The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-28
THE RICKETTS, DEAL
COMMISSIONERS MARTINDALE AND
ADAM RECOUNT 1T.
Admit the Property was Not Worth
100000 for Speculative Purposes
Work Nearly Complete.

Charles Martindale, president or the IN
dianapols School Board, was before the
House investigating committee last night.
His prototype sat fifteen feet away, watched
the examination closely and smiled his ap-
proval. Mr.. Frenzel came late. and not
until telephone message informed him that
he was wanted. Chairman Moore asked for
Mr.. Frenzel before the investigation opened.
He was not present, and the chairman was
annoyed. When he excused Mr.. Frenzel
Tuesday night he had expressly understood
that he was to be hand last night. Why
the witness was not there ready to be ex-
amined Mr.. Moore could not understand.
The ex-president came in about o'clock.
He wore a bright flower his coat, and
neglected to throw away his cigar. He
waited until a quarter to 10 o'clock, and
was then told that the committee could
not use him until later. Two other wit
nesses were examined besides Mr.. Martin
dale. They were Commissioner Adam and
Thomas Moore. Mr.. Remy, of the commit
tee, suggested that the investigation was de-
veloping lot of tedious details that might
be left out. He did not think a witness
should be scrutinized like a prisoner before
a jury. Attorney Brown flared up bit at
this and said he proposed to examine the
witnesses according to the legal code. He
had understood that this to be the
style of the investigation. and unless the
committee instructed him otherwise he
would continue in that line.
Charles H. Adam, treasurer OF the
School Board was the first witness called.
He told the committee that he had lived in
indianapolis for twenty-eight years and
had known John Frenzel all his life. His
father, he said, now employed at the
Frenzel bank. Witness went to school with
John Frenzel and was one of his intimate
friends. He consulted Mr.. Frenzel before
he became candidate for school commits
sioner Mr.. Frenzel told him it would do
h.m mo harm to rum" Witness was
elected treasurer and Frenzel was made
president of the board at the first meet
ing of the new organic. alton. Mr. Adam
succeeded Edward Williams of the Stand
ard Oil Company. He found the school fund
on deposit at the Indianapolis National
Bank, but removed the money to Fletcher's
Bank where it was kept from July 2S 1892
until July %, 1894. Frenzel was not presi-
cent of the board when the funds were
withdrawn from Fletcher's Bank.
AT whose suggestion did you take the
money to Mr.. Frenzers bank?' asked at
torney Brown.
No one returned the witness. MIR.
Frenzel did not suggest it, but on the con-
trary refused the money while president
of the School Board" The witness said
Otto FrenzeI assisted him in securing a
bond. The latter was cashier of the Mer-
chants National Bank
Did you give those men anything Tor
Not cent
After Mr.. Frenzel was no longer a MEM
Der of the board what did you do with the
Il took it to the Merchants National
Bank Mr.. F'renzel said could either leave
him i'm me 1'e''nsf 0anA OF Df'ns :" 70
It. IT has been there ever since has it?''
DO you get any INTEREST,""
mo, sir, l do not
DO you ask any INTEREST,""
II addressed letters to four banks in this
city asking if they would pay interest on
the money and furnish me a bond l re-
choosing a place of deposit All refused to
give bond except Mr.. Malott, and his reply
as asa had tSs bs uo hs
not and could not furnish bond
Did you make a pledge as candidate
est?'' - '- = 800 : -''e
Yes. Mr.. Russo and myself signed card
to that effect"
AT whose suggestion did you address
these letters to the banks?"
81 advised with my friend. Mr.. Frenz. L
my bond would have cost me $4,000 year.
The. money would not have brought that
..Who is on your bond now?"
MIR. Fitzgerald and Mr.. Cornelius
rs Mr.. Cornelius a stakeholder in the,
Merchants National?
81 don't know, sir
did not Mr.. Frenzel dictate those let
ters to the banks?
Now, Mr.. Adam, isn't it fact that you
and Mr. Frenzel worked the scheme to
mo, sir, did not
The witness drew a card from his pocket
which he had signed while candidate stat,
money. He said Jacob Dunn prepared the
card; He said he signed the card to show
people that he did not propose to be con-
troled by John p. Frenzel.
Attorney Brown, continuing: Now, do
you say to this committee that you made
an honest effort to get interest on that
money!?
II do yes, SIR
Then why did you write those letters at
Mr.. FrenzeIs dictation instead of going to
the banks yourself?" There was no reply
to this question.
school fund was about $31 600 at the Frenzel
bank. He first heard of the Ricketts, prop
erty deal from President Martindale This
was about two weeks before the special
meeting called to consider the contemplated
purchase. Mr. Martindale told the. witness
that the property could be bought for about
$4,000. Professor Jones, Mr.. Adam said
had suggested that the property adjacent
for the use of the school Witness denied
that the removal of the German annex
e croWded Condition Of the building .he
ney Brown asked the witness If he remem-
bered the board having called in Professor
Jones to get his ideas on the question
of enlarging the school.
No" he replied, II don't remember that
the board ever advised with Professor
JONES'
did you believe it cheaper to buy the
property and consolidate than TO bui,d
somewhere else?'
/ did, certainly"
Did you take into consideration the fact
that children would have to go four miles
to school?'
Eyes. 1 considered that the advantages
We're worth walking for You couldn't put
a high school within three squares of
every citizen in Indianapolis
do you think poor people could afford
to pay fare for the children in order
to send them to high SCHOOL,"
well, they can walk if they are not able
to pay car fare walked further than that
to get education"
Mr.. Adam, who did you talk with about
the Ricketts, property besides Mr.. Martin
dale?'
"Mr. James Cruise. "a real-estate agent,
II believe he Is of the three who
said the property was worth 500 ,00a wasn't
he?''
mr.. Cruise is personal friend Of mine,
and i
| .aOh, answer my question, will your
Eyes, Mr.. Cruise said he had appraised
the property at $50 O0G. l had not seen Mr.
Frenzel before the matter came UP before
the board
How did you figure that property at
500 600. Mr.. ADAM