Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-07-21

PllllOll VI Ills COunSel ana
On warrants charging him
with embezzlement, con-
spiracy and confidence
game as a result of yes
terday's indictments of the governor,
Lieut. Governor Sterling and Vernon
Curtis, Grant Park banker.
Opinions holding that the governor
is immune from arrest were being
drafted by his legal staff to be pre-
sented to Judge Smith later in the
day.
Counsel for the governor includes
former governor Joseph w. Fifer of
Bloomington; George b. Gillespie.
Springfield; James NJ. Graham, for
mer democratic congressman from the
Springfield district; Daniel SCHUYLER
Of Chicago and Werner w. Schroeder
OF Kankakee secretary OF the legisla-
tive reference bureau
The opinion that the governor need
not submit to arrest, it was said,
would be signed by attorneys Fifer.
bIdHdH anu hlIleSDle.
Follows Tanners Alleged Example.
Governor Small, his friends say.
would follow the precedent established
by former Governors Tanner and Alt
geld and resist arrest Several au-
thorities recalled that Tanner and Alt
geld refused to submit TO arrest, fol-
lowing their indictment for minor
offenses, which died with the indict-
ments.
The Former indictments.
Governor John r. Tanner was in
dicted tor alleged neglect of duty in
failing to suppress coal mine riots at
Virden, where more than twenty per-
sous were killed On advise Of James
NJ. Graham and John G. Brennan, he
ignored the indictments and was
never brought 20 trial. Governor Alt
geld was indicted by Champaign
county grand jury in 1895 for having
failed to comply with a law requiring
him to direct the flying of the Ameri-
can Nag over the University of Illinois
buildings. On the advice of John NJ.
Palmer he refused to appear in court
and the Indictment was later quashed.
Thomas Marshall, former assistant
in the Cook county states attorneys
office, under the late John E. W. Way
man, it was said would be retained by
the prosecution. Marshall is said to
have drawn indictments of Lee O'Neil
Browne, in the Lorimer case, and in
the case of former Police Inspector
Mccain.
Arguments Tomorrow.
Argument. on Governor Smalls con-
stitutional right to resist arrest will
be heard at 8 a. m. tomorrow, accord
ing to announcements from Judge
Smiths court today Governor
Smalls attorneys today brought word
of their opinion and the decision Of
the governor to act upon the advice Of
his counsel
Bonds OF Vernon Curtis were re-
duced today from 100000 to $4,000.
The bonds were furnished by Mrs. E.
b, Griffin sister-in-law of the late
Senator E, c. Curtis, and E. A. Curtis,
a brother. Mrs. Griffin is member
OF The state civil service commission.
Sterling On Deck Tomorrow.
Rockford, ILL.,, July 2l-"I will be
in Springeld tomorrow to furnish the
necessary bond Lieut.. Gov. f. f.
Sterling said today. Mr. Sterling
said he had no additional statement
to make concerning the Sangamon
county indictments
To Appear in Court
Springfield, H.. July 21.-Governor
Len Small is expected to appear in
court today to furnish bond and de-
mand an immediate trial in connection
with the indictments returned yester-
day by the SangamOn county grand
jury charging conspiracy to defraud
the state and the embezzling of public
funds.
Lieut. Governor Fred +. Sterling
and Vernon S. Curtis of Grant Park,
Ill.,, one OF the owners of the Grant
Park bank named jointly with Gov
ernor Small in the indictmens prob
ably will be served with warrants to-
day and will take similar action The
warrants were sworn out here yester-
day for the three men following the
returning of the indictments but Gov
ernor Small was the only one in the
city then. The indictments returned
charged the three men with conspir-
ing to defraud the state of s2,000,000
and the embez2lement of 100000,
while Governor Small is charged with
the embezzlement of $500,000 and
Lieut.. Governor Sterling is charged
with the embezzlement of like
amount
The bonds of Governor Small and
Lieut.. Gov. SterSng wer fixed at
$3.50 600 each and those of Curtis at
100000 The grand jury which sub
mitted long report, asked permis-
sion to make a further investigation
but permission was refused as court is
nearing adjournment and further pro-
ceedings will have to be taken up by
ne September grand jury.