The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-27
CONSPIRACY
CHARGE FACED
BY NEWBERRY
Senator From Michigan and
l23 Other Men Go on Trial
for Fraud Alleged in His
Election.
CHARGES SENSATIONAL


United States Senator Truman H.
Newberry and 1913 men prominent in
Michigan politics went on trial in fed
eral district court here today charged
with conspiracy, fraud and corruption
in the 1918 senatorial election.
The importance of the issue in
volved, the prominence of most of the
defendants and the imposing array Of
legal talent presaged one of the most
notable cases in the legal annals of
the state.
or the 1876 men indicted by the fed
eral grand jury last November, nine
have entered pleas of nolo conten-
J dere, the case of one has been con-
tinued owing to illness, and another,
upon whom service has not been OBJ
tanned, was said to be in South
America. Twenty-three pleaded not
guilty and 101 stood mute when ar
raigned.
Aside from the defendants 1876
veniremen, attorneys, court attaches
and nine newspaper men, few were
able to gain admittance to the open
ing sessions Of the trial and the little
courtroom of Judge C. w. Session
had to be rea ranged to seat these
The possible duration of the trial
was variously estimated at from four
weeks to two months. Both the gov
eminent and the defense were ex-
pected to call several hundred wit
resses. Some delay at the outset
was seen. by few observers in the
intimation that defense attorneys
planned to challenge the regularity
of the courts method of examining
prospective jurors, before the venire
had been called together by means of
QUESTIONABLE. Attorneys connect
ed with the case. however, admitted
that hope of a favorable ruling on
such motion was slight in view of
the fact that Judge Sessions himself
directed the interrogations.
The first witnesses to be called it
was said, haxe been summoned from
Wa shington and New York.
United States Senator Truman H.
Newberry and 1874 other men were
charged with corruption, fraud and
conspiracy by the federal grand jury
which investigated the senatorial elec-
tion of 1918.
When the indictments were return
ed Nov. 80, last, United States Dis
trict Judge c. w. Sessions, who as
sembled the jury, indicated that evil
dence obtained by the inquisitors dis
, closed that between $500,00 and ST.
100000 had been expended fraudulent
ly in connection with the election.
The indicted men include every
member Of the committee that con-
Quoted the Newberry campaign, and
the state, county and municipal Of
ficials in virtually every county from
Lake Superior to the Ohio border.
The conclusions of the grand jury
were embodied in two blanket indict-
ments. They charged violation of
both federal and state laws by the use
of sums of money far in excess of
legitimate expenses in the campaign; !;
and violation of the federal corrupt
practices act, which penalties pay
ment of money to voters.
Use of the mails Ito defraud all
the people of Michigan was further
charged against the campaign COM
mittee. More than 100000 of the
contributed fund, it charged, was con.
verted to the personal use of the
campaign managers.
Aliege Candidate Was Paid.
James w. Helme, former state dairy
and food commissioner, who opposed
Henry Ford for the Democratic nomi.
nation in the senatorial primary, an,
other clause of the Indictment alleged
was compensated by the Newberry
organization for making the primary
race. The alleged purpose was to
prevent Democratic voters from lin,
ing up" with Ford in the Republican
primary.
Attached to the indictments was a
list of more than two score overt
acts" These contained charges that
a number of those indicted had given
rewards ranging from promises of a
good Job" to payments of sums rang
ing from $500 to $2,750 in return for
support in the Newberry campaign
One country editor was alleged to
have received ton of print paper.
The grand jury investigation was
conducted by Frank c. Daley, Of In
dianapolis, former United States at
tornyey for Indiana. 1t was ordered
by the department of justice, Oct IS
and was based, it was announced, or
complaints filed with the department
land also published charges of cor
ruption" made by Lieutenant-Govern
or Dickinson, of Michigan, and by
others"
senator Newberry and 13 of the
men who directed the campaign work
in 1918, appeared before Judge Ses
sions Dec s. and on the advice Of
counsel, stood mute. This was done
it was explained, that the validity OF
the indictments might be challenged
later, should it be decided to attack
them. The right to raise technica
questions, it was stated would have
ben sacrificed by pleas of not guilty
Senator Newberry and each Of the
thirteen men who appeared with hin
were held in bonds of $4,000 each
and $4,000 on the first and second in
dictments respectively.
The maximum penalty for the of
fenses charged is fine of $4,000 anc
two years Imprisonment.
InHn cI AMS AHHEPT