New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
Berger and
Mates Guilty
OF Disloyalty
Congressman elect and
Four Other Socialist
Leaders Are Convicted

CHICAGO, Jan. S.-All five Socialist
leaders tried for conspiracy to violate
the espionage law were found guilty
late this afternoon in the Federal
court. They are:
Congressman-elect Victor L. Berger,
publisher of "The Milwaukee Leader"
capital.
Adolph Germer, secretary of the Ma
tional Socialist party.
William T. Kruse, editor Of "The
Young Socialist
Irwin ST. John Tucker, writer and
speaker.
j. Louis Engdahl, editor of "Thc
American Socialist"
The defendants were charged with
conspiracy to violate the espionage law
by delivering speeches and circulating
published articles with the wilful in
tent to cause characterization, disloy
atty and refusal of duty among naval
and military forces of the United
States, and with Interfering with the
recruiting service and enforcement Of
the selective draft law.
Twenty-Year Terms Possible
The convicted men face prison terms
Of from one to twenty years, fine of
from 81 to $4,000, or both, at the dis
cretion of Judge X. M. Lands, the trial
i'll, 1ot
Attorneys for the defendants imme-
diately presented motion for u new
trial. Judge Lands fixed January %
rs the date when he will hear argu-
ants were taken in custody in the
courtroom, but few minutes later re-
leased on their old bonds of $4,000
each. Seymour Stedman, chief cpun
sci for the defendants, declared the
case will be appealed to the United
States Supreme Court, if necessary, to
keep his clients out of prison.
The jury deliberated five hours and
fifty minutes before agreeing on it's
verdict. Unusual precautions were
taken by the government to prevent
any outbreak in the courtroom, agents
OF the Department of Justice searching
every man who entered to listen to the
reading of the verdict.
Hats Lifted for Roosevelt
The jury halted in its labors for five
minutes at 1885 o'clock, out OF re-
spect to the memory Of Theodore
Roosevelt. Out in the corridor the de-
PENDANTS, their lawyers and friends
were ordered by the bailiffs to remove
their hats while the city paid it's re-
arect to the former President. With
the exception of Berger, who appeared
nervous, the. defendants listened to the
reading of the verdict without sign
OF emotion.
"This verdict ia Americas voice
speaking" said United States Attorney
Charles +. Clyne, counsel for the prose
blow to Bolshevism which these five
advocated, and to the red flag. This
jury has said that there can be but one
flag in this country, the Red, White
and Blue, and that those who are not
with this country are against it. II
ever 81 case Of scditon was presented
in a court room this was it. These
men left nothing undone to obstruct
our government in winning the war
and to aid Germany. There is no sur
prise in the verdict. 1t couldn't have
been anything else"
A. l.. iendcc, Of Waukecgan, fore
man Of the jury, said the jury Eas
! unanimous in deciding that the procla-
nation and war programme Of the So
ciallst Party, as passed in ST. Louis,
was "A traitorous document.
"We paid more attention to the doc
umentary evidence than, 70 the testi-
,nony," he said. "The pamphlets sub
mitted, the anti-war editorials Of Bcr-
gers newspaper, "Tbd Milwaukee Lead
err ard the printed opposition to the
draft convicted the defendants on their
face.
"The fact that the arnjsticc has
been signed cut no figure in our de-
Bberations. The documentary evidence
showed that thesc men had deliberate
!. in war time, set out to hinder the
Nation and help The enemy ard Ind
broken laws we'll known to- them. We
could see nothing innocent in their In
tents. II was pretty .a,srd trying TO
keep AN open mind IN the face Of the
tremendous pile 'of unconfrndictcd evil
dcnce Of guilt which the government
produced. II was simply cverwhelm-
Ing.Y
Otbey Jurors EXPRESSED practically