The Mankato free press. [volume], December 30, 1921, Image 1

About The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
SLATER IS GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE
DISCUSS LIMIT FOR
AIRPLANECARRIERS
Various Subjects Before
Naval Committee
MAJOR NAVY PLAN OFF
France, Italy and Japan Again
Considering Submersibles,
Auxiliary Tonnage
[Associated Press Dispatch.]
London, December 29.—News
of France’s action before the
Washington armament conference
in refusing to accept an allotment
, of submarines of less than 90,000
tons was printed In the London
newspapers today under captions
indicating disappointment. Edi
torial comment, ""however, was
scanty.
Washington. D. C., December 29.
The major plan to limit the tonnage of
the five -powers in submarines and
auxiliary having been defi
nitely abandoned the naval committee
of the arms conference was prepared
to resume today its discussions of
collateral subjects upon which pro
posals were offered yesterday by the
American delegates. First to be con
sidered today, it is understood, were
the proposals placing a limit of 10,000
tons on any auxiliary vessel to be
constructed by the powers and a limit
of 27.000 tons on airplane carriers.
Great Britain alone agreed to the
first proposal when it was presented
yesterday after the effort to limit na
val strength in submarines and aux
iliary ships had been abandoned in
the face of the French announcement
fixing a limit of 90 000 tons in sub
mersibles and 330.000 In auxiliary
craft for that country. The French
Italians, and Japanese all announced
that they would have to await in
structions before deciding on the pro
posed 10,000 ton limit for all craft
below the capital ship class. The
French hoped to be in a position tn
announce their decision today. The
American proposal regarding airplanes
carriers*also provided a tonnage limi
tation for the several powers in that
tyoe of ship. It was discussed only
briefly yesterday without committ
ment by any of the delegations.
4 The French Proposal.
Another development of yesterday’s
momentous committee session—the
French proposal that their country be
permitted to begin replacement of
capital ship tonnage in 1927. four
years before the termination of the
proposed ten year holiday—was being
considered today by naval experts of
the other powers. In most quarters
this proposal, which was offered as a
reservation to France’s definite ac
ceptance of the 175.000 ton capital
ratio, was not regarded as likely
tn endanger in any wav the canital
ship agreement hut it ws character
ized by Mr. Balfour in the committee
session as a “serious interference”
with the holidav plan.
More To Be Heard On Submarines.
The plain spoken exchange between
Arthur J. Balfour and M. Sarraut,
beading the French delegation, over
the possibilities of a future war be
tween France and the British empire
following presentation of the French
program in submarines and auxiliary
ships yesterday, was the subject of
animated discussion everywhere in
conference circles today. The state
ment of the British delegation head
that he would reserve full expression
on the submarine issue until it “comes
up before a house conference” made
it appear certain that more would he
heard of it before adjournment of the
conference.
Aircraft Report Ready
Unlimited construction of aircraft
but sharp delimitation of their use in
wartime are understood to be embod
<* ied in recommendations decided upon
by the sub-committee on aviation of
the armament conference. The re
port of the sub-committee was said
to be ready for. presentation to the
meeting of the land armaments com
mittee called for three p. m. today.
Naval experts of the arms confer
ence are preparing to take up the
capital ship replacement program as
soon as the naval committee reaches
a point that will permit it to turn to
the subject. A preliminary meeting of
the experts was scheduled for late
today after the naval committee ad-
journed.
French Acceptance Still Hinges
w French acceptance of the 175,000
ton limitation on capital ships still
hinges, accoiding to M. Sarraiit's
formal statement to the naval com
mittee, on agreement as to details in
regard to the ten year naval holi
day and also on determination of the
Reriod of years for which the tonnage
mitation agreement is to run. He
indicated that France'' desired to be
gin In 1927, four years before the end
of the ten year naval holiday, con
struction of such capital ships a*
might be necessary to replace unit?
In her fleet which will have passed
the twenty year mark by 1931.
If this suggestion is accomplished
the actual period of the holiday would
bp cut to six years as under the ori
ginal American proposal no building
*as to be started until the full to*
fears has elapsed.
