New-York tribune., 1920-02-05
Tries to Show
Roosevelt Was
For Newberry
Counsel for Defense Over.
ruled by Court in Attempt
to Introduce Conversa-
ton in New York Club
Candidacy Arranged Here
Newspaper Man Tells of
Promise of Promoter of
"a Barrel of Money!

GRAND RAPIDS, Feb. 4.-Vigorous
efforts by counsel for the defense in
the trial of Senator Newberry and 1922
others on charges of conspiracy and
fraud to introduce as evidence s. con-
vcrsation at New York club between
former President Roosevelt, Com
mander Newberry and Michigan politi-
cal leaders were repeatedly blocked by
court rulings to-day.
While Martin ". Littleton's several
attempts to put Colonel Roosevelt's
conversation before the jury, appa-
rently to show that the Colonel favored
Newberrys candidacy, featured the
days session. two bits of evidence
offered were considered by the prose-
cution as having an important bearing
on the conspiracy charge.
James Sweinhart. head of the New
York bureau OF "The Detroit News"
said Frederick Cody, a defendant, told
him in New York:
THE lid is off in Michigan and the
sky is the limit"
Walter Chappelle, editor of weekly
newspaper in Harrisville, Mich, tes-
tlfed that Benjamin F. Reed, Deputy
State Labor Inspector, and another de-
fendant, had solicited him to become
county chairman in the Newberry or
ganization, and had told him:
The freight Will be paid"
Both Sides Often Overruled
Both sides were frequently overruled
by the court. Mr.. Littleton failed to
have Colonel Roosevelt's conversation
introduced into the evidence, but he
succeeded over the objections of the
M Il L1
tact that the conversation took place
Attempts by the defense to search
motives Of witnesses in certain cam
paign acts were also halted by the
court. The question came up in the
cross-examination of Lyle Shanahan,
who testified he had received $40 from
j r. Harris, chairman Of the New
berry committee in his county, of
Wnlch he was a member.
Mr.. Littletcn asked the witness if he
considered he had done any wrong in
accepting the money, which brought a
successful objection from Frank C.
Daley, Assistant Attorney General.
Similarly the government blocked
questioning Of Chappelle as to his ideas
on the morality of the expression re-
garding freight"
The campaign of James w. Helme for
the Democratic Senatorial nomination
t'Soii D!OuSHL luCO Cno rrl&l
through the testimony of Van A.
l.comis, deputy sheriff and private
detective from Jackson. Loomis said
ne had been hired by Charles V. De
Land. defendant, to circulate Helmc
nominating petitions. He admitted re-
celving $50 for the work, and said he
had partially filled two petitions having
space For twenty-five names each.
Cash Chest at Headquarters
Among the witnesses we're a number
Of stenographers and typists employed
at Newberry campaign headquarters in
Detroit. They named numerous de-
PENDANTS they had seen about the Office,
told of being paid in cash, and some If
chest in the vault at headquarters.
Despite objections of the prosecution,
Sweinhart and Oscar Marx, former
Mayor of Detroit, were allowed to saw
that Colonel Roosevelt's visit to the
New York Club, where he met New
berry and Michigan political leaders,
was arranged by Cody. These wit
resses testified to meetings in New
York of Cody, Newberry, Marx and
Robert and Milton Oakman, Detroit po-
l:tical leaders
Sweinhart related a conversation
with Cody in which Newberry's candi-.
dacy was discussed.
Promise of Barrel of Money
at will be great time for the boys
in Michigan, because they will spend
barrel of money" the witness quoted
Cody as saying.
He asserted that in his talks with
Newberry about the Senatorial cam
paign he was shown letters and tele-
grams from Paul H. King and that
Newberry told him he "was kept
posted almost daily" on happenings in
Michigan.
Sweinhart said he remembered one
specific conversation with Cody in New
berry's Office. at related to money"
ne said. Cody told me he had been to
Michigan and said. The lid is off out
shere. The sky is the limit"
W. P. Frost, former lieutenant COM
mander in the navy and now an ink
manufacturer in New York said he
called at Newberry's Office virtually
every day and saw Cody there many
times.