The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-23
BRIBERY is CHARGED
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AT SCHOOL
BOARD INVESTIGATION
Witness Charges that a Commit ssioner
Said "There should BE some
thing in 1t for Him."

School Commissioner Leoper was the SUBJ
ject of legislative inquisition last night.
The investigating committee from the
House. composed of Representatives Moore,
Petit. Gregg and Remy. assembled at T:s0
in the Speakers chambers, and for two
hours pounded away at the absent commits
sioner's record Mr.. Leoper was not pres
ent. Commissioners Russo, Blackiedge and
Hendrickson were on hand, but were not
called to the stand During the session a
number of singular transactions were i'm
puted to Commissioner I.eoper, although
none Were absolutely verified.
Miss Emma r. Ridenour, assistant secre-
tary of the indianapolis School Board, was
the first witness called last night. At a
former session Miss Ridenour had testified
that the Indebtedness of the School Board
was 100000. At that time, however she
she did not understand that the debt
braced the temporary loan of $4,000. From
her statement last night was adduced the
following summary of the boards indebt-
edness: Regular school bonds, $24oo00, run
ming ten years; building bonds, 100000;
coupon notes for the library, $4,000, running
ten years; counon notes for the purchase of
the manual school grounds, $4,000: notes
issued for the purchase of the ricketts,
property, 100000 To these amounts should
be added temporary loan or $4,000; also,
the coupon notes for 100000 to the contrac-
tor of the School for Manual Training.
The library building bonds were issued in
July, 1889, and the general school bonds in
july 1889. Miss Ridenour was asked if the
Indebtedness of the School Board had been
accommodating since 1889. She replied that
1t had. At that time there indebt-
edness of $2I0, 600.
John Wallace the Indiana and Ohio agent
for the Otto Gas Engine Company, was
called to tell what he knew about an all
legged deal on the part of Commissioner
Leoper. in July, 1892. Mr.. Wallace is a
resident of Indianapolis. For some years
he has known Charles Rinderknecht, a deal
er in small engines, at No 30 West Georgia
street. 1t through the latter that
agent Wallace negotiated with the school
board in 1892 for the sale of an engine to
be used in the library building. The agent
was informed that he would be able to dis
pose Of an engine by calling upon Jacob
Leoper at his home. He saw the commits
soner and was instructed to visit the en-
and made a number of sketches, which
hf turned over to Mr.. Wilson, a teacher
of the outlines and with Commissioners
| Leoper called upon the agent at his office.
The visit resulted in nothing definite and
for some weeks afterward the agent heard
nothing of the contemplated purchase He
met Wilson ome Day ~ mno 59@ bs hm that
School Board. few days later the agent
| saw Rinderknecht, who gave him to under
| stand that he must pay Commissioner
| Leoper 500 if he hoped to have the, matter
brought up again. Wallace wrote to his
| firm that it would cost 500 to make sale
and was instructed to pursue the trade no
further.
| resentative Petit to testify in reference
| to the alleged transaction. Rinderknecht is
| German who speaks broken English and
| himself understood. He said he had known
| Commissioner Leoper for ten years and had
| always know him to be poor man. The
witness described the commissioner as
| man eager to accumulate wealth. Leoper
had formerly been in the patent 1tl, business,
work he had done for him. The witness
would not say that Commissioner Leoper
| had instructed him to get commission
| from the agent OF the engine, company. He
admitted. however, that in discussing the
| purchase .Leoper said there ought to be
Something in it for HIM" Rinderknecht
was asked why. he. did not go to the presi-
Leoper at the time. He admitted that
would have been the right thing but said
he ala not think of It then oa and and besides
nS Sgsrs that at Wsaes would Sn get
have half OF itg' asked Representative
mo. ! had nothing to do with it.,
wasn't you to get something out of it?"
John b. Conner, member of the School
Board in 1892 was on the stand for a half
hour. He recalled the building of school
| NO. ~, located on College, avenue, during
| that year Shortly after the work was
| started he met Commissioner Leoper and
was told by the latter that the foundations
| of the new building were wider than called
for by the specifications. The commissioner
explained to him that this divergence from
| the original plans would entail an increased
| expense. Commissioner Conner suggested
| that the contractor was under bond and if
| with the plans the board could proceed on
| his bond or compel him to change the
| work. The reply OF Commissioner Leoper
| was that such course would be njudicious.
| Afterward the witness investigated the
statements made by Leoper and found them
to be Incorrect. Mr. Conner had talked
| with Secretary Ridenour about the increased
| expense and learned that he had men,
| toned the matter to the contractor. The
| latter had simply remarked. referring to
| Commissioner Leoper: HE got hold of the
wrong man."
Mr. Conner was asked about the contract
| with the Buffalo Forge Company, which
built the heating apparatus in the Library
Building. He testified that about the time
| Leoper began to show a great deal of feel
! ing against the Buffalo Forge Company.
| The company sent one of their agents here,
man named Prather, to locate the trouble:
the witness, "a decided change of front on
the part of Mr.. Leoper. spoke to Prather
about 1T, suggesting that 1T seemed peculiar
| that the chairman of the committee, hav-
ing SO strongly opposed the plans. now rec
commended them"
What did Prather say" asked attorney
Brown. conducting the investigation for
HE suggested that something might be
shown up. when the time, came"
What did you say to that
that kind going on he ought to make a
statement His reply was: When the time
comes / will be willing to do So"
| The committee then adjourned to meet
u. Haxyt dow a