Many Things Might Happen
Naval officials Lave realized, how
*» [Continued on Page Seven ]
press.
WITH which Has BEEMHBiDATED THE WEEKLY REVIEV' J
at the Weather
W Man Gives to Folks
Mankato: Maximum tempera
ture for the past twenty-four
hours, twenty-three above: mini
mum, two below. Local barome
ter hand today indicated clear
weather. Tomorrow the sun will
rise at 7:29 A. M. and will set at
4:36 P. M.
Minnesota: Generally fair to
night and Friday; rising temper
ature tonight; colder in north-por
tion Friday afternoon and night.
Wisconsin: Generally fair to
night and Friday; rising tempera
ture tonig-ht and in east and south
portions Friday.
North Dakota: Generally fair
tonight and Friday; rising tem
perature in southeast portion to
night; colder Friday.
South Dakota: Generally fair
tonight and Friday rising temper
ature tonight.
REDUCTION IN RAIL
RATES FOR FREIGHT
Announcement Made By
The Northwestern
FARM PRODUCTS LISTED
Interstate Carload Lots Sched
uled; Percentage Shown
In Detail
W. R. Spornitz, Mankato agent for
the Chicago, Northwestern railroad,
UUs afternoon received .the. following
Jommumcation from the general>of
dees of the railroad. It contains the
good news that all shippers have been
loping for the last year.
•‘The Chicago and North western
Railway company announces a very
material reduction in interstate car
.oad freight rates effective January 1,
1922.
These reductions are approximately
as follows:
Wheat and grain products taking
wheat rates, 13 percent.
Corn, rye, oats, barley, and pro
ducts taking the same rates, 22 per
cent
Hay and straw, 13 percent.
Livestock, (except where previous
reduction of 20 percent was made) 10
percent.
Butter, eggs, cheese and poultry,
10 percent.
Tobacco, unmanufactured, 10 per
cent.
Fruits and vegetables, Fresh, dried
or evaporated, not Including canned
goods, 10 per cent.
Potatoes, 10 percent.
Mohair and wool, 10 peicent
Several examples:
Where present interstate rate is 25
cents, new rates will be —
Commodity wheat, new rate, 21.5
cents, reduction per 100 pounds, 3.5
cents, reduction per bushel, 2.1 cents.
Commodity corn, new rate, 19.5
cents, reduction per 100 pounds, 5.5
cents, reduction per bushel, 3.08 cents.
Commodity Oats, new rate 19.5
cents, reduction per 100 pounds, 5.5
cents, reduction per bushel, 1.76
cents.
Commodity potatoes, new rate, 22.5
cents, reduction per 100 pounds, 2.5
cents, reduction per bushel, 1.5 cents.
Commodity hay, new rate, 21.5
cents, reduction per 100 pounds, 3.5
cents, reduction per bushel, .70 cents
(per ton.)
On state traffic, adjustments will
be made so as to reflect proper rela
tionship to interstate rates.”
New-Era Prosperity
For 1922 Predicted
Governor Harding Federal Re
serve Board Optimistic On
Cominy Year
LAWRENCE MARTIN '
[United Press Staff Correspondent.]
[Copyrighted by The United Press. 1921.]
Washington, December 29. —The
bells that ring in the year of 1922
will usher in a business revival that
will develop into a new era of pros
perity for the United States. This
confidant prediction was made by W.
G. P. Harding, governor of the feder
al reserve board. i
Choosing his words with care, and
weighing his phrases, Harding told of
his exceptional opportunity to make
a survey of the nations’ condition as
shown to him by data at hand. He
stated that business in the United
States has passed through the primary
stage, which the critical period of re
action, he paid in summing up the sit
nation according to his observations.
Conditions Are Much Better
“It is my sober conviction,” said
Mr. Harding, “that business and fin
ancial conditions in this country are
very much beter than twelve month?
?go. There are many indications that
•i big revival cycle is nearing for cer
•ain. When it does definitely set in
here will follow in due course oi
in re a new era of prosperity.”
