The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-14
VIOLATORS OF LIQUOR
| Law RECEIVE fines;
! SUSPEND SENTENCES

Three alleged violators of the state
liquor law pleaded guilty before Spe-
cial Judge Richardson in Wayne cir
cult court late Thursday evening, and
were fined 500 and costs and SEN
fenced to serve a term at the state
penal farm. The prison sentence was
suspended on recommendation of Pros
ecHtor Paul Beckett and Attorney
Johnson, who appeared for the de-
PENDANTS. ..s.. ..-.. .-s...--
Seymour, who was indicted on two
counts of selling whisky, and was
sentenced to serve As days at the
state farm; Fred Knuckel and Henry
Deissler, proprietors of soft drink par
lors, sentenced to serve 80 days each
at the state penal farm. .--.
Rumors that Special Judge Richard
SON took the cases with the under
standing that sentence was to be sus-
pended were denied vigorously by Mr..
Richardson, Prosecuting Attorney
Beckett. Attorney Johnson and Judge
Bond. aa-. --r-- .,-r .,.-r... ....
Richardson Issues Statement.
Attorney Richardson made the fol-
lowing. Statement: 81 was called to sit
as special judge in these cases with
out any solicitation upon my part. At
no time had ] been talked to prior to
my appointment nor previous to the
trial as to any finding l might make
as such special judge. @
"Only after / reached the court.
room did l learn that there was an
agreement on the part of the attorneys
in these cases to submit them to the
court and waive a hearing by jury.
s'VThn 1arU fnr G.
ion of sentences when in the discre-
ton of the court the facts warrant
such. My action in suspending such
sentence was not a precedent and
am sure l have no apology to make to
any one for my action in this connec-
ton" res*.,.-
Judge William A. Bond declared
"the defense applied for change of
venue and I asked the state and de-
Tense to agree on an attorney and they
agreed on Richardson, whom l ap-
pointed. = There was no previous I'M
derstanding to my knowledge. do
not wish to discuss the rumors."
7 Prosecutor Paul Beckett said that
the county was fortunate in having the
men plead guilty, that it saved the
county hundreds of dollars by dispens-
Ing with jury trial. that the men were
not inherent criminals, and as they
pleaded guilty he recommended the
suspension Of the penal sentence.
Defendants Act For Companies.
aPeele, who was to have been the
prosecuting witness in the Seymour
case appeared in the court room as the
sentence was being given. He de-
clared at that time that Seymour was
not the mansfrom.w whom he had pur-
chased whisky, 1t was stated. :. s j
Evidence introduced showed that
Knuckle had sold No-Koff and Wine of
Pepsin on the recommendation of
agents for these companies who stated
that it was not illegal to sell the
liquids. No intention of open viola
ton of the law was apparent, accord
ing to the attorneys. Deissler pleaded
guilty on a charge of selling No-Koff
under the same circumstances.
Seymour was charged on two counts
with selling whisky. Robert Peele, of
Centerville, was to appear as prosecut-
ing witness. The state attorneys said
that a conviction would have been diff
ficult with Peele as the prosecuting
witness.