Volume 15 , Issue 30

1913 - 5 Legislators Are Sentenced

In The Tulsa Daily World, dated Tuesday, 5 August 1913, we found this front page headlines: "5 Legislators Are Sentenced." West Virginia law makers get from five to ten years in pen, convicted of bribery. The prosecution grew out of bribery charges in election of U. S. Senators by Legislature. What do they do to law makers convicted of bribery today? NOTHING!?

Webster Springs, W. VA, Aug 4 (1913) -- Five members of the West Virginia legislature, convicted of bribery in connection with the election of a United States senator several months ago, were sentenced in superior court today to terms of from five to six years in the state penitentiary. Delegates S. U. G. Rhodes, Rath Duff and H. F. Asbury received the longest terms, six years State senator B. A. Smith was sentenced to five years and six months and Delegate Davis Hill to five years. In addition the five are disqualified from holding public office.

After the sentences were imposed, an arrest of judgment and stay of execution for 90 days was allowed by the court to permit attorneys for the defendants to make applications for appeals to the state supreme court.

More than two months have been consumed in the trial of the charges, the first of their kind in West Virginia. There were seven legislators indicted, the five already tried, having been held on felony charges, and the other two, George S. Van Meter and Re. T. J. Smith on misdemeanor charges. The trial of the last two will probably be deferred until another term of court.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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