Speaking thus Harding sat at bi
esk looking like a financier his fir
eis on the gulden pulse of the na
.U4l
SLAYER Of KELLEY
HEADS FOR PRISON
Anoka County Grand Jury
Took Up His Case
MURDER FIRST DEGREE
That Is the Indictment Sought
By Prosecuting Attorney
Blanchard
[United Press Dispatch]
Anoka, Minn., December 29.
—Earl Slater took one of the
quickest trips in history
through the Anoka county
court today. He was indicted
by a special grand jury and
entered a plea of guilty to the
charge of first degree murder
and will be taken to Stillwa
ter penitentiary this after
noon at four o’clock to serve a
lite sentence. *
Anoka, Minn., December? 29.
Quick justice was promised to
Earl Siater, the self-confessed
murderer of Frank L. Kelley of
Mankato, former state legislator.
Slater was accused before a spe
cial grand jury convened at the
call of Judge A. E. Gldding of the
murder of Kelley. Twenty-three
witnesses were subpoenaed before
that body.
The alleged murderer was
brought to Anoka this morning
under heavy guard from the Hen-
-
that ho would ask for an imme
diate indictment of first degree
murder, and that Slater would be
imemdiately arraigned after that
indictment is returned.
Deputies from Hennepin, Blue
Earth and Anoka counties are
present as witnesses before the
grand jury.
A detailed account of just how the
capture of Earl Slater confessed mur
derer of Frank L. Kelley, was fur
nished today by Traffic Officer Henry
Kachelmyer of the Mankato police
force. The officer related the steps
taken from the time he identified the
picture until he learned from the
slayer’s wife where Slater could be
found. i
The story as told by the officer de
tails how he went to the home of Mrs.
Esther Day Jacobson Monday noon
for dinner. When he arrived, there
were other guests present and the
Kelley murder was a topic of dis
cussion. He joined in the talk and
gave a description of the man who
called himself Larson and who left
here with Kelley. While he was giv
ing the description, Mrs. Jacobson
discovered that the points tallied with
a description of her brother-in-law,
W. L. McDonough of Winnebago and
she produced a picture of that man
which was immediately identified by
Officer Kachelmyer as that of the
man who left town with Kelley.
Called Marshal Loft.
Kachelmyer called Marshal William
Loft of Winnebago by telephone as
soon as it was possible to get a phone
connection and lost no time in getting
in touch with authorities in Winne
bago. Loft .said that as far as he
knew McDonough had been there but
had gone from the city.
The picture was then taken to the
Simonett garage and shown to Pat
Henry who had seen the man suppos
ed to be the slayer and he also said
there could be no doubt but that it
was the man. One or two others who
had seen the man with Kelley identi
fied the picture and the chain of evi
dence tightened.
At this point, the picture was
shown to Chief of Police Phil Lund
mark who immediately notified Coun
ty Attorney C. E. Phillips who in
turn called Sheriff Brown of Henne
pin county. That official dispatched
his deputy, John McGuire to Fair
mont.
Trip To Winnebago.
The upshot of the matter was that
Mrs. Jacobson. Officer Kachelmyer
and Demitv Sheriff John Macßeth
went to Winnebaeo late In the after
noon and on their arrival there they
got In touch with Marshal William
Tx>ft who directed them to the home
of the McDonoughs. . When Kachel
myer and Mrs. Jacobson went to the
house there was annarently no one
♦here, but McDonough’s overcoat was
hanging by a stairway and for that
reason a hurried search of the lower
.floor was made on the theory that he
’might be hld’ng In the house. Fail
ing to find the man. the officer and
Mrs. Jacobson went to the home of a
neighbor who’-e they fou’’d the slay
er’s wife. Thev greeted her as if
fhp- were there for a visit. -
When th n three had returned to the
MoDonoueh home. Officer Each elm ver
•'nd Mrs. Jacobson Questioned Mrs
'»cnonotirh as to the whereabouts of
'’edonough. Shp reluetnnt In
“•'?u|ng anv statement regarding her
’'•’sband she anxiously innulred if
‘hpre was nnvthlng wrong with him
Thev evaded the Question and talked
'h*»nt ntbn- matter's.
