WHISKY PLOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 15 May 1924, Page 4

WHISKY PLOT.

CONGRESSMAN CONVICTED. SENTENCE SUSPENDED PENDING APPEAL. By Telegraph—Pr6s* Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, May 13. A telegram from Covington, Kentucky, says that a Federal Court jury found Congressman Lenglev, of Kentucky, guilty of conspiring in 1921 to illegally transport and sell whisky.. The jury convicted only one of five co-defendants. The maximum sentence is two years’ .imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 dollars, but the Court intimated that the fine would be omitted. The charges arose from the Veterans’ Bureau scandal, when the ex-director, Colonel Forbes, and the builders of certain hospitals, were indicted for bribery and fraud. Defendants were charged with conspiring to remove 1400 cases of whisky, Lenglev being specifically accused of using his influence to have the State prohibition authorities issue permits allowing the whisky to be transported by truck, contrary to law. The trial had reached a virtual impasse until two of the co-defendants suddenly changed their pleas to guilty, and the Government then placed them on the witness stand. The men confessed that they had been members of Lengley’s so-called whisky ring and implicated Lengiey in illegal operations, alleging that he had received huge sums for his influence in obtaining permits. They added that the accused received the money, supposedly as loans, which he need not repay if he succeeded in obtaining the particular permits. Lengiey received the verdict calmly

his wife standing composedly behind him. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in a Federal penitentiary. Three co-defendants were similarly sentenced, while the remaining two will face another trial in the autumn. The Court refused a motion, for the re-trial of Lengiey, whereupon the latter’s counsel filed notice of appeal and deposited as security a 5000 dollar bond on which Langley was released. Last March a Federal Grand Jury indicted Congressman Lengiey on two counts of conspiring to defraud the Government and violate the National Prohibition Act. During investigations of the Veterans’ Bureau scandals in Chicago a jury reported that it had obtained evidence against two members of Congress, and an investigation was ordered by the Washington atsthorities.