The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-02-14
Anderson Gets
PRISON TERM
Crime Deliberately C0nmitt3d,'
Says Judge in Pr0nounoing
Sentence on Dry Leader.
NEW TRIAL PLEA REFUSED
Stay Permitted, However, for Convict.
ed Man to Show Reasonable Doubt
Nine Months and Twenty C5ys
Least Time He Can Serve.

New York.--In the Criminal Branch
of the Supreme Court and in the pres
ence of a crowd of men and women
that overlooked to the main corridor
of the Criminal Courts Building, Viii
liam H. Anderson, Superintendent Of
the Anti-Saloon League and leader Of
the dry forces in this State, was sent
ened by Justice Arthur S. Tompkins
to from one to two years in Sing SinS
Prison on the charge of forgery in the
third degree, of which he was convict
ed nine days ago.
Anderson's sentence came after
Justice Tompllins had declared that in
ordering employees of the Anti-Saloon
League to alter the organizations
books to conceal the fact that he had
accepted $4,000 from o. Bertsall Phil
lips, former financial representative
Of the league on the "fifty-ffty" basis,
out of Phillips commissions, Ander-
son had deliberately committed the
crime of forgery The Court also de-
clared that "the offense was aggravat-
ed by some of the testimony he Can
derson) gave here as witness, which
was obviously untrue"
Anderson flushed when sentence
was pronounced, but plainly showed
relief few minutes later when Justice
Tompkins, on motion of former Gov
ernor Charles s. Whitman, Anderson's
chief counsel, granted an order for
a certificate CT reasonable doubt, to be
argued next Friday before Justice Rob
ert F. Wagner in the Special Term of
the Supreme Court. Anderson was re-
leased on the $1,000 bail he had fur
nished when five indictments were re-
turned against him by the grand jury
last summer.
In the event Justice Wagner de-
cides against him, Anderson will be
taken into custody by Sheriff Peter F.
Dooling and removed to Sing Sing to
begin his sentence. Should the dry
leader comply with the rules of the
prison he will be released in 2fS days,
on communication gained on the mini
mum of his sentence.
It was reported that Anderson had
resigned as Superintendent of the
league, following his sentence. The
resignation was said to have been for
warded to the board Of directors.
Anderson could not be reached
at his home in Yonkers and eff
forts to get in communication with
the Rev. DR.. George Caleb Moor,
director and secretary OF the league,
We're equally fruitless.
Orville s. Poland, confidential coun-
sci for the league, when questioned
about the report at his home in Vista
avenue. Bayside, Queens, refused to
deny or confirm the report. He said
that such information would have to
come from Anderson or q member Of
the board Of directors Of the league.
Anderson, with Mr. Whitman and
several leaders sin the prohibition
cause, pushed his way through the
crowded court and corridors and start
ed north through Lafayette street. He
carried his head and shoulders in the
same militant way that characterized
him when he was leading the dry
forces against legislative opposition
to the recently abrogated Mullan-
Gage law He passed within few
feet of Phillips, the principal witness
against him, and the latter's wife, but
appeared not to notice them.
Sentence was imposed shortly after
4 o'clock in the afternoon, few min
utes after Mr.. Whitman had pleaded
with the court for clemency. Mr..
Whitman called the attention of JUS
tice Tompkins to the fact that Ander
son had borne an unblemished repu-
tation up to the time of his convic-
ton; that he was the head of the
prohibition movement still regarded
by millions in this country as great
movement" and that "he has con-
tributed his efforts to an extended
degree, resulting in the success of the
movement which he has championed .