M’T Jpnohson re*”’*sted her
•i"ter to sten info aiothe- room
where they conversed together re-
m cn Page Seven.]
MAI
SMILL MUST STAND TRIAL
¥ RULES THE JUDGE IN ILLINOIS
Advertising Forum
Will Pull Some Stunt
Members To Enjoy Supper and
Original Events At Garden
City Inn
The Advertising) Fdtpn is planning
a combined “feedfahfl “stunt” qight
for the very near mtitte.
M. H. Farr, president of the Ad For
um, says that the proposed event will
be a high-power S<air. and that no
thing approaching? it Jor the origin
ality of tne stuntr to be pulled off
has ever been helqjn this vicinity.
Preliminary plana gcal for a chicken
supper at probably s the Garden City
Inn, Garden City. Vajpous represen
tatives of wholesale houses will be
asked to personally shrve the courses
of the menu provided by their firms.
For instance, a cracker traveler will
serve the crackers and sugar wafers.
A coffee man will serve coffee made
from his company’s berries. A bak
ery representative wiH perve the rolls
and bread. An ice sream man the
ices. And so on through the menu.
Mankato jobbers, "Wholesalers and
manufacturers will b$ invited to dis
tribute samples or sifcvenirs adver
tising their respectitfc lines. Motor
truck men will have opportunity
of hauling the peoplsllff their motor
bus demonstrators fital this city to
Garden City and reUlrtt.
And—the ladies! By thought that
those attending the «ftajr will be
asked to bring thei£Jftilfes, sweet
hearts or even friend*. Ad men who
do not bring a fair fegnpqnlon will oe
penalized by bei rT-jlffniked to wash
and wipe
ed. Business firms who desire fffv
thef information are requested to
phone Mr. Farr during working hours
at 540. ■■■ "
WINTER WHEAT AREA
Nearly Two Per Cent Less Than Sown
Last Fall
[Associated Press Dispatch.l
Washington, D. C., December 29.
The area sown to winter wheat this
fall is 44,293,000 acres, which it 1.2
per cent less than the revised estima
ted area sown in the fall of 1920 which
was 14,847,000 acres the department
of agriculture announced today. The
condition of winter wheat on Decern
ber 1 was 76.0 per cent or a normal,
compared with 87.9 a year ago and
85.2 two years ago and 89.0 the ten
year average.
The area sown to rye is 5,184,000
acres which is 22.6 per cent more than
the revised estimated area sown in the
fall of 1920, which was 4,228,000 acres.
The condition of rye on December 1.
was 92.2 per cent of a normal compar
ed with 90.5 a year ago, 89.8 two yean
ago, 89.8 two years ago and 90.9 the
ten year average.
Northwest Federal Narcotic Agents
Confiscated $600,00 During Year
[Associated Press Dispatch.]
Minneapolis, December 29. —Feder-
al narcotic agents have confiscated
$500,000 worth of drugs and driven
hundreds of alleged dope peddlers
out of the Minneapolis division com
prising the states, of Minnesota,
North Dakota, lowa and Nebraska
duiing 1921. J. M. Bransky, narcotic
agent in charge said today.
“Addicts in the Minneapolis divis
ion will spend $1; 000,000 yearly for
drugs if they can got them” “Mr.
Brans-ky explained. ’’lt would be a
rich field therefore for peddlers if it
were not for our operations and those
of the local authorities.”
PROTEST TO CHINA
American Legation Would Bar Chang
Ching-Yao From Washington,
f Associated Press Dispatch.]
Peking. December 28.—The Ameri
can legation has protested formally
to the Peking government against
the return to the capital of General
Chang Ching-Yao, former military
governor of the province of Hunan,
whose troops killed the Rev. W. A.
Reimert, an American missionary at
Yo-Show in June, 1920.
