Evening star., 1925-02-04
FORBES, THOMPSON
GET 2-YEAR TERMS
AND $4,000 FINES
Maximum Penalty Is Imposed
on Pair in Veteran Bu-
reau Fraud Case.
SENTENCE STAY GIVEN
TOPERMIT OF APPEAL
Judge Praises Jury Which Con-
victed Men-Defendants Are
Silent Leaving Courtroom.
Nv the Associated Press.

Nv the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, February 4.-Charles r.
Forbes, former director of the Neti
Grams Bureau, and John w. Thomp-
son. wealthy ST. Louis contractor, to-
day were sentenced to two years i'm
prisonment to Leavenworth peniten-
tiary and fined $4,000 by Federal
Judge George A. Carpenter. 1t was
the maximum penalty.
CNvicted of Fraud.
After a ,tial lasting IL weeks they
were found guilty January 80 of con-
spring to defraud the Government by
an agreement to divert veterans hos
pital contracts to Thompson and his
associates while Forbes was head of
the Veterans Bureau in 1922.
Thompson's partner in the alleged
conspiracy, James w. Black, also of
st. Louis, died two years ago, and
Charles F. Cramer, Veterans Bureau
counsel, under Forbes, who was in
rolved in the conspiracy by Elias H.
Mortimer, the fifth conspirator, who
became the Governments chief wit
ness, killed himself.
The court granted a 30-day stay of
sentence for the filing of an appeal
and defense counsel indicated that the
case would be appealed Immediately.
Sees Institutions Endangered.
When those in high positions of
public trust betray that trust. there
is an attack upon the fundamental
fabric of our institutions" said Judge
Carpenter, in denying motions for a
new trial.
The fact that defendant Forbes Of
fered his life to his Country in the
World War and received the dis
dal iS n
make 1t all the harder for him. Ac-
Cording to the jury, after offering his
life for his country, he betrayed his
Country's trust.
From the verdict of the jury in
apparently accepting the testimony OF
Elias H. Mortimer, the informer, as
true, 1 think there was evidence here
en- which a charge of fraud could be
brought in any court.
This case was heard by the most
intelligent jury by far, that / have
ever seen in 90 years upon the bench" :"
Defense Offer Refused.
The offer of defense counsel to
have Forbes and Thompson examined
now by the court to determine the
degree of their culpa bility, is refused.
] may say the court was surprised
that these two defendants listened to
for Al days and then did not go on
the witness stand to refute the
charges. They may say now, II they
desire, their opinion Of the jury's ver-
dict or the courts fairness, but they
will have to go to the newspapers
with their stories if they wish to re-
view the evidence in this case"
Defendants are Silent.
Neither Forbes nor Thompson rose to
say anything before sentence was
passed.
When the tenor of the judges replies
to defense counsel indicated that the
court expected to deal severely with the
defendants Forbes wiped his face with
his handkerchief nervously, but Thomp-
sons steady gaze at the judge did not
waver.
The argument for a new trial was
opened by former Senator ]. Hamilton
Lewis, and all his citations of apparent
error in the trial record were, one by
one, overruled-
The court feels it would be great
in upon a new trial." the judge said,
until we find whether there were
errors made in this trial.
Finds No Errors.
81 went over the record and / can
find no errors that would cause me to
grant a new trial"
The court commented lengthily
upon the failure of Forbes and
Thompson to take the stand, and a
quotation which defense counsel ask
Continued on Page 2, Column A.