals Seem Stunned.
As soon as Bailin Joseph Bucknef.
in charge of the jury, appeared ana
announced a verdict. a squad or PLAIN
clothes men and deputy narsnals look
possession. They scattered turnout
the court room prepared to meet any
demonstration. But none occurred.
Even the most radical Of the radicals
In that place OF justice seemed stunned.
Berger appeared almost hfeless as
he sat. his huge bulk crushed up IN
chair behind his array of counsei. ne
seemed more deeply moved than the
others. tears streaming down on MS
cheeks. He lid not look up even wheh
Joseph OSullivan. the court clerh'
polled the jury, each member OF that
body arising IN answer to his name
and voicing the judgment guilty.
Judge Lands made no comment on
,bc verdict combining himself to merely
Thanking the twelve men Tor theif iois
services in the jury box.
eeraer Makes Brief Statement
After the jurors had filed back 20
their room Berger was surrounded oy
his wife, two daughters, and a score
OF women. The other defendants nei-
vousIv wandered about the room whhe
their counsel were making the usual
formal motions and arranging for their
release on previous bonds. The now
deposed congressman elect, the only
socialist to survive in last falls cleo
lions and who now also goes into ooil'
ION, finally aroused himself:
Somewhat shakiiy. his emotion
greatly accentuatinE his broad Ger
man accent, he eaid:
81 am completely surprised. am
no more guilty of this crime than the
Judge on the bench. 1 have lived In
accordance with these principles FOL
thirty-seven years and now / mus
suffer for them"
+ United states Attorney Charles F.
Clyne. who with his hrst assistant, Jo-
seph B. Fleming, directed the prosecu'
ton. declared:
This verdict Is but Americas voice
| speaking. 1t is verdict Of this coun'
| tryp's people. II Is a death blow to
\ boIsheyism, which these five advo'
Gated, and to the red nag This jury
has said that there can be but one
flag in this country, the red. white ane
blue, and that those who arc not with
this country are against It
| IF ever case Of sedition was pre-
scented in a courtroom, this was It
| These men left nothing undone to on
struct our government In winning the
| war and to aid Germany. There Is NJ
surprise in the verdict. 1t couldn't have
been anything else"
Bronchitis is the most fatal diseas