Evening star., 1924-03-28
LANGLEYPUTSUP
$1,000 TRIAL BAIL
Representative Accused as
Dry Conspirator innocent,
Counsel Declares.

John W. Langley. representative
from the tenth district of Kentucky
who was indicted yesterday by the
grand jury on charges of conspiracy
to interfere with the orderly opera
tions of the United States govern
rent through alleged illegal with
drawafs of whisky from government
warehouses. gave bail of $1,000 today
for his appearance for trial.
Attorney Henry E. Davis, who has
been retained TO defend Mr. Langley,
stated the representative wished to be
present at the assembling OF Congress
today and had an engagement to ap-
pear before the House investigating
committee early this afternoon. and
his appearance with bail was delayed
somewhat
ARRANGEMENTS will be made to have
i've codefendants appear in court or
give bail bonds early next week
Two Indictments Returned.
Langley is mentioned alone in one
indictment. In the second he is in
dicted again with Millard F. West,
former deputy commissioner of in
ternal revenue of the United states;
Russell NJ Sackett, a prohibition
and Harry Sattler, co. partners, trad
ing as the Union Drug Company of
Pittsburgh, Pa, and Sidney Refs, who
is described as person carrying on
the business of procuring intoxicat-
ing liquors in large quantities for
clients.
Although Representative Langley
declined to comment personally on
the indictments, II. e. Davis, his at
torney issued this statement: II have
for some time been aware of the
movements to indict Mr.. Langley, and
may safely say that / know the
movers in the matter and their mo-
tives. Mr.. Langley is absolutely in
nocent of the charges against him,
and will demand and insist upon an
immediate trial, OF the result Of which
1 entertain not the slightest doubt.
The sufferers in this business Will not
include Mr.. Langley"
Langley Serving Ninth Term.
Representative Langley is one of
the most picturesque figures in the
House. He is chairman of the pub
lie building and grounds committee.
and is serving his ninth term as a
member of Congress. Shortly after
the Chicago grand jury reported that
two members of Congress were in
volved, Representatives Langley and
Zihlman, the latter of Maryland, and
both republicans, announced that
they had heard their names had been
mentioned and demanded congress
sional investigations.
A special House committee has
been awaiting reports from the grand
jury and has been investigating in
formally the charges referred to in
the Chicago grand jury's report pend
inn "a ind ,rr1if
tee was called together today to de-
eide what course it would pursue.
Chairman Burton said it undoubtedly
would proceed with it's investigation
next week, but it had not decided
whether to hold public hearings.
Conspiracy Is Charged.
The indictment alleges that the per-
sons accused. together with others
who testified before the grand Jury.
formed a conspiracy to pay 100000 to
Elias II. Mortimer. Herman Geltzeiler.
and Donald j. Delaney to secure the
purchase, withdrawal and transporta-
tion by Moses and Sattler Of whisky
from a distillery warehouse to the
place Of business of the Union Drug
Company, at 915 5th avenue, Pitts
burgh.
OF the alleged br1be or 100000, the
Indictment states, 5000 was to have
been paid to Langley to prevail upon
him to procure Millard F. West, John
F. Kramer, Arthur Mexican, Ralph e.
Cepper and Russell NJ Saekett, "by
promise to them of official tenure and
promotion to connive' at the removal
and transportation of the whisky.
The joint indictment alleges that
Representative Langley and the Ave
other defendants combined to defraud
the United States of certain taxes to
become due to it and "by corruptly
prejudicing, obstructtng, perverting,
controvening and defeating the ad-
ministration of the internal revenue
laws of the United States concerning
such taxes and of said national pro-
hibition act as 1t pertained to said
whisky"
The whisky, It Is pointed out in the
indictment, could not lawfully be sold
at the distillery warehouse for bev-,
erage purposes or sold for beverage
purposes without the payment Of the
internal revenue tax, 1920 per gallon.
The overt acts set out in the fndict-
ment are four In number. the first that
John w. Langley and Elias H. Mortimer.
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