The legation reminded the Chinese
foreign office that formal protests
from Washington and demands for
punishment of Chang had brought no
result, and insisted that, now that he
was in Peking, the Chinese govern
ment was responsible for the deten
tion, pending trial.
LAST CABINET SESSION'
•
Canadian Government Is Due to
Change This Afternoon- ' »
[Asaoc’ated Press Dispatch. 1
Ottawa, Ont., December 29.—1 t was
announced with startling abruptness
today that the government of Canada
would change hands at three o’clock.
The announcement was made when the
cabinet of Premier Meighen, unionist,
defeated at the recent elections, went
Into final session.
The personnel of the ministry form
ed by W. L. MacKenzie King, premier
elect, and leader of the liberal forces
has not been officially announced.
DOPE SEIZED BY SLEUTHS
DECEMBER 30 1921
FARMERS ARE USING
LIVE MOTIVE POWER
Ninety-Five Per Cent Seen
In the Field Work
FIGURES. WERE BOOKED
Secretary Horse Association Ad
dressed Agricultural Engi
neers In Chicago
Chicago, December 29. Wayne
Dinsmore, secretary of the Horse
Association of America, today told
the members of the American So
ciety of Agricultural Engineers, in
session here that farm experts of var
ious states bad failed to aid in in
creasing in every possible way, the
efficiency of the motive power most
used on the farms. And that this
should take precedence over work de
signed to bring out and popularize
new motive power.
Mr. Dinsmore quoted figures which
showed that there were more than
seventeen million horses and mules
actually employed in work on farms
in 1921 and that the census of Janu
aryj^i92o’ tractors
Dinsmore that aniaiai 'iftotive Tiirnislr
ese more than 96 per eent oTthe pow
er used in field work oh American
farms.
West Operates On Lower Costs
Mr. Dinsmore also stated that des
pite this obvious iact, practically no
work of any kind has been done by
the agricultural engineering depart
ments of the various states relating
to the more efficient use ot animal
motive power or relating to the de
velopment of more efficient types
thereof.
Webern farmers operate on a lower
production cost,, he said, the average
acreage plowed per day by one man,
ranged from one and one half acres
in New England, to two to three acres
in Pennsylvania and Ohio, to four
ind six acres in Illinois, lowa, and
?ther midwest states, and from eighi
to twelve acres in western and north
western states and in Canada. Tais
Is made possible, explained, by th
nore efficient use of farm motive
nower and he demonstrated method
->f employing home made hitching a,p
oaratus, whereby extra teams couk
ie hooked up to farm implements am
he work speeded up. A horse shouli
ravel on the average twenty miles a
day, working eight hours, if not bur
dened so heavily that frequent rest
periods are necessary.
Librarians Talk Shop
At Chicago Meeting
Three Hundred From Cities In
United States and Canada
In Attendance
(Associated Frees Dispatch.]
Chicago, December 29. —More than
three hundred librarians from various
cities in the United States and Canada
were in attendance at the opening ses
sion today of the three-day conven
tion of the American Library associa
tion.
Standards for library appropriations,
involving the per capita cost of library
service will be arrived at during the
convention, according to Carl N. Wi
lam of Chicago, secretary.
Incidental to the general session of
the association, group meetings will be
held simultaneously by university and
college librarians, normal school li
brarians, bibliographical librarians and
the league of library commissions.
Women librarians were also well
represented at the convention among
those being registered were Miss Gra
tia A. Countryman, librarian public li
brary, Minneapolis, Minn., and Miss
Harriet A. Wood, supervisor of school
libraries, state of Minnesota.
DISAPPOINTED IN LOVE
Duluth Laborer Ended AH By Jump
ing Into The Bay
[AMOc.Mted Press Diarateh.]
Duluth, Minn., December 29. —Dis-
appointed because the woman he lov
ed wu married to another man, Max
-E Uu.Schie, 35. laborer, is believed to
have drowned himself in Lake Super
ior. In a note found in his room by po
lice La Schie signified his intention ot.
committing suicide. “Don’t look for
me when you find this note," La Schie
wrote. / “I will be in a deep, cold
grave in the bay. I struggled hard,
but lost. My heart is broken."
