Evening star., 1947-05-15
|Ronlney Guilty
On All Counts
In Quick Verdict
Jury Makes Finding
Soon After Lowyers
Omit Arguments
nrliT rriAt
BuLLETIN

Kenneth Romney was found
guilty on all three counts Of
the Indictment charging him
with concealing a s143,863
shortage in his accounts. The
jury, which had deliberated
an hour and so minutes, re-
turned its verdict at pm.
The Jury celebrating the case
of Kenneth Romney, former
House sergeant at arms. was to
announce It's verdict In District
Court early this afternoon.
After beginning its deliberations at
lo:45 am, the jurors were under
stood to have reached verdict and
were instructed to return to tho
courtroom at 1:3o pm. after they
had eaten.
Romney, for 81 years an employs
of the House, is charged with falsi-
flying Government accounts to cons
ceal financial irregularities In the
bank he conducted as part Of his
office. His counsel. William H. Col.
Inns, who had presented no testi-
mony in behalf of the defendant,
made no final summing-up argu-
ment in the case, and the prosecu-
ton followed suit.
The case. therefore, went to the
jury Immediately after Justice Alex
ander Holtzoff had presented his
carefully balanced instructions.
If the seven men and five women
of the jury find Romney guilty. on
the three counts on which he Is
indicted he would face possible max
imum penalties of 80 years impris-
onment and $4,000 in fines.
Shortage knowledge Indicated.
Justice Holtzoff said the Govern
ment's evidence tends to show that
In the sergeant at arms Office re-
ports to sthe General Accounting
Once on June ! and November l.
1916, items of shortage were car
Yried as cash and were added to the
real amount of cash on hand"-and
that Romney knew it.
The evidence also seemed to indi-
cate, Justice Holtzoff said, that for
some years before 1946 large
shortage existed In the House
"bank" funds, which was carried
on the books as cash.
Il want to make 1t clear that this
defendant Is not charged with en-
bezzlement or rnisappropriation Of
funds, Justice Holtzon said, In
other words, proof Of misappropria-
tion of funds or embezzlement is not
to be taken as proof Of the guilt Of
the defendant under this indict-
ment.
Three Counts Detailed.
He reminded the jury that Rom
r1ey is indicted on three counts. The
first two counts charged that as
sergeant at arms he filed fraudulent
statements with the GAO on June !
and November /, 1916, concerning
the amount of cash in his office, and
that he knew these statements were.
fraudulent.
The third count charges that IN
1916, Romney knowingly concealed
the amount of cash on hand In his
Office by carrying as cash on the
books bad checks and other irregular
financial instruments.
When Mr.. Collins declined to
make final argument, United
States Attorney George Morris Fay
and his assistant, John w. Fihelly.
also told the court they were willing
to let the case go to the jury with
out further arguments
Directed Verdict Denied.
The jury was excused during Mr..
Collins plea yesterday for di-
rected verdict In the case. He
argued that the money missing from
House bank" funds, which at one
time amounted to $143,863 and in
connection with which Romney Is
accused Of making fraudulent re-
(See ROMNEY, Page A-5.)