Evening star., 1949-12-09
Thomus
q Continued From First Page.)


country to show an example of
upright dealings and true Amer
icanisrn."
The court added that it must
be governed solely by the public
interest, and accordingly an
nounced that Thomas should be
fined "in an amount which will
fairly reimburse the Government
for the money that has been ex-
tricated from it by means of the
illegal schemes charged in the
indictment.
More Than $4,000 Involved.
Judge Holtzof pointed out
that the amount involved in the
payroll padding was in excess of
So 1000. He accordingly set Thomas
fine at $4,000, after first an
nouncing the defendant would
have to serve six to eighteen
months in a Federal penitentiary.
No change of expression crossed
Thomas face when the sentence
was imposed and he walked away
calmly with deputy marshals. who
took him to the court cell block
for the customary processing of
prisoners.
The maximum sentence the
judge could have imposed was 80
years in Jail and a $4,000 fine.
Thomas was indicted on four
charges of conspiracy with his
former secretary and. the issu-
ance of three fraudulent salary
vouchers while he was chairman
of the. Un-American Activities
Committee. The indictment was
returned only a few days after
Thomas had been reelected by a
majority of 1900 votes.
The charges against the 64-
year-old Miss Campbell were dis
missed after Thomas entered his
mo contest" plea two and one
half days after trial began before
Judge Holtzof last week. The
judge ordered the dismissal at the
time in view of Miss Campbell's
full, free and fair" statement on
the mechanics of the payroll
padding. Her attorney had in
sisted that it was under compul-
sion from her boss. perhaps to
keep her job, that she helped set
up the payroll padding scheme.
Thomas resignation from his
congressional seat followed the
precedent set by the few other
members of Congress who were
convicted while in Office.
Mrs. Thomas. the former
Amelia Wilson stiles Of Mount
Vernon, N. Y. was almost cheer
full as she talked to reporters out
side the court after the case was
over. She issued this statement:
II intend to seek the congress
sional seat about to be vacated by
my husband. AS his wife, I can
| do no less. I have seen Parnell
Thomas maligned and prosecuted
ever since he became the chair
man of the Committee on Un-
American Activities. They have
ruined his health and now they
have done this to my husband. He
has paid the price for vigilance.
II now ask the people of the
7th Congressional District in New
Jersey to support his fight against
the enemies OF the Republic by
electing me. If elected I shall
continue the same struggle against
subversive influences.
"The voluminous Office files anG
records of j. Parnell Thomas
those that have not been stolen
will be at my disposal and there
fore for the benefit of my constit-
uency. God give me strength to
carry on,
The New Jersey attorney gen.
eral has ruled that there will have
1 to be a special election to fill
Thomas unexpired term. 1t runs
to the end Of 1850.
Mrs. Thomas told reporters she
is 48. She is the mother OF two
Ichildren, j. Parnell, jr.. and Stiles
Thomas.
| Mrs. Thomas said she has hae
no previous political experience.