The note wa.s dated December 28.
If La Sch|e drowned himself, he was
.’orced to seek death In the lake, be
cause the bay is frozen over solidly,
believe the police.
Stop The Expansion
Of Farm Activities
Minnesota Says Wait Until the
Demand Catches Up
With Supply
[Associated Press Dispatch]
St. Paul, December 29.—Dr. J. E.
Black, farm ecnomic expert of the ag
ricultural department of the Univer
sity of Minnesota, today urged that
the expansion of farming activities
be “staved off” until the demand for
products catches up with the supply.
Dr. Black appeared before the joint
congressional committee on short
time rural credits, which is today con
cluding a hearing in the senate cham
ber of the state capitol. Representa
tive Gilbert Haugen of lowa pre
sided.
if the farmers obtain $200,000,000
of credit in Minnesota, it might mean
further expansion and lower prices,
Dr. Black said, adding that the delfa
tation of the federal reserve system
undoubtedly had injured the farmer
and warned against expansion in ag
ricultural lines. He criticised some
bankers for efforts to sell farmers’
tractors and expensive equipment
through their dealings with farm im
plement men.
Frank Jeffers of Red Lake Falls, a
farm bureau federation man urged
that some system of credit for farm
ers be established ♦*» relieve the pres
ent stringent situation and to prevent
foreclosures on farm property.
Members of the conenessional com
mission will visit the Minnesota grain
inspection and welshing department
as yip guests of the railroad and
FAVOR
Indian Nationalist Congress Adopted
Resolution Yesterday
f a r>—D , -pa +f 'h.l
‘ Ahmedabad. British India, December
29.—The resolution adonted by the
special committee of the Indian na
tionalist congress yesterday favoring
continuation of Mahatma Gandhi’s poll
nv o* pnr>-violence includes a clause de
daring Candhi the sole executive au
thority of the movement, with full pow
ovo” the and its organiza
tion. It provides, however, that nei
ther nor any of his successors
to the leadershin he authorized, in case
they are arrested, to conclude peace
vith the government without previous
sanction of the congress.
Organization throughout the country
which are forbidden by law, is Urged,
••nd all Indnians are exported to join
he Kahlifat volunteers and to submit
-uietly tb arrest. The resolution is to
he presented to the full congress for
pproval.
OVERCOME BY GAS
Aged St. Paul Man Found Dead In
His Bed This Morning.
fl Press DHpatc.fi j
St. Paul. December 29. —Aaron Bel
lon. seventy-two, was found dead in
his bed today, having been overcome
last night by illuminating gas. It is
believed that Mr. Belden failed to
close a gas jet on a gas stove in the
kitchen before retiring. Mrs. Belden
sleeping in an adjoining room was
partly overcome, but managed to get
into the next room where she found
the dead body of her husband. The
body was taken in charge by Dr. In
gerson, coroner.
SIBERIA SEEKS HELP
Special Delegation In Washington
Sends Note To Secretary Hughes.
-r» w-rf-teH D’snafch.]- •
Washington, D. C.. December 29.
P'-nrpqMnfr a desire to assist the
Washington conference in arriving at
a.just and proper solution of prob
lems involved in Siberia, the special
delegation from the chambers of com
merce and industries of the maritime
province of Siberia, now in Washing
ton, has addressed a letter to Secre
ary Hughes as chairman of the con
ference recommending among other
things that steps be taken to facili
tate wide use of foreign capital in de
velopment of the resources of the
region.
URGE DUTY ON OIL
Import Tax On Crude Product Ad
vanced By Oklahoma Man.
r Associated iMspatrh.l
Washington. D. C., December 29. —
An import duty of one dollar a bar
rel on crude oil was urged before the
"p<np.te fn- *•'*'' co"ri<ttop t«->day bv
Harry H. Smith of Tulsa, Okla., for
the Mid-continent Oil and Gas asso
ciation, and the National Association
of Independent Oil producers.
DROP IN SUGAR
Refined Product Took Tumble Of Ten
Points Today.
