The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21
Secret Indictments Are
Returned By County
Grand Jury
FEDERAL VERDICT
is NOT GUILTY
Accused Men Will Prob
ably Be Placed Under
Bond Today
STATE EXAMINER
WITNESSES TRIAL
Four Oil Men Are Recharged
With Violating Alabama
Law

Acquitted in federal court Satur-
day night of misuse of the mails in
stock sales Of $3,000,000 in the
Walker Consolidated Petroleum
company, A. w. Walker, Harold
Walker, Sidney Menasco and Hud-
mon Hopson, officers of the bank
rupt company, now must face jury
in the jefferson county circuit
court on indictments charging vio--
lations of the Alabama ''blue sky
laws, it was revealed late Saturday
night by O. F. Metz, assistant coun-
ty solicitor.
The indictments We're returned some
time ago and kept secret pending the
termination of the governments case
against the oil operators, Mr.. Metz said.
W. c. Oates, examiner of the Ala
hama Securities commission, was
constant spectator, as we'll as Il witness,
at the federal trial. When the de-
PENDANTS were discha -ged Saturday
night. he got in touch with Governor
Brandon at Montgomery and county
prosecutors and arranged "-hNld tller'
defendants. They probably will be
placed under bond Sunday and their
cases set for an early trial.
OF the total stock sales of the de-
funct company, Approximately $4,000
600 was invested by Alabamians
The federal Jury brought in its YER
diet of not guilty at 10 o'clock Sat
urtIay night after celebrating nearly
six hours.
The defendants took the verdict calm
ly and II warning from Judge Grubb
prevented a demonstration among the
spectators, all men except Mrs. \. W.
Walker and Mrs. Menasco who en-
braced their husbands and wept
Menasco rushed over to the jury
box to thank the jurors, but the judge
told him to be seated until court was
dismissed.
Judge Notified
Judge Grub, at his home in Glen
Iris park, was consulting over the tele-
phone on the advisability Of locking UP
the jury for the night when word came
Il verdict had been agreed on. The rumor
reached the loungerS in the corridors
and they hurried i'll to seats. District
Attorney Kennamer notified the de
PENDANTS. who were at the Motion hotel
with their lawyers. They hurried to
the court room, arriving several min
utes ahead of Judge Grubb.
The accused men entered the court
room walking erect. Harold Walker
remained outside the court room pack
ing up and down the corridor until the
judge raped for order.
This is a trying time the young
man said. Il don't care for myself,
but Dad-he's 90 years old. If there's
any time to be served, l hope | get
his share, too.
As Judge Grub mounted the bench,
the four oil operators smiled with con-
fidence The situation elsewhere was
tense, even among their attorneys.
The jurors filed in with grave faces,
not one looking toward the defendants,
and took seats in the jury box.
Judge Grubb's voice shattered a thick
silence. "Gcntlemen, have you reached
Il verdict
Jurors Nervous
Three of the grave-faced jurors, nerv-
Gus under the burden of their respon-
sibility, broke in yes"
Judge Grub instructed John Henley,
the foreman, to respond.
Henley arose and bowed deeply, with
complete gravity.
I'VE have. sir" lie handed a small
file of papers to the clerk, who turned
to the cover and drawled;
We, the jury, find the defendants
not guilty"
y few spectators in their momentary
excitement stood up and clapped, but
the courts gavel fell heavily and they
sank back into their seats.
a smile spread over the faces of all
four defendants when they realized
they were free. They turned toward
their lawyers and shook hands. The
wives of Walker and Menasco came
forward and joined the group. Harold
Walker threw his arms around his
father
District Attorney Kennamer was the
Continued On Page TwO.)