Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-30
The Indiana Frauds-WhO are the
Greatest KOgues?

The affair of the fraudulent issue of Indiana
State bonds is evidently coming to a head In
yesterday 3 issue published obscure, orucu-
ular letter from Mr.. Samuel Hallett, OF the firm
of Samuel Haett & Co , Wall street, upon the
subject; and on Thursday, as our readers will
see BY our legal reports in another column, this
Mr. Halett was indicted by the Grand Jury upon
the charge of forgery in the second degree and
gave bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars to
appear and answer the indictment. Mr.. Hallett
il will he remembered, is the Wall street broker
in whose name the fraudulent bonds were issued !;
and as Mr. ID. O. StOver, the confidential clerk
of the former State Agent of Indiana, who ssu-
ed the bonds, is also before the Grand Jury, and
will, it is presumed, turn States evidence, there
is every prospect that this mysterious business
will soon be subjected to the searching light OF a
thorough legal investigation.
The fact is now before the public that fraud
has been committed, and it is admitted that the
over issue of bonds amounts to two and half
millions of dollars swindle greater than that
OF Schuyler, and equalled in this country only
by the stupendOus operations OF Floyd and
Thompson IL is admitted. also, that the off
cials of Indiana knew of the existence of these
fraudulent bonds for long time before the mat
ter became public Mr. Hudson, the State gent
of Indiana here, is said 20 have been cognizant of
the fraud fifteen months ago. Gov. Morton of Ind.
knew Of it five or six months ago. aud came to
this city to consult with attorneys and brokers
upon the subject. Other Indiana State officials
are also implicated. since an arrangement was
made BY them with the Wall street brokers for
the conceament of the fraud and the redemption
Of the fraudulent bonds through the legitimate
State Agent in New York. Such being the facts
OF the case already developed, the question Of in
terest TO the bDndhOders may be whether or not
these fraudulent issues will be redeemed by the
State but the interesting question for the gener-
al public Is who the great rogues the officials
Of Indiana or the brokers Of Wall street?
There are two sides to- every question, and
there is a great deal to be SAID upon both sides
Of this question ofcOmparative roguery. long
established and well maintained bad reputation
would seem 10 entitle the brokers to the palm;
but then official corruption is by no means so
new a thing in this country that the officials of
Indiana may claim presumptive innocence. ii
il had not been for the roguery of the State Off
cials there would have been no fraudulent bonds;
but then, II it had not been tor the suggestions
of the Wall street brokers-who probably devised
the whole scheme and tempted unsophsticated
Slower, as Satan tempted Eve-there would have
been no roguish officials Verify. the question
becomes difficult, and needs the acumen of a
Philadelphia lawyer for its solution. The vexed
query in regard to the assault upon Billy Pater-
SON i nothing to this That both brokers
aud officials were ckeek by iowl in the
matter il is only fair to believe; for when the
officials came on here, some time ago, the brokers
entertained them with dinners. suppers, and yacht
excursions; and when the brokers found them
selves in a very tight place. the officials recipro-
Gated by hushing up the fraud from the public
IN order, as is now stated, TO secure for them
selves new war loan Of two millions of dollars