The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-30
A CONSPIRACY UNEARTHED
Superintendent Bloss Makes an I'm
portant Discovery.
The Plan by Which Certain County Super
intendents EDdeavOred to Turn
a Dishonest Penny.

Shoals, Martin county, where he has been prose-
cutting the case against Ze0a F. Williams, the
county superintendent charged with selling
teachers examination questions. The trial
lasted three days, resulting in IA verdict being re-
turned Saturday evening finding Williams guilty
of the charge, and under the provisions of the
law Tor conviction of corruption in office, he is
deposed as the superintendent of Martin county.
Considered in its relations to the educational in
terests of the State, the case is one Of
vital Importance. Had Williams succeeded
in extending his operations throughout the State
he would have been the means of putting in
competent teachers in the schools, and the
educational interests OF Indiana would have
been affected far more seriously than can be
estimated. Aside from the lack of essential
qualifications, the dishonesty which would have
placed such persons in the charge of the schools
would render them morally unfit to hold the
positions, and, considered in all its relations, the
matter is a very grave one. Prof. Bloss fully
realized the nature of the evil, and has been in
defatigable In prosecuting the case.
DISHONEST PRACTICES.
The testimony elected in the trial showed that
the first evidences OF teachers getting posses
sion of the examination questions
in advance were found in Hamilton
and Madison counties. The superintendents re-
ported the matter to Professor Bloss, who at
once undertook the work of ferreting ont
the source from which the questions came.
John IL. Nichols, a young man who has divided
his time between studying law in the office of
Senator Graham at NOblesville and teaching
school, was detected In trying 10 sell the ques-
tons, and upon being accused of il by Professor
A. II. Morse, superintendent of Hamilton
county, he admitted his completely in the matter.
Investigations showad that his operations had
extended into the adjoining county of Madison,
where he had tried 10 sell copies of the questions
to a club of teachers, charging each SIC. After
this rather alarming discovery, Professor Bloss
became all the more assiduOus in his investiga-
tons and assumed the task Of a detective. In
sending out the June questions, he marked
the copies sent to each county by the stamp of
the Stale Board seal, retaining a duplicate Of
each set, and then waited for developments. In
the meantime negotiations were opened by
Nichols with a young teacher in Madison
county, named Smeltzer, offering to sell him the
Slneltzer, however, had conscientious scruples
about the matter, and at once reported the Cir
cumstances to superintendent CrOne, OF Madison
county. There WAS no longer any doubt as to
Nichols being an accomplice OF some superin-
tendent.
TRAP SET.
inquiry developed that he was a brOther-in-
law to Williams, the superintendent Of Martin
county, who had been suspected OF corrupt
handling of the questions, and IA trap was set for
him. The questions sent TO Williams for June
were marked in various places with red ink, and
obhtAtGb was AhCtL W PuHfA ~
Crone to accept the proposition received from
Nichols. Instead of the latter replying, how
ever, a letter was received from Benson and
Howe, two Hamilton county teachers, stating
that Nichols could no longer get the questions,
but that they would furnish them II he would
meet them at the Arcade clothing store IN Ipdian-
apolis on June %. The proposition was agreed to,
but Smeltzer being a rather tiInld Young man,
Il teacher named A. J. Beginner, was seut in his
place, and took with him a letter of introduce
ton from Smeitzer, stating that Behymer could
be trusted, and that anything he might do
wonld he satisfactory. AT that time the State
convention of county superintendent was In
session, ana Williams, of Martin county, was
here. He was very solicitous about securing his
examination questions for the month as soon as
possible, and they were furnished him the day
before the meeting, which had been arranged
for between Behymer and Woods.
Professor Bloss had deposited 1878 in
the Bank OF mmer TO the
credit of BehymeT, which was the
amount agreed upon as the price OF two sets of
questions, and a certificate of deposit was fur
nished him, nor, however, without inst ucting
the bank officials in regard to its pdrpose.
Behymer met Woods at the place designated on
the day appointed, #nd the two sets of questions
were brought, but Woods afterward became sus-
picious and insisted on Behymer accompanying
him to the bank. By u ruse, however, Behymer
sncceeded In getting away from Woods at the
Grand Hotel. and ran to Professor Bloss with the
questions, which, 1t was found upon examina-
ton, belonged to the set that had been given
Williams the day before. The foregoing is an
outline OF the testimony elected in the trial. and
npon which Williams was convicted. Professor
Boss was aided In working up The
liam n. Crone, of Madison county, and two or
three intimate friends. In working up the case
he has been compelled to bear all the expenses,
amounting to several hundred dollars.
A CONSPIRACY BETWEEN sUPERINTENDENTs,
Williams is not the only county superintendent
who has been gully of selling examination ques-
tious. At a secret meeting of Professor Bloss
| and a friend with Benson in NOblesville, the latter
confessed that there was a conspiracy among
county superintendents and teachers
to sell the questions regularly through
out the State. According to the
scheme proposed there We're several OF the
leaders who were to take railroad routes of about
300 miles, and as soon as the questions were
obtained from the county superintendent they
would distribute them along the line TO confed-
crates. who were to meet them at the stations.
The scheme was well planned, and doubtless
would have been pnt in operation had not Will
| liams been detected just about the time it was
tnatured. Benson. who was a teacher of more
than ordinary Shire wdness, was a trusted confed-
crate, and fully understood all the plans. In
| giving his statement to Prof. Bloss, he said: 81
while the others are unknown, Will
liams is not the only county
superintendent Implicated. There are three
one in northern Indiana and two in southern
Indiana" He refused TO give any names in his
statement and said nothing which had personal
reference TO any one besides Williams. In con-
tinuing his story, he drew from his pocket a
large roll of bills, and stated that he had re-
ceived the money from those implicated in the
scheme with him, IN order to get them out OF the
State. 81 am watched continually" he said,
"and / may as well leave the State to save my
friends. | can live as well elsewhere, ana | feel
that 1t Is no longer safe for me TO
remain here" Upon being pressed
for further information regarding the
scheme, he said to the gentleman acconpa-
pying Professor Bloss, 81 will reveal everything
in connection with the matter for $780, and
upon being told that no one had any none y to
give him for IA cunfeSslOn, lie added. SIT makes
little difference with me. am not anx.ous 10
have you accept my proposition, but | could not
afford to tell all for less. There is no longer
room in this State Tor me. and these men offer TO
pay me to leave. They are no longer my friends,
but / cannot afford to turn against them IN my
present condition without some enumeration
A day or two afterward Benson, left for Texas
and ls now living there.