The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-29
Four Jurors
Must Face
Grand Jury
Verdict in Confidence Ring
Trial Returned After More
Than 100 Hours Delibera.
tion-Probe Expected.
Defense Files Protest
By Associated Press.


Denver. March 2s.-The jury tryina
20 alleged members OF a nationwhiz
confidence game ring returned ves
dict at 542 this afternoon. finding ali
Of the men guilty.
The jury had been out since 10.i.
last Saturday morning.
Before the jurymen could leave ths
courthouse. subpoenas We're servcs
upon several of them ordering them
before the county grand jury Thurs
day This was understood to near
an investigation into alleged efforts q
influence the jury during its delibef
ations.
The jurors who were served with
summonses were George E. Sharpe.
Herman N. Okuly, Fred Hanson ane
Oscar s. Larson. They were ordered
TO appear at $50 Thursday morning
Attorney Protests.
When the verdict was read Horaes
Y Hawkins. chief counsel for the de
fense. at once jumped 10 his feet to
save an exception to the finding of tbs
Jury.
Juror Sharpe. following the reading
the finding condition when the jury
roll was called. Sharpe said;
Yes. on condition." when asked
whether he concured IN the finding.
Finally, when Judge Dunkiee. presid
ing. asked him whether the verdict
was his. he said yes"
Afterward. Sharpe. in explaining
his vote. said he had been sick since
Saturday. Hawkins asked whether
he had reached his decision because
~ his physical condition. The ques-
ton was objected to and the objec-
ton was sustained, but Sharpe ar
nounced that the decision had been
reached OF his own volition and that
ne would abide b. i.
Objects to Verdict
Hawkins entered fo-aaI objection
on the verdict. On the ground that II
had been reached as a result Of the
physical distress OF a member OF the
jury. S. Harrison White, speeia.
prosecutor. IN answering Hawkins.
claimed that the illness OF Sharpe
had merely delayed the verdict ard
had not changed the jury's findings.
Hawkins offered 10 show by the
juror that he was forced into this
verdict, The state objected and was
sustained.
The court formally accepted tl-s
verdict Of the jury at $50
Hawkins against objected 10 the
decision OF the court, claiming the
verdict was forced. \ paper VAS
then presented % the court by ire
jury and was read IN open court BY
the clerk. Il requested lenieacy fer
all the defendants. especially John
Allison. William Dougherty and Jack
Hardaway. The jury vas rolied 10
find ont Il this was the recommenda-
ton Of each juror.
Was. and Is this your request 20
the conrtes asked the clerk, 70 which
each juror answered.
At the request Of defense attorneys
the court granted % days II which
to file a motion Tor new trial.
Judge Dunklee thanked the Jurors
for their long and ardaousr service"
during the trial and discharged them.
Threatened With Death.
\ letter threatening death II the
jury AAN ~ s..H - eAeeeN ..sSA4'eS.s
Of a nationwide confidence hand here
acquits the defendants. was received
today at the home o. oscar $. Lsrson,
ere OF The jurors. according 10 the po-
Ice
The letter read;
II you want 10 lie. Just help turn
the hencs loose and big mob
awaits you
District Attorney Philip s. Van
Cise immediately started an inyestigs-
ton 10 determine the source ot The
letter. Commenting upon il. the DIS
iriet attorney declared;
I have found Juror Larson an
upright citizen and reliable in every
Nay. | want this thoroughly under
stood