Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-13
ToWnIey and Gilbert Convicted
by Jurors in Minnesota After
Former Refused Permission
to Argue His Own Case.
TOLD JUDGE HE HAD
DISMISSED COUNSEL
Courts Charge Related to
Fact That Guilt Of One De-
fendant Is Considered Guilt
of Both in Eyes Of Law.

Jackson, Mimi, July 1.-THE jury
in the trial of President A. c. Town
ley and Joseph Gilbert of the Non
partisan league late Saturday night
found the defendants guilty of the
charge of conspiracy to teach dis
loyalty, in violation OF the Mime
sofa law.
The jury was out two hours.
Neither Townley or Gilbert showed
any emotion.
The jurors announced that they
took two ballots. The first was nine
to three for conviction. The second
was Unanimous for conviction
After receiving the verdict Town
ley made the following statement.
Judges and lawyers may quibble.
but i'll the court of public opinion
the common sense of the people will
never approve ruling that says a,
man may merely deny he is disloyal
and is forbidden to prove by CON
structive testimony that he is loyal.
Grants Stay of Sentence.
Judge F. c. Dean granted a stay
cf sentence until September IS, to
permit the preparation of the court
record and the making of motions
for 4 new trial.
The other two criminal actions
against Gilbert were continued until
TIE January term of court. He was
continued in justice court at Lake
Geld of unlawful assemblages. SEN
fenced to ninety days in Jail and ap-
pcaltd to district court Both
charges are based upon the speeci,
which Gilbert made at Lakeheld,
June %, 1918. y,
Wished to Argue Case.
When Prosecutor T. H. Nicholas
completed his argument Saturday
night, Townley made a personal plea
to the court that he be permitted
to argue his own case to the jury.
Townley told the judge he had dis
missed his attorneys and that the CO.
defendant, Gilbert, had waived the
right of further representation by
counsel and asked privilege of speak
ing on the ground that he fell the
Nonpartisan league was on trial.
Judge Dean denied Townley's re-
quest to address the jury.
Townley. after comforting with his
attorneys. announced he had decided
to rest his case without argument.
Judge Dean began his charge to the
jury at SIS p. m.
Says Conspiracy Proven.
Prosecutor Nicholas, in his ad-
dress to the jury, charged that the
state had proven, its conspiracy
charge against the two Nonpartisan
league leaders through the testimony
of witnesses who had heard various
speeches made by the defendants.
through evidence in the form OF
league literature and through the
testimony of the states leading wit
nesses, one of whom was F. A.
Teigen, former member of the
league, who declared that Townley
told him in 1917. I'VE are against this
war. but can't afford to advertise it,
After Nicholas closed his argu-
ment, Townley stepped before the
court.
your honor" he said 81 have dis
charged my counsel. l feel that
and the organization are on trial and
that | can handle this defense bet
ter than my attorneys. | do not
know what Mr.. Gilbert is going to
do about it."
At this point George Hoke. who
has been chief counsel for the de-
PENDANTS. announced that Gilbert had
waived his right to be represented
by counsel.
Wished to Plead in Person.
Il ask your honor that I may be
permitted to make my own plea to
the jury. The attitude of more than
250,00C farmers and a million oil
people throughout this northwest4
will cepend upon the decision of the
jury" I
Judge Dean questioned whetheI
the law would permit one of ting
defendants to try his own case u
an action of this kind, without
galiy representing the other defen
ant. Townley is not lawyer.
Assistant Attorney General Mari
ham objected, holding that TIE
court could not properly grant the
defendants request. Judge Dean
tEcn asked the attorney to submit
authorities on the issue and Town
ley took his chair while the lawyers
argued.
The case went to the jury at GAS
p m. Much Of Judge Deans charge
related to the question OF conspira-
cy and the fact that the guilt of one
dcfendantin a conspiracy action is
considered the guilt of both de-
PENDANTS