Imperial Valley press., 1920-06-15
HE
PAID $40 TO
IMPERIAL
MAYOR
The Total Amount of Bribe
Money He Says Is SIS;
Given Probation by Judge
Swing After Lecture.

''Confessing ALL" as he declared
this morning before Judge Phil ID.
Swing, j. II. Shortridge self-cOn-
fessed bribe giver. in his plea for
probation implicated Charles w.
Waite, former mayer of Imperial,
who resigned under peculiar circum-
stances and "gO-between" by the
name of Shafe who has figured
prominently in published statements
during the past week.
Mr. Shortridge declared that along
last December he had paid one bribe
of $40 direct to Mr.. Waite, then mayor
of Imperial and that later he went to
Mr.. Waite with second bribe but that
Mr.. Waite referred him to Mr.. Shafe
who, it was explained, was taking the
money at that time.
Pays Bribe Money.
He declared that he paid Shafe $25
at one time and $50 at another time,
thus making total of $50 which he
had given for protection.
On cross examination, District At
torney E. R. Simon tried his best to
obtain what would be considered before
a jury other evidence to back up Mr..
SnOrtridge's statements but this could
not be obtained so it is doubtful if the
state will be in a position to act on
the testimony.
Donald Stevenson, who overheard
that famous conversation between J.
Roy Adams, then police commissioner
OF Imperial and county supervisor was
called to the witness stand and repeat
ed all of his declarations made before
the grand jury.
REPEATS CHARGE
One statement in particular he re-
peated and verified. This was the
statement which Mr.. Adams yester-
day denied having said, and is as fol-
lows: 81 know Waite and Hinderks
are taking money but / can't prove
it," This morning Mr.. Stevenson was
certain that he had not misquoted Mr..
Adams.
Shortridge was placed on probation
for five years following the hearing.
The first witness for Shortridge was
Donald Stevenson. who testified that
he and his brother and Shortridge had
framed the meeting of Adams and
Shortridge to see what Adams would
do if offered a bribe. He repeated
most of the testimony given the grand
jury and published heretofore. He
also stated that he thought that Short
ridge was deserving of probation.
Next Mrs. Shortridge testified In
behalf of her husband She said that
she had always had happy married
life, with all her needs supplied by her
husband, also that her mother had
been living with them for about 80
years.
MAKES RULING
The Judge then asked District At
torney Simon for his statement. Mr..
Simon said that he had no recommend
alton to make but might say that he
and Shortridge had made the agree
ment that he (Simon) would dismiss
one the charges against Shortridge if
he would plead guilty to the other one.
Shortridge had pleaded guilty to the
charge but asked for probation.
Judge Swing then began his ruling.
Among the things he said were, II
do not see where any of this evidence
about the factions in Imperial fighting
or the fight between the two Imperial
banks or the peculiar circumstances
in Imperial, has anything TO do with
your request for probation The fact
which is uppermost in my mind is that
you have, all of your life, been a
gambler, taking the money of other
people by illegal methods. BY your
own statements you have been a gamb-
/ ler for over 80 years.
There is a man Bob Davis) in this
courtroom now, who Is watching the
proceedings of this case with great
/ deal of interest. He 10 man who has
been associated with you all during
your career as gambler. He Is onr