. New York, December 29.—Prices to"
•Mined su-ar declined to another new
cw record today when a local refiner
educed the list quotation ten points
.»> the baiiLs of for fine granu
huod. > . •
NUM
ORDER OF COURT
PLAIN IN TERMS
State Governor Is Charged
With Embezzlement
TRIAL ON JANUARY 9TH
Some of Indictments Against
Illinois Executive, Curtis,
Sterling Squashed
[Associated Press Dispatch.]
Waukegan, 111., December • 29. —
Judge Claire C. Edwards of toe cir
cuit court of Lake epunty, today up
held an indictment charging Gov
ernor Len Small with embezzlement
of $500,000 of state funds and nine of
the thirteen counts of an indictment
charging the governor. Lieutenant
Governor Fred E. Sterling and Veru
on Curtis, a banker of Grant Park,
HL, with conspiracy and operating a
confidence game involving $2,000,00u
in state money.
The court ordered the governor
trial January 9, at 9:30 o’clock on the
$500,000 embezzlement charge.
■Ghrtte-hMWrt by quashing
nient charging them. I•’».
Sterling with embezzlment or :$709,-
000; and quashed three counts
Ing conspiracy and the one charging
confidence game In the -'ther joint in
dictment. As a result Mr. Curtis vM’l
face trial only on the nine remain
ing counts of the conspiracy cniug<.
Kills Charge Against Sterling
While Mr. Sterling is not a party to
the proceedings here, he never nav -
ing asked a change of venue hav-
Springfield where the indictment
were returned July 20, 1921, by the
Sangamon county grand jury, Judge
Edwards’ action in quashing the joint
embezzlement indictment against the
governor, lieutenant governor and Mr.
Curtis will autdmat!ca’’y kill that
charge against Mr. Sterling.
The court’s decision —a 5,000 wofcd
document which goes at length into
the arguments of C. C. Leforgee and
other attorneys for the defendants in
support of their motions to quash—
was read in court this afternoon in
the presence of Governor Small and
Mr. Curtis.
Scathing Arraignment of Byers
The decision was marked by a
scathing arraignment of Charles W.
Byers, county clerk of Sangamon
county, who admitted on the stand
that the records of his office contain
ing the minutes of the county board
which selected the grand jurors who
subsequently indicted the governor
and his fellow defendants, has been
altered.
“He was a willing witness,” Judge
Edwards said, “willing to commit
perjury to face eVen the charge of
falsifying the records of his office—
in a word he showed a willingness to
do whatever was necessary to be
done to sustain these indictments.”
Judge Edwards* Conclusion
After disposing of the defense mo
tions and detailing his decision on
each indictment. Judge Edwards said,
in conclusion:
“This is an important case from
three standpoints:
“First —Form the legal principles
involved, which have been so ably
presented;
“Second —Important to the de
fendants to have an immediate trial,
and:
“Third:—All important to
pie of the state of Illinois that their
governor be either convicted if guilty
of this offense or if not that he be re
quitted and permitted to giye his nt
ettentlon to the duties of the high
office which he now holds.
“Anything now pending on tha
docket of tills court sinks into insit
nificance as compared to the impor
tance of this last point.”
Alleged Illegal Practices
The charges against the governor
and Lieutenant governor and Mr,
Curtis centered around alleged ille
gal practices during the term of Gov»
ernor Small as state treasurer, 1917-
19; and the term of Lieutenant Gov
ernor Sterling as sfate treasurer
1919-21. The alleged Illegal opera
tions, according to a “special report”
returned bv the vren*’ and made
public by Judge E. S. Smith of Sanga
mon county, consisted of the deposit In'
the “Grant park bank” at Grant Park,
a town of about 600 population tn
Kankakee county, a few miles from
Governor SmallV of forms of
state money aggregating $10,000,0M,
which was then loaned to Bwift and
Company, and Armour and Company,
Chicago packers on notes paying sev
en to eight T'er cent interest. Not
more than two per cent of this Inter
es was paid to Ihe state, the grand
[Continued on Page Seven.)
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