The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-16
An Unprejudiced
Summing Up Of the
Case Of Newberry
BY SAM BLAIR.

Grand Rapids, Mich. Feb 15.-
With the beginning of The fourth
week in the conspiracy trial Of Jnited
States Senator Truman IL Newherry
and 1872 others. it is possible to re-
view the court procedure by way Of
concluding the force OF the govern
mcnt's case and the direction which
will be given to the evidence Of the
defense.
The one vital question in the case
has been and will be:
Did Mr.. Newherry direct the
spending Of a greater amount OF
money in his election ca n1pa}-n than
the federal statutes and those Of
Michigan allow? II the Jury de-
cides this proposition affirmatively
then, presumab bly,. Senator Nevberry
LIS a conspirator.
The other fundamental is:
Did any of the respondents make
themselves party TO a conspiracy, II
a conspiracy existed
In the three weeks past and os-
peeiallv within the last court week the
government has introduced eri5encc
calculated 10 prove the. felfos ing al
legations:
That during tho scne tnrial campaign
In 1918 Mr.. Nopherry was kept In
touch with the progress al his can1
HAkEN 3rT Win Inc t&4tFttSCS tftfiItffi
20 it. through personal visits with his
aides through fong distance tele-
phone converse tions and ~ OK
'Tharee OF kilograms.
That several of the campaign
workers--now defen6s nts-uadc re-
marks deronstra ting their belief shat
much Of the money distributed by
New berry workers came directly from
she personal fortune ~ Truman II.
SeEherr..
That thousa nds OF dollars in the
aggregate were received ny ~ n1pai-n
gents who after the election. made
no eoup}etc accounting and thai
many OF these agents received def
mite instructions not "a account ir
written report for the full sums given
them
Thus the government attorneys
contend. proof IS established that
u1ore} money was spout than tho DE-
PENDANTS actually Admitted through
failing expenditure Of sl7s,0on
That many of the defendants have
received cash in small and large
amounts thereby involving them
selves. in the conspiracy charge.
That not only was money used to
push along the New berry cam pal en-
but that influence was attained
through tbreats Of political opposition
and in onN case, through promise o'
court to obtain reversal of verdict
That number Of names upon
primary PETITIONS. circulated by
Nnwberry workers were forged.
That one of the men. later idsnti-
fed as Neuberry supporter, was
alleged 10 have offered To turn over
tho Michigan senatorship" for $3.50.
/ GOO.
| That Newberry workers decided te
!! put = weak candidate into the Dem
ocratic primaries so as 10 split the
vote Of Newberrs's chief Democratic
rival, Henry Ford and that this can
: didate. James W Helne. was dured
into allowing his name to go on the
> Democratic ticket -
By following the trend OF the cross
! eSa miration it has become evident
! that Senator Newberry and his as
sociates Will counter government ties
/ timony by attempting to show.
Thai political cAnndiancX demand
| ed the expenditure Of large sums in
/ the seatcrial npaign in 1918 In
this connection a ruling from Judge
/ c. ". Sessions Is expected, This
ruling may forestall such testimony
! That the character of every dc,
ftCTudot- - DSt oIu fCptodCHs none VI
the defendants ever having faced
criminal charEcse before. rSevcra
1 hundred character Witnesses stand by
! the defense, il is promised.
That the Nancy expended in Tho
| campaign was paid out in every ca SC
| for legitimate expenses. such as fol
distribution OF literature. newspaper
advertising, hanquets and hiring OF
j meeting halls.
Bsfore testimony cf this charac
4 Ter III entered, II Is possible IN,
/ court may rule on the matter OIL
what expenses are expected by tn,
/ federal act. This act, theoretically
embraces the state act. which limits
expenses to s2,750 for senatorial
candidate but allows certain exempt
ions from this amount. The fedora
! statute also allows exemptions ~bu
,sthese, are not coincident with thns'
mentioned in the state law
That Mr.. Newberry's campaign
was conducted by his friends ii
Michigan, while he vas busy serv
/ ing the government ~ lieutena nj
IccmmAhder In the navy, Stationed II
(Cont1anAd al raxA Two1