New-York tribune., 1920-02-07
W hat Newberry
MenToldCrand
jury Revealed
Testimony of 3 Defendants
Who Waived Immunity
Admitted as Evidenced Over
ProtestofDefenseC Counsel
Based onCampaignFunds
Clerk of Inquisitorial Body
Asserts Judge Harris Told
of Reporting $7l Expense

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, Feb. g.
What three Newbcrry men told the
grand jury which returned indictments
against them, the Michigan Senator and
moro than hundred other campaigners
of 1918 was told in the trial of the case
here to- day. =
Revelations of the inquisitorial pro-
ceedings came from G. r. Higbee. of
Benton Harbor, clerk of the grand iurv.
and Charles S. Potts, of Hastings. a
member of. the body
They said the defendants whose tes-
timony they rehearsed had waived i'm
munty, testified voluntarily without re-
ceiving promises of any kind and with
full knowledge that what they told the
grand jury might be used ''for all
purposes"
The defense fought hard TO keep the
testimony from the trial jury Martin
W. Littlcton. of defense counsel was
on his feet constantly questioning the
admls lssibility of the evidence and test
ing the memories of Higbee and Potts.
He was oVcrruled on the exclusion
question, but Judge Clarence w. Ses-
slons held that the testimony could
be considered in the present proceed
lngs only against the three defendants
whose grand jury testimony was re-
hearsed. Defense reserved it's cross
examination on the grand jury testi-
mony until Tomorrow
Relate Grand Jury Testimony
Potts and Higbce related the grand
jury testimony of John NJ Harris.
former probate Judge at Boyne City:
Terry NJ. Corliss, former State Senator
and now a member of the state Board
of Auditors, and James r. Davis, of
Lansing, Scrgeant-at-A Arms in the State
Senate
According to both witnesses, Judge
HarrlS stated that about the middle of
April, 1918, he was called to Detroit
TO consult with Paul King, manager of
the Newberry campaign. He under
took to organize Newberry committees
IN several counties near his home.
agreeing to compensation of 5000 a
month and expenses for this work
The witnesses agreed that Judge
Harris told the grand jury he had
received $500 in salary and half that
amount Tor expenses, all this money
coming from Detroit headquarter rs
except some $500 which was given him
by Charles Floyd. head of the Grand
Rapids center of the Newberry cam
paign.
Judge Harris was quoted as saying
ne told Floyd it would take about that
amount to cover the expenses in his
own county.
Report Showed Only $7l
The witnesses also agreed that Har-
rls said that about the close Of the
primary campaign Floyd called him up
from Grand Rapids relative to his
statement of expense. and he asked
floyd II he was to make statement
OF all money received. Harris, it was
related said that Floyd told him to
report only what he had spent per
sona!ly in his own county and his re-
port when sent in showed a total
OF S71.
Terry Coriss's account of his activ-
ties in the campaign, as related by
tilgbee and Potts, told of similar ne
gctiations with King and an agreement
to work for SIS a week and expenses.
tie received his money in cash every
week or so on trips to the Detroit
headquarters, getting in all S2.275.
James Davis, according to the wit
nesses, had charge Of similar work in
southern Michigan counties. His com
pensatlon was $500 a month He also
received his expenses and paid county
chairmen from S125 to $3.50 each to
carry on the work in their territories