Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-25
B|RGER SENTENCED
z TO Be EXECUTED
Looks to Supreme Court to
| Escape Hanging-PaIs
! Get Life Terms.
~ the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BENTON, ILL.,, July 25.-Charle:
!Birger. leader of a formidable bant
or southern Illinois gangsters, wht
once bcasted that no law was strong
enough to hold him. looked today t
the State Supreme Court to save hin
from the moose of the hangman.
Convicted yesterday, along with tive
OF his former henchmen, for the mur
der of Mayor Joe Adams Of West City
last December, Birger paced his eel
in the county Jail, the strain of /;
days of trial showing palinly on his
haggard countenance.
! Appeal Is Hope.
Birger places his only hope to es
cape the gallowS on an appeal to the
Supreme Court in case Judge G. II
Miller overrules a proposed motion
Tor a new trial. His attorneys an
nounced they would seek a new trial
and it is likely that the motions viii!
be filed in a day or two.
Meanwhile, Birger'S two former
henchmen, Art Newman and Ray Hy'
land, also convicted with the gang
chiettain and sentenced to life in the
penitentiary, are being held for their
incarceration at the state prison at
Chester. Their counsel has Indicated
they may file a motion for Il new trial,
although it generally is reported that
they are satisfied with the verdict.
While awaiting the next turn of
events in the case counsel for Burger
end Hyland made the announcement
mat the two gangSters had confessed
to them their guilt to the crime and
admitted that the States case was
identical with the story of the hap
penings from the time Birger is
alleged to have planned the hired kill
ing of the mayor through the actual
Staying itself.
Sympathy for Newman.
The attorneys said they told the two
gangsters before the trial that unless
they came through with the true
story of the killing they would not
represent them.
Counsel also said that if Newman,
who testified as to his part in the
crime and implicated Burger and Hy-
land, had talked any more of the case
they would have withdrawn from the
trial.
Public sympathy has swung to a
certain degree to Newman because
of his Willingness to make a clean
breast of the crime. Reports were in
circulation today that action might
be taken by Benton citizens in an
effort to obtain executive clemency
for him in case he aids the State in
clearing up the mystery surrounding
several bank robberies and other
crimes attributed to the Birger gang
SterS.
Face Marion Indictment.
1t also is believed that Newman will
fao TO- II
Connie Ritter, in case that gangster
is brought to trial. Ritter is alleged
to have paid $50 to each Of the STAY
ers of Mayor Adams at the direction
of Birger, and was charged Jointly
with the three gangsters in the Adams
killing. His whereabouts now are un-
known.
Burger and Newman also are under
Indictment at Marion in connection
with the deaths of State Patrolman
Lory Price and his wife, who were alb
Quoted from their home last January
and slain by a band of gangsters.
States Attorney Arlie Boswell at
Marion has said, however, that he will
not bring the two gangsters to trial
there. providing their present SEN
tence is carried out.
In the trial just ended Burger was
C1dTSeu WITH iDidHIllHS anu nlTlIiS The
killing of Mayor Adams, whom the
gang chieftain contended harbored the
rival Shelton gang in West City. New
man was alleged to have been Burger s
adviser in the crime and Hyland was
charged with driving the automobile
that carried the slayers to Adams
door, where he was shot down.
Harry Thomasson has confessed
that he and his brother Elmo, now
dead, We're hired by Birger to fire the
shots, and now is under life SEN
tence. Thomasson was one Of the
States star witnesses against the
three gangsters.
States Attorney Roy Martin de-
clared the conviction of Birger, New
man and Hyland would bring an end
to machine gun and gang warfare
which has terrorized the coal belt re-
gion of Illinois for the past three
years.