The Alaska daily empire., 1920-01-27
NE:WbERRy AND SUPPORTERS ON
 TRIAL IN EAST
Defendants to Election Fraud Charges Number 234
 History of Case

0iNsAAND iNfAi ilJbO, hltn.s Jdu- United States Senator Truman H. Newberry and one hundred and twcnty-three of his supporters in the election in which he defeated Henry Ford, went on trial here to- day on charges of conspiracy and election fraud.
 Newberry and his co-defendants were charged by the Federal grand jury which investigated the Sena- torial election of 1918 When the indictments were returned Nov. 30, last United States District Judge c. W. Sessions, who assembled the jury, indicated that evidence ob- tained by the inquisitors disclosed hat between $50O,000 and $1,000,- 900 had been expended frardently in connection with the election.
 The indicted men included every member of the committee that con- ducted the Newberry campaign and State County and Municipal officers in virtually every county from Lake Superior to the Ohio border.
 WI 4hCbui HUI
 The conclusions of the grand jury were embodied in two blanket in dictments They charged violation of both Federal and State laws by uee of sums of money far in excess of legitimate expenses in the cam paigns and violation of the Federal corrupt practices act, which penal izes payment of money to voters. Use of the mails ''to defraud all the people of Michigan" was further charged against the campaign com mittee. More than $100,000 of the contributed fund, it charged, was converted to the personal use of some of the campaign managers.
 James w. Helme, former state dairy and food commissioner, who Henry Ford for the Demo- cratic nomination in the Senatorial primary, another clause of the in- dictment alleged, was compensated by the Newberry organization for making the primary race. The al legged purpose was to prevent Demo- cratic voters from lining up" with Ford in the Republican primary.
 Attached to the indictments was a list of more than two score "ov- ert acts" These contained charges that a number of those indicted had given rewards ranging from promis- es of good job Ito payments of sums ranging from $5 to $2,75O in return for support in the Newberry One country editor was alleged to have received ton of print paper.
 All Were On Bond
 The grand jury investigation was conducted by Frank c. Daley, of ln- dianapolis, former United States at torney for Indiana. It was ordered by the Department of Justice, De- tober IS, and was based, it was an- nounced. on complaints filed with the department and also published charges of fraud and corruption made by Lieutenant-Governor Dick inson of Michigan and others.
 Senator Newberry and thirteen Of the men who directed the campaign work in 1918. appeared before Judge Sessions Dec. and on the advice oi counsel stood mute. This was done, t was explained, that the validity If the indictments might be ehai- ,enged later, should it be decided 10 attack them. The right to raise technical questions, it was stated, ,vo,,ld have been sacrificed by pleas If not guilty. Senator Newberry and each of the thirteen men who appeared with him were held Tn bonds of $1O.000 and s5.000 on the first and second indictments, re- fpectively
 The maximum penalty for the of- renses charged, Is fine of s10,000 md two years imprisonment.