The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, June 17, 1934, Page 1

A Convicted of Felony former secretary of the state e! Pi ree ey ey See Nae Se hie shee oe ee BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1934 Four Co - Defendants Also Are Held Guilty By Federal Jurors Verdict Is Returned by Jury Early Sunday Morning After 60 Hours of Deliberation; Reached Decision in Sensational Case at 11:25 P. M., Saturday conscience and to the law.” Governor William Langer and his four co-defendants were, The judge continued: “Your verdict in this particular convicted at 12:26 a. m. Sunday of conspiracy to obstruct the| case is not so important as the knowledge and approval by the operation of an act of congress. whole people that your verdict is the result of honest conviction The maximum sentence for the crime under the federal] without fear or favor, and in this court it’s unimportant as to|°Dst=s law is $10,000 fine and two years’ imprisonment or both such| who the defendants are, whether mean and lowly or most pow- fine and imprisonment. erful or high. Here justice can be done to every litigant.” The jury announced at 11:25 p. m. Saturday that it was ready to report after 60 hours of deliberation and the interven-| gtate and nation—I believe you will get it. I wish you well.” ing time was spent in rounding up the defendants and their at, Langer obviously expected a verdict adverse to him. He torneys that they might be present in court when the verdict paced about the nearly empty ‘courtroom during {he halt hour was ann ‘ “ or more while the jury p come in vel . A motion for a new trial was filed immediately and Fed-|He talked nervously ge eters and friends. He eral Judge Andrew Miller announced that hearing on it would slapped the backs of his fellow defendants. His ever- t be held at 10 a. m. Monday. : cigar was missing for the time, but reappeared before the ver- Those convicted with Langer were Frank Vogel, chief of/ dict was brought in. There was a definite pallor on his face. the state highway department; Oscar Chaput, business man-| None of his family was present. ager of “The ler”, administration newspaper ; R. A. Kinzer, Chaput A! Retained His Calm y relief administration,|.- Vogel sat still, leaning back in his chair and picking at his fingers. McDonald locked his hands tightly together in his ents Jurors on Decision lap, his eyes downcast. Chaput seemed the most unaffected of Judge Andrew complimented the jurors on theirlail tive. He sat calmly at his end of the table. Kinzer remained careful appraisal of the evidence and paid compliments to both) somewhat alone, sitting far to the rear of the other four. prosecution and defense counsel for their conduct of the case. Thorp paced about the room, his hair disheveled, while The court told the jury that “this has been-a difficult case|ginkler sat immobile, his hands tightly clasped over his eyes. for you as well as the court.” He expressed appreciation to the| Lanier, plainly satisfied, sat at the end of the table from which jury for the with which it had carefully considered! he has led the attack for the last three weeks. His assistant, the case. He ted out to them that they had had before! tonald Murtha, sat near him. them the case for three weeks, and had had to peruse more} ‘The word that the “Langer jury has reached a verdict” than 200 exhibits introduced in the case. flew about the city as if by magic. The empty corridors of the , Jt is meet and right that you should consider the evidence} federal building suddenly thronged with curious spectators, well,” the judge said. “I’m glad you took the time to consider 5 hi wy i Sir Te in thio moot lnbertaat eaae'a,Nlorth De- pees | to hear what the fate of the state’s highest executive kota jury has ever sat upon.” First to arrive was a group of taxi-drivers, who by the Immediately after the jury had passed from the room and “grapevine” were first to hear of the report. They left their the court had left the bench, Governor Langer state |cabs bunched near the curbing, at the entrance to the building, ment, in which he asserted that it “has been the practice hurrying up the stairs, forgetting possible fares. state and federal government to have rag fa of their] Within the of the courtroom, a group of the gover- eerarion pe psngs to ak senieersien, Pedy oP yates nor’s friends sathered, anxious to wish him well Atter the other than state employes who believe in the principles of arses : ee ae Her geowaed around im, shaking governor re- administration, that was then in power. sponded with hearty smiles and a strong handclas; “The solicitation of any of those employes of the state ith by ine cd P congue tes te ae in ee Midnight Silence at Federal Building ents J on Work Se "|Seddenly Broken AsBig News Spreads opening charge—you should accept the law without question and I should accept this verdict ou in the same manner, Governor William Langer thank you for the consideration you have! hover tobe 0 Te man 3 “You have earned the confidence and respect of the whole| grand Fa P.-W. LANIER Leading the fight to convict Gover- nor William Langer and his four co- defendants on charges of conspiracy to obstruct the operation of an act of was P. W. Lanier, Fargo, U. 8. district attorney. Lanier directed the investigation into Langer’s illegal activities, presented the case to the jury which indicted him, and also to the jury which convicted him after a trial lasting nearly four weeks. Lanier Gratified | | At Jury’s Action | OO Following the verdict, District Attorney P. W. Lanier, in a state- ment to the Associated Press “The result of this trial is grat- ifying particularly because of the fact that we have gone against opposition assisted to the fullest extent by political power, finan- cial aid and prestige. “This verdict will have a whole- some effect on the entire nation and the whole country will recog- nize that the United States court ving propel of the laws of the United States. “State courts throughout the land have, in many instances, been brought into servility to powerful state political machines, to such an extent as to cause them to have lost the respect of the citizenry. “The verdict in this case, with- out doubt, has strengthened not only the arm of the federal gov- ernment but will, without doubt, re-establish and st: the confidence of the state courts in themselves and in their func- tions.” Jurors Retire to Well-Earned Rest Ri cps PRICE FIVE Next Governor OLE OLSON Indications are that Lieut. Gov. O H. Olson, New Rockford, will suc- ceed to the governor's office as the result of the conviction of Gavernor * William Langer in federal court early Sunday. OLE OLSON T0 BE NEXT 10 SIT IN GOVERNOR'S CHAIR Lieutenant Governor Will Take Office as Langer Is Disqualified Ole Olson, New Rockford farmer, will be the Neg governor of North Dakota in the of competeng Bismarck lawyers. hi He may accede to the post now held by Governor William Langer in one. ‘ of two methods. . The first would be upon the resig- nation of the governor, in line with precedent established in similar cases in other states. The second would be by challeng- ing the governor's right to continue in office in the event he attempts to continue as the state's chief execu- tive. In the latter event, the case Probably would be filed in the state supreme court, A third possibility would be Ee arene ee eee nouncing sent and his fellow a impose sent Local lay matter,