New Britain herald., 1925-02-27
Verdict Sealed Last Night Opened Today
 New York Baseball Magnate Has Perjury Trial Yet To Face.
ALLEGED TO HAVE <
 JUGGLED ACCOUNTS

New York, Feb. 2T.-A federal jury today acquitted Charles A. Stoneham, Ross r. Robertson and Elmore D. bier on charges that they used the malls in conspiracy to defraud stock market investors.
 The verdict, sealed last night 10 hours after the jury received the case, was opened before Judge Wins low shortly after 10 a. m.
 Stoneham, who is president and chief owner of the New York Na- tional League Baseball club and has heavy interests in Cuban race tracks, remain under indictment for perjury in connection with testimony in the bankrupt bucket shop of Edward NJ. Fuller and Co.
 As the verdict was read throng of spectators within the courtroom and overaowing to the halls leaped into demonstration of approval which large force of deputy mar shalls had difficulty in suppressing.
 stoneham heard the verdict with out displaying a ripple in the conl- posture he has maintained since the trial began last January IS.
 The jurors also gave voice to faint cheer when Judge Winslow in formed them that because of the ar- duous duty just completed they would be excused from jury service for the next three years.
 Miss Mae Boylan, the baseball magnate's young secretary, who was also chief witness for the defense. was one of the first to congratulate Stoneham.
 A reporter asked: "Is there any truth in reports that you intended to retire from baseball if convicted?"
 That's all the bunk" S.onehaHa replied with q laugh. He added that he had no arrangement to dispose Of his interests in the Giants 10 John Ringling. the. circus man. and that under no circumstances would ne re- tire from baseball.
 History of Case.
 A federal indictment charging use of the mails to defraud was returned January Il, 1924, against Charles Al, Stoneham; Horace A. Stoneham, his brother; Ross F. Robertson, his bro- ther-in-law and former partner: Leo J. Bondy, his attorney; Elmore D. bier, former head of the defunct firm of r. D. bier and Co.,, brokers; Fred Andrews, Bernard A. Andrews and August F. Stroh. employees of bier. |..
 Stoneham and his associates were with transferring customers accounts, said to aggregate nearly 5,000,000 to the bier company, in 1921, although all the defendants knew the bier firms affairs at that time were in bad condition. Shortly after this transfer, the bier firm failed for about s4,Ooo,o00. The gov ernment charged Stoneham with sending a form letter to his cus- .omers recommending the bier firm as reliable"
 "A "BuCaet shop" @
 The trial began January 13 last. Former employees of bier and Co.,. testified that the firm had operated IS a bucket shop as early as 1915, lnder the name of Hughes and Dier; hat bier had been insolvent six months before the transfer: that here was an agreement between Stoneham and his associates and the bier firm, whereby Stoneham was to 'eceive 10 per cent of equities from he customers he had turned over; md that Stoneham had withdrawn ,r had charged against his personal account with bier and Co, before it. ailed, more than $42A.000.
 Government witnesses, former em- ,loycs of Stoneham and of bier, tes- flied that Stoneham withheld about 2,403, S95 worth of customers stocks when he delivered the accounts to he bier firm, and that Stoneham lad "bucketed" 65 per cent of his ustomers' orders. The defense con- ended that the withheld stock was n payment of loan bier had pre-, iously obtained from Stoneham.
 Charges that the government had eliberately suppressed certain Iedg- IFS and books relative to the case, nd counter charges hy the prosecu- ion that this evidence had been sup resscd by Bernard J. Refs, account mt for the trustee in bankruptcy, ed to many bitter arguments be- ween contending counsel and be- ween both counsel and the court.
 Try To Prove SoIvcncy
 The defense introduced consider. ble testimony calculated to prove hat bier was solvent at the time Of he transfer. The prosecution. ip lrn. offered sas witnesses account. nts and officials of the New York oel exchange who testified that fer X Co.,, was in had repute wtth he firm.
 On February , the court directed erdicts of aequittal for Bondy and 'ernard Andrews. and on Feb. s irccted the acquittal of Horace toneham, Fred Andrews and Stroh
 Stoneham is principal owner and resident of the National Exhibition nmPany which operates the New ork National league baseball club. [e also has racing interests in Cuba. mother federal indictment charging eriury in connection with his rela- ons with the defmct E. M. Fuller O.. is held against Stoneham. who as also been made defendant in nu. lcrous suits brought hy customers hose accounts he caused 10 De 10 bier and ca.