The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-18
LEDGERWOOD'S CRIME
RECoUNTED BY CITIZEN OF WASH
INGToy COUNTY.
Charlie. G. Sefrif, n Newspaper Man,
Tells the story OF Democratic
Corruption Which Led to 1t.

THE act of Governor Matthews by which
Basil Ledgerwood, convict in the State
Prison South, is granted a parole that is
practically a pardon recalls one of the most
sensational and in many ways remarkable
of the crimes recorded in the history of
Indiana politics." said Mr.. Charles G.
Sefrit. of the Washington Gazette, last
night. Ledgerwood and a man by the
name of Sam Hardin set fire to the records
In the office OF the auditor AMI recorder
of Daviess county on the night of the 7th
of October. 1891 This incendiary act was
the elimination of a long period of DEM
ocratic corruption in Daviess county, dur
ing which time the local Democratic ring
squandered the money in the county treas
ury in an effort, for many years successful,
to continue the affairs of the county under
Democratic control. The central figure
around which revoived this coterie of cor
ruptionists was James C. Lavelle, who was
deputy auditor of the county for eight years
under his brother. Thomas ]. Lavelle, and
auditor for the eight years sue
ceeding his brothers term. Thus for six
teen years the Office was in the hands OF
two men, as Thomas j. was James C.'s
deputy after his own term had expired.
James c. Layelle had been educated for
physician, and practiced several years,
but drifted into local politics. He was
strong and popular man, and had many
friends. for his money went like water on
his electioneering tours, but he was totally
devoid of political or personal principle. In
1876 Daviess county was Democratic by
vote of $50. To-day the county is Repub-
lican by at least that plurality. This rad
ical change in the situation was largely
brought about account of the misdoings
0f
against the county treasury.
With the money in the treasury at their
command, and they freely used 1t, 1t was
an almost Eaver-ending job to get the DEM
ocratic ring out Of power although the be-
lief was general that there was crooked
ness in the auditors Office Finally. how
ever, finding no relief in their own party,
many of the best Democrats of the county
Joined the Republicans in the effort to wipe
they are still voting with US, In 1890 the
Republicans elected the auditor and the
did not expire until the last of the following
year. but an investigation of his office was
When Lavelle saw that the jig was up he
enlisted in his service man by the name
of Burr HAYES. bad and dangerous per-
son, who would stop at nothing. Halves
was one of the worst characters in south
ern Indiana. For years he had been living
beneath the shadow of the prediction that
mented with the stripes Of the State prison.
Lavelle explained the situation and an
save him was the destroying of the records.
Halves agreed to get the men. and picked
had borne a good reputation and came OF
good family, but he had worked for Halves,
and was under his influence. Halves and
Lavelle filled up the men with liquor, Of
fered them $500 each to set fire to the court
house. and the dupes accepted the offer,
DONE JVr
''one. night they carried nine or ten gall
Ions OF coal Oil to the courthouse, poured
the stuff the hooks
and auditors Office, and touched match
In several places. Fortunately for the titles
were close and the fire could not get suffi-
cient air to burn briskly, and the alarm was
to Iaxs the In ban for Most c ss
were saved in a badly damaged condition.
1T was plain that the fire was of in
Lavelle at once. The jugs which had con-
tanned the oil were found in a vault. and
little IT n. shrewd detective S work traced them
the fire the two fire-bugs We're arrested,
and they confessed the crime An hour or
Lavelle and Halves.
Then began one of the hardest fights
known to the criminal Jurisprudence of In
diana. The guilt of the accused county
easy undertaking. Lavelle had. strong
The case was taken to Pike county, and the
trial lasted nearly month. The jury,
after being out forty-eight hours, found
Lavelle guilty, and, on a compromise YER
dict, gave him eight years in prison. At
this trial Hardin went back on his confess
sion, but Ledgerwood remained true to his
promise to the State and made a clean
breast of the entire affair
q year later Halves was tried. and the
Hawes's trial Hardin joined Ledgerwood
in the confession. Hardin and Ledgerwood
were sentenced to seventeen years each
plea Of guilty before the trial of Lavelle.
Hardin, Halves and Lavelle are still In
prison.
.'The crime cost Dayiess county an inn
mense amount of money, as the costs OF
the trials and the expense of replacing the
burned records amounted to more than $780,
600. Laveles actual shortage, so far as
II was ascertained, amounted to less than
$4,000. This stealing was done in the dis
honest manipulation Of the common school
funds, liquor licenses and unlawful salary
unearthed. For years Lavelle had been
the autocrat of the courthouse. and his
word there was law. 1t is more than prob
able that thousands of dollars were stolen
that could not be traced by the experts, as
the populations Of the dishonest official cx-
tended over such long period.
The action OF the Governor in pardon
ing Ledgerwood will meet with the APP
provals of all the best people of Daviess
county, regardless of partisan belief. He
kept faith with the State, and did all in
his power to lessen the effect Of his crime
when the fumes of Lavelle's whisky had
left his brain in its normal condition. 1t is
not h. been punished had II not been for
the stand Ledgerwood took and
ma I'd after he had made a confess
sio his connection with the crime OF
the courthouse"