The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-15

had been corrupted. When Richard Green
" ood. the ex-treasurer, defaulted for Sl4.-
coo il was openly charged that Lavelle got
the major part of that amount, or at least
knew where the money went for no one
believed Greenwood used il. From that
time suspicion began to rest upon La
velle. He had been power In politics,
but last year was unable 10 pull
his party's candidate through. It was be-
lieyed if successful LavelIe would be- made
the deputy. and thus protract the reign OF
the Lavelle family ana its questionable
record. When the board of commissioners
ordered an investigation of the books OF
the auditor and treasurer Lavelle sent mp
a great wall. He insisted that the investi-
CATION had been ordered by the board in
special session. and that It not legal
The board accordingly waited Tor "regu'
lar' session. which the Democratic member.
amply able. Notwithstanding this. the ma
jorty ordered the books examined. and
from that time Lavellc had appeared ter
ribly i'll at ease. he declared that one Of
the experts. who is Col. :. II. Taylor, state
Bank Examiner under the Cleveland ad-
ministration. should never see his books.
but it was supposed nc meant to keep him
out by physical force, not by such u des-
perate resort as arson.
The investigation was TO have begun
within few days. but Lavelle hoped by
the fire 10 destroy all evidence. Lavelies
books, it Is now claimed, show shortage
of not less than S40.GO0. Ali agree that he
is the victim of his own folly. His can9i-
dacy for the Democratic nomination for
Auditor of state last year. it IS believed.
caused his ruin. Never IN the history OF
the State was more extravagant canvass
made by one man. Every thing was sacri-
feed for the nomination. lie was squeezed
and squeezed again by men OF Indianapolis
and other points in The State. who were
without influence, bur who made Lavelle
believe they could secure his nomination if
the money should be furnished. He is said
to have squandered oil his personal funds.
and. when they were exhausted. delved into
other moneys not his own.
DEFEAT CAUSED HIS RUIN.
His defeat caused his ruin. He became
more dissipated than ever. and the
work of last week. failure though
it was was the straw that the
drowning man grasped. Ii Is believed he
will plead guilty when the time comes and
throw himself on the mercy of the COnrt.
There Is little sympathy for hIm outside of
his home circle. HIS wife, who 10 an in
valid, is heert-brOken and Frustrated. He
has rode rough shOd over the honest public
bold was he that he offered $1,000 reward
for the conviction of the incendiaries the
day after the fire. Washington in hot
bed of indignation tonight. Hundreds of
farmers nave left their MONIES ana arc mere
expressing their feelings in vigorous tones
A riot is greatly feared. The following ap-
peal was made by the Gazette to-day:
FOR the sake of the cOunry's good name,
for the sake of the men thenlselvesand their
families. we hope they may be able to
prove themselves innocent. The situation
looks black for them, but justice demands
that they be not judged in advance of their
trial. In the name of those you
hold dear, discourage the talk OF mob
violence. Don't for moment entertain iu.
The reputation of the county has already
suffered greatly. Do not further smirch it
by talk of an appeal to lynch law. BE calm!
BE reasonable, and uphold the law at all
hazards. This is not a community of iDcen-
diaries nor Anarchists. The perpetrators of
the crime are in the hands of the officers.
Two have already pleaded guilty. The
Others, ii they are guilty, cannot escape.
Consequently. there ia TO use for incendiary
talk, no occasion for mob violence, no ex-
cuse for talk of lynch law. and he who ad-
vocates such unlawful measures writes
himself down as an enemy of good govern
ment. Maintain the law and support the
officers in their well-directed efforts to
lawfully punish the guilty. Other devel-
Opments will be made Tomorrow