The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-27
NEWbERRY TRIAL.
BEGINS TODAY
Many Respondents Charged
With Conspiracy, Fraud
and Corruption
IMMENSE SUMS
IN ELECTION FRAUDS
Indictments Charge Violation of Both
Federal and State Laws - List OF
Over 40 Overt Acts attached to n.
dictments-Possible Penalties.

GRAND RAPIDS. Jan. 27-Unitcd
States Senator Truman II. NewbeTy
and 1913 prominent Michigan politicians
went on trial in federal district court |
here today charged with conspiracy,
fraud and corruption in the 1918 sen
atoral election. The Importance OF the
issue involves the prominence of both
of the defendants and the imposing ar
ray Of legal talents presaged one OF the
most notable case in the legal annals Of
the state.
United States Senator Newberry and
| 1874 other men were charged
with corruption, fraud and conspiracy
| by the federal grand jury which in
| vestigated the senatorial election of
| 1918. When the indictments were re-
| turned Nov. 80, last, United States
District Judge c. w Sessions. who as
embled the jury. indicated that evi-
| dence obtained by the inquistors Dis
7losed that between 100000 and ST..
100000 had been expended fraudulently
III connection with the election
The indicted men included every
nember of the committee that con
lucted the Newberry campaign and
tate, county and municipal oiiieia:s
u virtually every county from Lake
Superior to the Ohio border.
The conclusions of the grand jury
we're embodied in two blanket indict-
nents, they charged violation OF
| 9th federal and state laws by use OF
/ inns of money far in excess Of legiti-
/ aate expenses in the campaign; and
Il iolation Of the federal corrupt pTac-
Il ices act, which penalties payment Of
II honey to voters. Use Of the mails . to
II efraud all the people of Michigan. =
II as further charged against the cam
II align committee More than 100000
f the contributed fund. it charged was
converted to the personal use of some
H IF the campaign managers.
Ill James w Helme, former state dairy
HI md food commissioner, who opposed
II Henry Ford for the Democratic nomi
H nation in the senatorial primary. an
II other clause of the Indictment alleged
= was compensated by the Newherry or
ganization for making the primary
race The alleged purpose was TO pre-
vent democratic voters from lining
1p' with Ford in the republican pri
! ary.
Attached to the indictments was
Is ist of more than two score lover
!, acts. These contained charges that
\ number OF those indicted had givei
d rewards ranging from promises OF
4 good job to payments of sums rang
ng from s. to $3.50 IN return for sup
a ,ort in the Newberrv campaign. On
J, .ountry editor was alleged to have re
4 ,eived ton Of print paper
n The grand jury Investigation wa
conducted by Frank c. Daley, of In
: dianapoTs, former United States attoI
ney for Indiana 1t was ordered b
the department of justice, October L
nd was based, it was announced, Q
COMPLAINTS filed with the department
and also published charges Of frau
r md corruption made by Lieutenant
Governor Dickinson of Michigan, an
pthers.
IY Senator Newberrv and IS of the me
Who directed the campaign work
1918, appeared before Judge Session
ali / Dee. s and on the advice Of couns
,tcod mate. This was done, it was e,
blamed. that the validity of the il
: lictments might be challenged late
y hould it be decided to attack theT
{ The right to raise technical question
+ t was stated would have been sacr
Z feed by pleas of not guilty Senat,
Z Newberrv and each Of the thirteen me
! who appeared with him were held
3 | bonds of $4,000 and 50 900 on the fir
I and second indictments, respeetivel
! The maximum penalty for the offel
4 ses charged is a fine of $4,000 and tW
I years imprisonment