The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-12
f. NJ. Van Meter COnspired to
Steal Government Property.
Jury Renders Verdict in Fed
eraI Court This Afternoon.
is CALLED "MASTER MIND"
In Theft of Blank Checks From
Office of Prison Warden.
Two Years and $4,000 Fine Is
Sentence Melted Out.

At o'clock this afternoon a jury
in federal court returned a verdict OF
guilty against F. NJ. Van Meter.
charged with conspiracy against the
government. but failed to convict A.
c. Cox. charged jointly in the lndict-
ment. This does not mean the latter's
release. however. as he still has about
two years of his present sentence 10
serve.
Sentenced TO Two Years.
Van Meter whom the government
charged as being the brains of the
conspiracy. was Immediately sem
teneed by Judge Dyer to two years in
the federal prison and to pay a fine
of $4,000.
Because they confessed their parts
in the conspiracy which consisted OF
a plot to steal blank checks from
Warden Biddle's office and cash them
on the outside with the warden's
name forged. Clyde Martindale, Earl
Hull and Harold Haley got off easier.
Martindale drew one year and six
months. and Hull and HALEY each ons
year and one day.
The trial of Van Meter and t,ox was
concluded in federal court a. noon to-
day, the jury retiring with the courts
instructions at ! 2 O'Clock. After wait
ing twenty minutes. Judge David =.
Dyer ordered the jury locked up until
2 O'Clock when court convened after
the noon recess.
1t is alleged that Van Meter, who il
wei known all over the country as
a guard house" lawyer, was the mas
ter mind in forming a conspiracy with
Cox, Clyde MartindaIe and Earl Z.
Hull, all prisoners at the federal pris-
on, to steal a series OF blank checks
from the office of Warden ". I. Bid
die, last August. Van Meter went 10
Leavenworth under the pretense that
he was going to act for the three
prisoners as an attorney. It is alleged
that the three succeeded in passing
the checks to him with some legal
papers. In forging the name of War
den Biddle TO the checks and in cash
ing them. it is alleged that Van Meter
had assistance from Haley.
Three Confessed Their Guilt.
MartindaIe, Hull and HALEY con
fessed their part in the conspiracy and
turned states evidence. while Van
Meter and Cox pleaded not guilty and
demanded trial. While on the stand
late Tuesday afternoon. Martindsie
and Hull admitted taking the checks
from the warden's office and deliver
ing them to Van Meter. They failed
to implicate Cox except in that they
said ii was thru Cox that they found
out who Van Meter was and got into
communication with him.
Both Martindale and Hull said they
asked Van Meter to come to Leaven-
worth Tor the purpose of trying to OBJ
tain their release under writs OF
asked him IL he would handle the
checks as a means of getting his fee
and both said Van Meter agreed to
the plan.
Haley was probably the govern
ments strongest witness. He said
that Van Meter met him in Tulsa,
Okla. and after cashing some OF the
checks there they disposed of several
others at Springfield and St Louis.
They even purchased a small Corona
typewriter with which to fill out tho
checks and both he and Van Meter
took part in signing the warden's name
to them, HALEY said. One OF the
checks for $3.50 was cashed at a jew
elry store in st. Louis. Haley said.
after Van Meter saw a ring he wanted
to buy for a friend. Today, in court.
the jeweler identified Van Meter as
being the man who passed tho check
on him.
is From Prominent Family.
HALEY appeared in court here VOL
UNFAIRLY and confessed his part in the
conspiracy because he thought Il was
his duty. be said. He told clean
cut story while or the stand. which
the defense was unable TO shake Ac-
cording to federal authorities HALEY
comes from a prominent family in
Tennessee but has fallen into bad com
pany. Van Meter, they said induced
HALEY to join him in disposing OF the
stolen checks on the ground that Il
was easy money. HALEY is said to
have a sister living in Salina. who does
not know of his present trouble Hal
1ey's wife. from whom he is now sep
arated. is graduate of Bryn Mawr
college. ana he has relatives high In
the social and political life of Ten
nessee. HALEY says he is the black
sheep of the family, admitting that on
one occasion he induced his wife to
sign deeds to $40. 600 worth of prop
erty in questionable transaction.
Van Meter and Cox acted as their
own attorneys until late Tuesday
fC,Onffnned on gsa0e six1