Evening star., 1939-06-04
Manton Guilty,
Hearing Is Set
On Retria| Plea
Ex-Judee Convicted
Of Conspiracy to
Obstruct Justice
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Former Federal Circuit JUDGE
Martin T. Manton, ,Uho UaS op-
pointed BY President Wilson and
presided ouer $500 cases, resigned
last January after District Attor-
ney Thomas DeUey accused him
OF accepting 100000 in loans
from litigantS. Mnnton Was dis
closed to haze important or con-
trolling interest in halt dozen
corporations.
By the Associated Press
NEW YORK, June 3.-Former
Federal Circuit Court Judge Martin
T. Manton was convicted by a Fed
eral Court jury tonight of conspiracy
to obstruct justice and to deprive
the United States of his impartial
services.
He faces maximum penalty of
two years in prison and a $4,000
fine.
George M. Spector, former con-
fidential agent for the late promoter
Archie M. Andrews, was convicted
OF the same charges.
Three other original co-defend-
ants pleaded guilty at the start of
the trial
The jury, 10 men and two women,
received the case at 6:l5 pm. EAST
ern standard time, after a trial of
II days and returned their verdict
about four hours later, after taking
an hour out for dinner.
Bail Is Continued.
Benjamin Colder, of Manton's
counsel asked that bail be continued
for Manton pending the filing of
motion for new trial or notifica-
ton of intention to take an appeal
to higher court.
Manton's bail is $4,000. His CO.
defendant Spector is held in s17.5OO
bail.
The continuance of bail was
granted and hearing on a motion
for new trial was set for June 20.
Federal Judge w. Calvin Chestnut
Of Maryland, who presided at the
trial, remarked significantly that if
the motion were denied, sentencing
would follow Immediately.
Mantons face was red as the
jury's decision was announced. His
eyes, which seemed dimmed, blinded
rapidly several times and he leaned
forward pressing two fingers against
q heshy cheek.
His co-defendant, Spector, re-
mained impassive.
Summing up the Governments
case John T. Cahill, 35, a recent
appointee of President Roosevelt,
charged that zone Of the most mon
strous plots to buy and sell justice
vas born and Matched within the
four walls of this very courthouse -
90-Minute Charge.
my position is that any Judge
who accepts gifts or loans is bereft
of that absolute impartiality which
he must ever try to achieve" Mr.
Cahill said. IF Judge Manton took
money from a litigant, even before
the case was decided-the mere
taking of the money, in the view l
take-the prime charge of the m
dictment is completed"
In a 90 minute charge Judge
Chestnut declared the accusation
against Manton was "unprecedent-
ed in the history of $50 years of the
Federal judiciary"
This calls" he said, "for the
most dispassionate, discriminating
and reasoned consideration that you
are able to give in reaching your
verdict. 1t is a case Of supreme
import to both the Government ard
the defendants.
The public readily expects and
demands that all its Federal judges
shall be independent. impartial and
above al scrupulously honest
and it is of vital Importance
in the functioning of our Gov
ernment that the confidence of the
public in the integrity of its courts
be not impaired. 1t is equally I'M
portant that the defendants in this
case should not be convicted of
these serious and unprecedented
charges unless you are satisfied of
their guilt, respectively, beyond a
reasonable doubt"
Mantpn white haired and henipn