The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-04
GRAND JURY AFFAIRS
LOTTERY VENDORS AND SUBURBAN
GAMBLERS ARE NERVOUS.
Work Expected of the New Inquisf.
torial Body-Court Cases AL
lowed to Drop.

The names of the men paneled for the
new January grand jury, were freely dis
cussed yesterday. The prevailing opinion is
that several matters previously ignored by
grand juries will now receive attention.
One was heard to say:
PITY the saloon law violators, if that
jury gets in and the man to whom he
was talking replied:
Powell himself couldn't have selected a
better lot of narnes''
Prosecutor Wiltsie is absolutely dumb
when asked what matters are to be consid-
cred. He says the law wouldn't allow him
to talk If he wished to. But. not from Mr..
Wiltsie it is learned that the lottery ques-
ton is to receive attention. 1t has been
an open secret here for some time that
big business in lottery tickets is being car
ried on. Business has been particularly brisk
since gambling has been stopped Solicitors
for lotteries have been going about among
the business houses and an effort will be
made to indict the responsible agent These
solicitors instead of offering lottery tickets
under their proper name call them "ice" and
the bargain is for lice" A contract for
five pounds of ice is equivalent to s. lot
terry ticket.
Another matter which will be called to
the attention of the grand jury is the
gambling houses and dives of different
kinds outside the jurisdiction of the CITY,
In West indianapolis there are several
places running, to which the sports of this
city flock: The liquor laws are also vio-
lated in the suburbs.
One job which the grand jury is to have
on hand is the investigation of drug stores
suspected of violating the liquor laws. The
police claim they cannot reach this class
of violators so they have prepared the
names of behind-the-p erscriptfon-counter
visitors, which will be submitted to the
grand jury.
Every once in a while, the public hears of
the arrest of some person, and later hears
that the same person has been indicted by
the grand jury and then nothing more is
heard of the case. There are scores of
: such cases on the docket of the Criminal
court, some of them having been there
for two three years. There is no record
telling why these cases have never been
brought to trial, but the presumption is that
the prosecutor had some reason for not
asking it. Since Mr.. Witsie has been in
Office, he has been frequently asked
garding such cases. OF course he does not
known anything about them, they came
up while Mr.. Hoffman was prosecutor. 1t
mas been alleged that there are number
Of cases, dead as it were, because of some
influence which the accused had. There is
one incident recalled where a well-known
attorney was arrested and indicted for
outrage upon young girl, but he has never
been tried. A son of a well-knoWn family
was also indicted for heinous crime, but
he has never been tried, although the crime
IS alleged to have happened nearly two
years ago. The young man, as well as the
attorney, are out on bond at present The
number of similar cases could be multiplied
Prosecutor Wiltsie has decided to give them
Criminal Court is so bnrdened that ne ne saws
he does not see how it would be possible
for any man to attend to all the cases that
Yesterday he said: 81 believe my pre-
decessors were honest men and I now for
the first time appreciate the position in
which they were placed. The Criminal
Court is overworked and the reports that
have ever criticised unfavorably my pre-
decessor, are false / believe he did every
thing he possibly could to clear up the
docket OF course there was a time just
oe be a be one in th gang
way. Stories have been brought to me
since / came into Office about cases that
aim to attend to as many cases as posi-
BILE, and hope to be able to call up num-.
Der of old cases for disposition, cases which
Mr.. Hoffman was unable to have attended
to-
Judge McCray. of the Criminal Court has
iuring the last few days for stat STATEMENTS
which he is alleged to have made regarding
the possible work to be considered by the
judge, he should have said nothing which
would lead anyone to surmise the matters
for consideration. Judge McCray states that
he has been somewhat misquoted. All the
talking which he has done was regarding
matters well known to the public and that
he has been careful not to say anything
which would interfere with the work of the
jurors
Some time ago, after d. NJ. Bradbury
made his startling charges without offering
any evidence, that the Board of Works and
city officials were corrupt, it stated
that Mr.. Bradbury would be taken to task
in legal way for his indiscreet remarks
before the Council investigating committee.
Bradbury showed considerable spleen, but
was wholly unable to cite anything to prove
what he said. There is some talk of men,
bers of the Board of Works or other city
officials appearing before the grand jury and
giving evidence. The grand jury will have
\ many important matters before it and the
character of men who compose the body,
leads city officials to believe that Bradbury's
recent talk will be considered.
The case of perjury which the investigat-
ing committee of the Council believes will
lie against one or more of the witnesses
before it, will also be investigated by the
grand jury in all probability