The Washington herald., 1921-08-10
Furnishes $4,000 Bond
When Forced to Enter
Courthouse.
WANTED WARRANT
READ AT CAPITOL
Deputy. Sheriffs Surround
Governors Building Be
fore Serving Papers.

SPRINGFIELD. Ill. Aug. s.-Goy.
len Small was placed under arrest
by Sheriff Henry Mester. OF San
Canon County. at the executive
mansion shortly after o'clock this
afternoon.
Despite his protests and thOse OF
his attorney. George u. Gillespie.
Small was forced TO accompany the
sheriff to the courthouse. where he
furnished bonds Of s5O.OOO as surety
for his appearance before Judge
EIbert c. Smith in the SanGamon
County court the first Monday in
September. He will answer 20 three
indictments charging him with en-
bezzling s5OO.OOO of state funds
conspiracy to defraud the State OF
$4,000 600 OF the taxpayers money
and embezzling. jointly with Lieut.
Gov. Fred L. Sterling and Vernon
Curtis. 100000 OF interest, on the
public funds.
II is the first time in the history
Of Illinois that a governor OF the
state has been arrested on q GRIM
mai charge while an Ofiice.
The curtain was rUnE down on
the farce. which has amused the
ntIre nation ever since Small's in
dictment on July 20, toward the
end Of what was a most farcicAl
day OF the governors whole game
Of hide and seek with the law.
from noon until $3.50 o'clock
Sheriff Mester and a force Of depu-
lies besieged the State house.
guarding every entrance. waiting
"arrants for the COVER
nor's arrest. At the latter hour
Ihe governor capitulsted. He had
not moved ont Of his private once
even for lunch
Arrested nt His Home
At $40 Gov. Small requested the
sheriff to come to his once, asked
him IL he had the warrants and
invited Sheriff Mester TO arrest him
Sheriff Mester refused. saying he
had bean advised by his attorneys
not to take the governor into GUS
tody while he was in the actual
small then informed the sheriff he
would be at the executive mansion
at 5 o'clock.
Sheriff Mester. accompanied BY
his chief deputy. Ora Lemon, drove
up to the mansion at sos O'Clock.
Both were conducted 20 the library.
where the governor and Attorney
Gillespie were waiting.
Governor" said Sheriff Mester.
I am here with the warranta-
The sIer:ff proceeded to read ali
three warrants. When he had fin-
shed he said:
Governor. y1u are under arrest"
Very we'll" -eplied Small. s.What
shall doT"
You must 20 to the courthouse
with me and give bond"
Forced TO Courthouse.
Attorney Gillespie produced a
hond. which already had been pre-
oared. and requested the sheriff 10
accept II at the mansion. Another
bond had been drawn up AT the
sherirS Office. ready for the gov
ernor's signature This bond re-
quired the governor 20 furnish no
securities other than his word.
sheriff Mester insisted that the gov
error accompany him back to the
courthouse and give bond there. A
short discussion with Attorney GIL
lespie followed, which the sherir
terminated with:
Il do not question this bond and
do not refuse TO take il here, but
will not accept il at this tima
1ou must go to the courthouse
with me" Tho entire proceeding
occupied less than ten minutes.
Small Appears Worried.
There was no smile an the gov
ernors facS He appeared TO be
hat he glanced huricdIy. dejectedIy
at the crowd OF ncwspapermcn out
side. and walked briSkly TO tho
sheriffS car
Groups OF curious citizens. gath
cred on the sidewalks fringinE the
mansion grounds, became smRlga-
mated into one large crowd at the
edges OF the driveway as the
sheriff's car sped past bearing the
rrominert prisoner.
Crowd jams Courthouse.
Attorney Gillespie. Attorney War
Ter Schroeder. Capt A Z. Inglesh.
the governors son-in-laW: Leslie
Small, the governors son. and other
rpolitical and legal advisers followed
In other cars. The courthouse was
reached at SEQ. A large crowd al
ready had gathered both inside ana
outside. So tightly were they
wedged in the sheriff's outer Office
that deputies had to force their way
through and stand guard at the gate
to prevent them from jamming into
the sheriff's private Office.
Gov Small presented the sheriff
with a signed copy OF the opinion.
which he had read TO him yesterday.
a governor Is immune from arrest
while in Office. There was con-
siderable argument over the bonds
| Attorney Gillespie refused to per-
init the governor TO sign the bond.
which had been prepared. on the
grounds that IL was illegal because
10 requlred no securities. He in
! sisted Sheriff Mester accept the
hond. which had been prepared at
the mansion.
Governer's Bond Changed-
which States Attorney Mortimer in
sisted that the form of the ''ond
prepared by the governors counsel
be slightly changed. the bvnl Ws>
signed and accepted. and Gov. SmVa
hurriediy LETT with his retinue. VI
pulled his hat tightly down on bis
head and looked neither to tho r'Ngt
nor taeNleft as he strpds .hrvugh
the lane OF SPECTATOR. which bsA
been opened for his exit