The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-30
WARRANT FOR PERJURY
OUTCOME OF AN AFFIDAVIT PUB
LIsHED, IN THE SENTINEL.
Alleged Coercion at EIwOod shown to
Be Utterly without FoundatiOn-An
Accused Foreman Acts Promptly.

Yesterday morning the Sentinel printed In
it's editorial columns an aftldavit pro-
cured in Elwood by which it was at
tempted to prove that employees are being
discharged for antagonism to Mckinley and
the Republican doctrine AS a result of
this affidavit a warrant has been issued for
Charles Eles arrest for perjury. The affi-
davit pretends to state facts which were
exploded in Elwood a week ago. Ele was
discharged from the employment of the
American Tin Plate Company for just
cause and he was induced by politicians to
circulate the report that he was discharged
for marching in a Popocratic parade. This
caused an investigation to be made by the
Elwood Leader and when the truth became
known the man was looked upon as the
rankest kind of a liar, for it was shown
that his statement was absolutely false
Notwithstanding this condition of affairs,
the Sentinel has procured the following
affidavit from this man which 1T printed,
with all it's typographical and other errors,
conspicuously displayed on the editorial
page:
State of Indiana, Madison county, S.:
Charles Ele, first being duly sworn. says
upon oath: That he was employee of
the American Tin Plate Company of Ell
wood Ind. That on Saturday night Oct.
II, 1896, he requested to return to the
factory after work. and was REQUIRED by
works, to march in the torchlight process
sion of the Republican rally held in Ell
wood on that night; that was given 70
understand that it was necessary to march
in the procession or l would lose my JOB.
1 marched in the procession and carried a.
torch and was counted as one OF the Soid
bugs that occasion.
On Monday night Oct. 10 1896, 1 marched
in the Democratic silver torehlight process
sion in Elwood, Ind, and was spied upon
and reported to O'Brien, the boss of
my working gang, by one Charley Welis,
sion Mr. OBrien, the boss, hereinbefore
referred to, on the 23d day of October, 1895,
came to my Of ana t iook
where he confronted me with Charles
Wells, who was asked by Mr.. o Brien, the
boss if 1 the man who marched in
the Democratic parade, and upon being
informed by Charley Wells that l was the
the facta t1 had no
use for me and that | was therefore dis
charged from the factory and | was I'm I'm
e off and 9ischa oed ana st cHARkEs ELE
Subscribed and sworn to before me TINS
-00 u'S u HERMAN F.. wILKIE.
Justice of Peace.
w. B. Leeds, president OF the American
Tin Plate Company, who lives in this city,
was asked last night if he knew anything
about the case, and he said
Yves. A full investigation was made as
soon as Ele circulated the report that he
had lost his position for marching in a
ira M Parade The n Issbo Who was
secretary of the company; d. G.. Reid;
treasurer CT the company, and myself, and
the result of the investigation was pub
lished in the Elwood papers. 1t was learned
that Ele who was employed in the grease
ROOM had got into an alteration with
fellow employe and had drawn a knife on
him and threatened him injury. The fell
low employee called in the foreman. John
O Brien. and the latter attempted to pacify
File and smooth the affair over without
having any trouble. Ele became very In
suting to the foreman and repeated the
threats against his fellow employe and also
made threats against the foreman. OBrien
then discharged Ele
Ele was discharged for political reasons is
in the fact that O. Brien is Democrat and
always has BEEN, Ele was discharged with
out the knowledge of anybody higher. in
authority than the foreman and the fact
that O'Brien Is q Democrat makes 1t alb
any political reason.
I'VE have about twelve hundred men en-
ployed and. after the report was circulated
marching in a Democratic parade.
thought it might be well to thoroughly in
suit I have stated. Mr.. Reid and myself
went among the employees and tried to as
certain by talking with them If they had
garding their conduct as to taking part. in
political matters or in voting. We failed
to find a man who had any complaint to
it is very carefully hidden and 1 cannot
imagine how it could be accomplished with
out the officers of the company or the fore
men of the departments knowing 1t.
Foreman OBrien took the matter as the
work of politicians when the report was
first circulated In Elwood and, though in
justice to himself he FASTENED to deny the
report, he did not let it worry him any.
Since Ele has made affidavit pub
lished in the Sentinel, however he has be-
come very indignant over it and may prose-
cute Ele for perjury He is a Democrat
himself and went to a Democratic lawyer
about the conduct of Ele. The lawyer adj
vised him not to prosecute Ele, saying that
many things are done in the heat of q
campaign which are overlooked on account
of the circumstance of the campaign. / do
not know what O'Brien intends to do. In
Elwood the true history of the case is
known by the people and the affidavit will
have no effect there. 1t not made for
Elwood. but for circulation in the Sentinel
where 1t will reach many people who may
never learn the other side of the case"
A special dispatch to the Journal from
Elwood last night states that warrant
has been issued for Eles arrest.