Newport Daily Independent

CHAPLINE'S LAST CHANCE GONE.

Supreme Court Denies Motion for Rehearing, and He Must Pay Amount of Fine and Costs.

Little Rock, April 24—The Supreme court yesterday denied the motion for a rehearing in the case of Representative George F. Chapline of Monroe county, who was convicted in the Pulaski Circuit court on a charge of conspiracy to bribe and fined $25 and costs.

This action of the supreme court removed the last chance of securing a reversal of the verdict of the lower court and there is now nothing for Chapline to do but pay the amount of the fine and costs. His attorneys stated yesterday that nothing more could be done and that the case was at an end.

There are no federal questions involved which would permit an appeal to the United States Supreme court, even if such a course were deemed desirable.

While the fine assessed against Chapline in the circuit court was a nominal one, the costs in the case have been large and the full amount which he will be required to pay will probably be more than $1,000. The costs in the circuit court, before an appeal was taken, amounted to about $900.

The offense of which he was convicted being a misdemeanor, Chapline is not disfranchised and still has the right to vote and hold office.

Some question has been raised as to whether he still retains his seat in the legislature and would be entitled to sit in that body if a special session should be called before the next election, but there is little chance that there will be any necessity for a decision on that point.

Chapline was among the first members of the legislature to be indicted when the boodle investigation was instituted by the Pulaski Grand Jury last spring. He was given an early trial, his case being taken up before Judge Winfield early in July, a few days after the close of the trial of Senator A. W. Covington. Chapline was charged with conspiring with others to raise a fund to be used in securing the passage of the Cache river levee bill. He was convicted on July 14 and immediately filed a motion for a new trial. The motion was overruled and an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court. The case was reached by the Supreme Court several months ago and the action of the lower court was sustained. Chapline's attorneys then filed a motion for a rehearing and this was argued orally two weeks ago.