Evening star., 1934-04-28
CANNON CLEARED,
FACES NEW TEST
Bishop Leaves for Metho-
dist Meeting and Quiz
on Character.

Cleared of conspiracy charges,
Bishop James Cannon, jr., veteran of
many a hard-fought crusade. today
was travelling to Jackson. Miss, to
face an assemblage of his fellow
churchmen, who must pass upon his
character.
Bishop Cannon left Washington
last night shortly after he and his
secretary, Miss Ada L. Burroughs, had
been acquitted by a District Supreme
Court jury of charges that they con-
spired to violate the Federal corrupt
practices act. Miss Burroughs was
preparing to return to Richmond, Va.
where she lives with her widowed
mother.
Although the character test which
the 69-year-old bishop must face is
purely routine in nature he has
made no secret of the fact that he
is anxious to be in Jackson to face
his fellow ecclesiaSticS of the South
ern Methodist Church. Frequently
during the three weeks of his con-
spiracy trial he complained bitterly of
technicalities which delayed his de-
parture for the Mississippi capital
Deliberate About Four Hours.
The jury deliberated a little less
than four hours before announcing
the verdict which absolved the
churchman and his secretary of the
conspiracy charges arising out Of
their bitter campaign against Alfred
E. Smith. Democratic candidate for
the presidency in 1923. They were
accused of conspiring to violate the
corrupt practices act by failing to
report to the House of Representatives
all of S65,300 contributed to their
anti-Smith campaign by E. c. jane
son. wealthy New York insurance
man.
Before leaving the city last night,
Bishop Cannon issued a written state
ment declaring he was the victim of
political and prohibition enemies.
Asked to amplify his statement, he
replied that he no longer gave any
thing but written statements to the
press.
Bishops Statement
For five years I have been at
tackled in the press. and for over two
years 1 have been under indictment
in the court" his statement read.
The physical strain has been ex-
ceedingly severe, but I am thankful
to say that knowledge of my inno-
cence has enabled me to carry on
my work with practically unabated
vigor, and my physical condition is
far better than in 1880, when I was
suffering from the effects of African
fever.
of course, the financial strain has
been very great. and l take this op-
portunity to express my high appre-
citation of the very many friends who.
out of Strengthened circumstances
have sent contributions to assist me
to meet it.
Il firmly believe that the beverage
liquor traffic is a national evil which
should be prohibited by national law,
and shall continue to fight to secure
local, State and National prohibition
of that evil
Announcement of the jurys verdict
came Unexpectedly. it having been
generally believed it would require a
longer time for them to review the
mass of evidence put in by both sides
during the three weeks of the trial.
Two Face Jury.
AS the jurors. II men and a woman,
filed INTO the jury box, Bishop Cannon
and Miss Burroughs arose and faced
them uncertainty. Justice Peyton Cor
don had not yet taken his place.
Bishop Cannon sat down, while his
co-defendant remained standing.
Then the clerk asked the foreman.
William j. Newman. if they had
agreed upon a verdict. The foreman
nodded his head, and Bishop Cannon
, again got to his feet and remained
standing beside Miss Burroughs.
, The gray-haired churchman braced
himself against the trial table with his
left hand as the clerk asked: How do
you find the defendants as to the first
I count. guilty or not guilty."
A subdued murmur ran through the
/ room as the jury foreman intoned the
words not guilty" Bishop Cannon's s
shoulders Strengthened and he took his
hand from the table When the same