The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-12
GRAND JURY HAD NO TINE.
Continues the McCray Investigation
TIL Next Session.

The grand jury yesterday made it's final
report for the March term. Twenty more
indictments were returned, making total
of thirty-two for the term. In addition
to the statement of the indictments, the re-
port says:
The grand jury further reports that the
Instructions given to investigate the pub
lie allegations concerning attempts to cor
rupt the judge of the Criminal Court of
this county come to them too late; that
we have not had sufficient time to make
such investigation at this session as the
Importance of the case requires, and
have continued the same until next month";"
Many people have gained false impress
sion of the facts in regard TO the grand
jury and the Criminal Court Many think
that If the grand jury does not return an
Indictment against Judge McCray IT will
exonerate him of the many charges of ir-
Irregularities in his court. Such is not the
case, from the fact that there has never
been thought of returning an Indictment
against Judge McCray. He has never been
charged with any indictable offense. The
Irregularities mentioned are not things
for which he can be indicted.
In the first place there was a general
clamor that the grand jury investigate the
statement attributed to Judge McCray that
he had been offered money and political
preferment if he would render certain de-
cisions. The grand jury took up this matter
and was investigating 1t. Then Judge Nc
Cray made an effort to have certain court
reporters indicted for criminal libel. The
first investigation would not have brought
out any testimony on the charge of ir-
regularities. but the effort to have the re-
porterS indicted necessarily must bring into
consideration the various things that have
been written about the court. IL they are
found TO be true there can be no lndict-
ments for criminal libel. As the matter
now stands, If the grand jury. i'm it's final
report on the investigation for criminal Ii
bel. fails to return indictments against the
reporters. the report will by it's negative
effect, proclaim the truthfulness of the
charges made in the newspa pers. for il will
virtually say that the charges true and
therefore not libelous. In any event there
can be no action of the grand jury against
Judge McCray more than the Jurors might
take upon themselves in reporting on any
of the county institutions where they be-
lieve there are evils to be corrected. 1t
might censure the judge. but IL could not
indict him on anything that has been made
public.
The grand jury. at its March session.
discharged three prisoners on account of
ined ISL witnesses. The indictments re-
turned yesterday on which arrests have al
ready been made are follows.
Harry Hicks Feb. l.. larceny of an over
coat valued at So from the When store
Mollie Smith and Marion Davidson
March !, larceny of se2 from John Carroll
John Richardson March 3, attempted rape
on Blanche Zallezzi.
Carl Harvey and Edward Phillips. Jan
% assault with intent to rob Job Eldrdge
Otto Farmer and Charles Hicks. March l.
burglary of the shop of Albert Cingler
and Jacob Gethel.
William ID. OchiltTee,. Jan. 4. embeZZle-
ment of sll5 from William ID. Huffman.
Hugh Campbell. Jan. H. embezziement of
$50 from Bee Hive Savings and Loan As
! ISOLATION.
| Mabel Scott. March $. larceny of s170 from
| Robert Mettler
Harvey Scott, March S. receiving stolen
| goods
Carl Harvey and Edward Phillips Jan.
| %. accessory after the fact TO the murder
| OF Frank Redmond
Fred Murdoch and Elijah Powell, charged
/ with grand larceny, were ordered released
on account of lack of evidence.
| VIM. ID. Ochiltree. who lives on Jefferson
| avenue, near Clifford avenue, was indicted
| for embezzng s1l5 from VIM. ID. Huffman.
| Huffman and il Is charged that he used
| this money for his personal use. He is OF
| a good family. and has a most estimable
i wife and six children. all OF whom are al
/ most heartbroken over the trouble OF Mr..
! Ochiltree.
! Carl Harvey and Edward Phillips. the
two men who have been held in jail since
| the murder of Frank Redmond on the
night OF Jan % were indicted on two
/ charles one Is of assault with intent TO
| rob Job E.Idridge. the man whose store was
| the scene OF the attempted robbery that
preceded the murder. The other indictment