The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-16
SERVED ON PHILIP NJ. GAPEN
Taken in ChargeOn a Grand Jury Capias
by a Deputy Sheriff, He Gives Bond.
An Indictment of Grave Accusation ConfrOnts
Him for Frequently Lending His Friend,
Sullivan, Money That Belonged to the State.

Philip NJ. Gapen, treasurer of the Insane
Hospital trustees, plays clnque, and he was
engaged in that game night before last
when Deputy Sheriff Langenberg came to
arrest him on an indictment that the grand
jury had returned Friday evening. Mr..
Gapen was playing with his wife, daughter
and her husband. The coming of the dep
uty sheriff interrupted the game, and
when he had stated his business Mr..
Gapen asked if the matter could not be de-
ferred until morning. Mr.. Langenberg did
not think it could, and insisted upon full
filling his duty. At this Mr.. Gapen got
ready to go, telling the deputy that he
must impose upon his good nature by asking
him to go with him to John J. Coopers
residence, and that of Franklin Landers,
where the prisoner could no doubt procure
bond for his appearance at any time that
might be required. The deputy assented.
and in less than q half hour Mr.. Gapen was
allowed to go where he pleased. the friends
named having signed his bond for $1,000.
He returned home and resumed his play in
the fascinating game of cinque.
That was about 9 o'clock" said Mr..
Gapen to the reporter, yesterday. Il think
the arrest might have been held back until
run away"
The case involves the Meridian Bank
check, does it mott"
Yes, and the bank is the one that ought
to have been indicted. But / have had
enough of politics, and propose to retire.
Ever since have been trustee at the hos
pital abuse not only from enemies, but per-
sons who ought to be my friends has been
heaped upon me.o
You have q chance now to turn over
VOnr dutIQa To n succpsSOr
Il have favored all along letting the new
trustees elected by the General Assembly
take charge of the institution. l am
GoSr holds that Ins new trustees ns aPe n
c0nstitutionally chosen where are Wet
There are no successors to whom we can
transfer the hospital, and the Supreme Court
has decided in the case of Governor Gray
Harrison and myself that the Governor has
no power to make such appointment. We
must wait for our successors, but where are
they to come FRONT Again, until the ques-
ton as to the law is settled, neither the
State Treasurer nor Auditor will pay out
ton mpst be closed, and that
large number of insane persons.
Marion county. for instance, is allowed a
quota of about sixty-six patients in the
hospital. She has there between $50 and
10. What will the county do with them if
they are turned outf / am tired of the
whole business and want to retire. 1t was
my purpose to resign, though, under any
circumstances"
Mr.. Gapen evidenced no wish or inclina-
to talk about the indictment against him,
nor did he appear concerned, not even as to
DR.. Harrison and others being arrested.
You do not think you are left to hold the
bag" suggested the reporter.
There is no bag to hold. We are only in
the pillOry for things we could not help. The
superintendent out there has full control of
the institution. All we have to do is to
plies and pay for them. Beyond that we
can do nothing except discharge the super
intenden
The indictment against Gapen is based
upon the Meridian Bank transaction on the
Sullivan note, and sets out that Gapen. being
intrusted with money of the State, did, on
the LIST day of March, 1850, "unlawfully,
feloniously and fraudulently convert to his
own use and to the use of one John Z. Sui
Ivan, large sum of said money, to-wit:
Three thousand dollars, the property of the
State of Indiana, contrary to law, contrary
to the form of the statute in such cases
made and provided, and against the peace
and dignity of the State of Indiana" That
is the first count, and the second and last
charges that he loaned that amount of the
States money to Sullivan. The Indictment
was returned upon the testimony of Cashier
Kopp Of the Meridian National. j. s.
HAIL. steward OF the hospital, and DR.. Gal
braith. The money upon which the charge
is based is that which Gapen seeks to re-
cover from the bank, as it had set aside
1900 of the money deposited by Gapen as
treasurer of the hospital to reimburse
itself for the balance due on the loan Gapen
made to Sullivan on what he claims was
his individual check. The statute apply
ing to the Indictment makes the use of
public money as charged embezzlement,
and provides for Imprisonment of not moro
than twenty, and not less than two years,
and a fine double in value of the money so
used.
No other arrests of persons connected
with the hospital were made yesterday. 1t
was generally supposed that Gapen was not
the only one indicted, and the movements
of the deputy sheriffs were watched by the
curious all day. Last night they said that,
SO far as they knew, no other persons con-
nected with the hospital had been indicted:
Dr.. Harrison is in Michigan City, but will
return here tomorrow or Monday.