Evening star., 1949-12-09
Thomas Given
6 10 18 Months,
Fined $4,000
Resigns From House.;
Wife Seeks Scot
To Garry on Fight
By John W. Stepp

as today was sentenced to serve
6-to-18-month prison term and
to pay a $4,000 fine for padding
his office payrolls while a Re-
publican Representative of New
Jersey.
Immediately after Judge Alex
ander Holtzoff imposed the sem
tence in District Court, Thomas
wife. Mrs. Amelia Thomas, an
nounced that she would seek her
husbands seat in the House.
William H. Collins, Thomas
attorney. said his resignation as
Representative from New Jerseys
7th district is in the mails.
In passing sentence on the So
year old legislator who entered
plea of mo contest and threw
himself on the mercy of the court.
Judge Holtzoff delivered stern
lecture to the former chairman OF
the House Committee on Un-
American Activities.
Probation Plea Denied.
Rejecting a plea by Attorney
Collins that Thomas be put on
probation and not sent to jail.
Judge Holtzoff said Thomas good
record in World War and his
good work" as chairman of the
Un-American Activities Commit
tee cant be properly considered
mitigating circumstances
In fact. the judge said, as chair
man of a congressional commit
tee, Thomas had duty to set
an example of upright living"
Less than two hours after he
was sentenced, Thomas was on his
way to Danbury, Conn, to serve
his sentence in the Federal Cor
rectional Institution there.
Deputy Marshals took him di-
rectly from the courthouse to Un-
ion Station for the train trip to
Danbury.
Mrs. Thomas gave reporters q
statement announcing she will
seek her husbands seat and ask
ing the voters Ito support my
husbands fight against the
enemies of the Republic by elect
ing me-"
Asserting that she has seen her
husband "naligned and persecut-
| ed ever since he became chairman
of the Committee on Un-American
Activities" she declared his health
is now ruined because he has paid
the price for vigilance.
God give me strength to carry
on the statement declared.
Mr.. Collins said Thomas resig-
nation was addressed to Gov.
Driscoll of New Jersey. Gov. Dris-
coll said in Trenton he would is
sue no proclamation until he had
received certification of Thomas
resignation
Reelected Last November.
Thomas was reelected for a
seventh term last November even
as Federal grand jury here was
studying charges that he entered
into a scheme with his former Sec
retary. Miss Helen Campbell, 81.
to get "kickbacks" from the pay
of some OF the members of his Of
flee staff.
His case was the first called on
the docket today. Dressed in a
gray pin-stripe suit. Thomas
strobe briskly to the counsel table
with Mr.. Collins.
His face deeply flushed, Thomas
stood immobile as Mr.. Collins
opened his remarks to the court
by pointing out "the esteem IN
which Mr.. Thomas is held by peo-
pie in all walks of life"
He stands before you a man
broken in body and spirit" the
lawyer said. II can't conceive
that penal servitude could add to
anything he has already suffered"
Letters on Record Noted.
Judge Holtzoff opened his re-
marks by spelling out the nature
of the charges. Then he noted
that Attorney Collins had pre-
sented to the court numerous let
ters pointing out Thomas "splen-
did, record in the service dur
ing World War I and that he
served his country well" as q
member Of the House Committee
on Un-American Activities.
These matters, however, can
not properly be considered as mi
tigating circumstances so far as.
the present charge is concerned"
the judge declared. In fact, az
a member of the committee, the
defendant owed >, duty to his
(Cnn rIYNhEAC Dor, AoA