Evening star., 1942-02-20
Laura ingalls,
Gets 8 Months
To2Y Years
Is Better Americon
Than Jurors. Flyer
Protests to Judge

FroCeStlng CnaC Sne is DetCer
American than the jurors who
convicted her, Miss Laura In
gals, aviatrix, was sentenced this
afternoon in District Court to
eight months to two years, fol-
lowing her conviction as an un-
registered Nazi agent.
The sentence was the maxi
mum jail sentence.
Miss ingalls, spoke briefly to JUS
tice James w. Morris before SEN
tence was imposed asserting that
"individualism Is an American trait"
and that she was exercising her
rights when she acted as she did.
In closing, she asserted: II salute
the Republic of the United States. q"
Not Result Of Expressions.
Justice Morris, in passing sentence,
told the defendant that the punish
ment was not the result of her ex-
pressions on American policy. The
jurist said that, in declining to &C
cept her previously offered plea of
nolo contendere or do not wish to
contend" the case), he felt that the
case should be passed on by q jury.
The jury found her guilty of acting
as an agent Of a foreign principal
without registering as such at the
State Department. That limitation
is the law and Americans must
obey it, the jurist said.
At this point. Miss Ingalls, asked
If she would have had the right
to work for the United States II
registered as foreign agent, bul
Justice Morris asserted that he had
previously gone into that matter
thoroughly.
Miss ingalls, then quoted the
maxim, Ignorance of the, law is no
excuse" and the jurist passed SEN
tence.
Yes, your honor" replied the de-
fendant. and then left the court
room in company with a deputy
United States marshal.
Could Have Been Fined $1,000.
Two years Imprisonment and
81 900 fine is the maximum penalty
for this crime.
Special assistant to the Attorney
General Neil Andrew prosecuted
Miss Ingalls,.
Wearing large gray hat and
brown jacket, Miss ingalls, came
into courtroom crowded with spec
tators on hand to hear the re-
mainder Of the Ewing criminal as
sault case.
AS Miss ingalls, stood for sentence,
Justice Morris told her he had had
an investigation of her case made
by the probation officer and asked
her If she had anything to say.
"One Of the great fundamentals
inherent in the Constitution is lib
erty of conscience, and with the in
terests of my country at heart I
thought I had the right to work
against war I knew we were not
prepared to fight" Miss ingalls, said.
Il feel there might never have been
Singapore If we had SUFFICIENT
planes at Manila and Hawaii to stem
the tide of the japanese.
Acted on Patriotism.
Il realize that I have technically
violated the law. but I never in
tended in conscience to act as a
foreign agent. worked as an
individual. Individualism is an
American trait. I hoped to turn
my evidence over to the Govern
ment. I do not consider myself
morally guilty of committing an act
against my Government. My mo-
tives were born of intense patriot
ism. I feel there must be some
strong Western power left to lead
Europe out of chaos, and I saw no
other power than the United States
to do it.
Il can do nothing but accept the
verdict of my fellow countrymen,
but I do so in the feeling that am
a truer patriot than those who con-
victed me- Sacrifice is to be our
lot from now on. I am willing to
make mine"
Apparently, there will not be a
motion for a new trial, nor will the
case be appealed to the United
States Court of Appeals,