Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-02
FORBES CONVICTION
UPHELD BY COURT
Appellate Body Holes Former
Veterans Bureau Head
Must Serve Sentence.
BY the Associated Press

CHICAGO, January . P).-Col.
Charles l.. Forbes, former director of
the United States Veterans Bureau.
today lost his appeal from conviction
of conspiracy to defraud the Govern
ment in connection with contracts for
hospitals for disabled former soldiers.
The United States Circuit Court of
Appeals affirmed the conviction in the
District Court.
John w. Thompson. wealthy St.
Louis contractor. who was found
guilty with Forbes. appealed with
Forbes, and both must go to prison
unless they appeal to the United
States Supreme Court and obtain a
stay of sentence to prevent their re-
moval 10 Leavenworth Penitentiary.
Federal Judge George Carpenter. be
fore whom they were tried. sentenced
each to two years in prison and fined
them $4,000 each.
Judge Evans Writes Decision.
The decision was written by Judge
Evan a. Evans, who, with Judges A.
B. Anderson and George T. Page
heard the appeal last November.
Among the more important assign
ments Of error submitted by the de.
tense were allegations that Judge Car
penter was prejudicial in his instruc-
tions to the jury and in decisions dur
ing the trial.
On behalf of Thompson it also was
alleged by his attorneys that he was
tricked into delivering to the grand
jury discriminating papers.
The opinion. in part. read
the Veterans Bureau. the chief OF
a board authorized to locate sites and
to let contracts for the construction
of hospital buildings. Congress appro.
priated S17 100000 for this purpose
The appropriation for this depart
ment was later increased. and the bu
reau, with Forbes at its head. paid
out $3.50, 100000 in one year.
Elias H. Mortimer was the chief
witness for the Government. He was
lobbyist, a eo-between. and is de
scribed as "a tiXer' for contractors who
were seeking Government contracts
He represented Black and
became intimate with Forbes.
Full Recital of Details.
His story was full, complete re
cital of the details of the illegal prof
ect. He told how it started and how, i,
grew into concrete definite form. fat
tening on corruption and its com
panion, free and lavish entertainment
Mortimer testified to the actual
transfer of money for corrupt pur.
poses, the letting of at least one con.
tract pursuant thereto. and of the
plan to erect other buildings in ac.
Cordance with these illegal and cor.
rupt understandings.
Briefly outlined, the scheme con.
templated the selection Of sites and
the building of various hospitals: the
submission of bids that would include
in each one S150.000 for certain of
the officials and a further division
of the profits: the insertion in the
bid of provision calling for early
completion of the building. so that
Forbes could let the contract tc
Black q Thompson. though they were
not the lowest bidder.
No Credit for Mortimer.
'Mortimer's story reflects no credi,
upon himself. 1t was shockincly repul
sive. But, if believed, it was sufficient
especially in view of its documentar,
confederation, to support the verdict
In fact. neither defendant took the
witness stand. and so Mortimer's story
in many respects was undisputed.
THE assignments of errors. while
numerous, are for the most part hard
ly worthy of serious consideration
This was natural. for throughout the
trial the defendants met with fair o,
favorable rulings and rarely coulc
saw except"