The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-08
HOLT DOWN AND OUT
SAVING THE REST OF THE RING.
A
cratic Organs for "a Scapegoat
Got Too Strong.
HE DECLINES TO TALK MORE
TAGGART ALSO REFUSES TO DIS
CUSS THE RESIGNATION.
Another of Those Hurried COnsuIta-
tiOns at the Grand-TaILing
About Arrests.

was the scene or dnOIneF SenSauOnal cpl
sode when Sterling R. Holt rendered his
resignation as a member of the Board of
Park Commissioners to Mayor Taggart at
l o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Early in the evening before the clamor
for Hollis scalp began. The silver Demo
Gratis had no love for him anyway, and
yesterday morning Taggart was showered
with threats and admonitions from them
that unless he threw Holt overheard the
whole thing would so to smash. The morn
ing organ, the Sentinel, did not seek to de-
fend Holt, though it tried hard to pull Tag
gart out of the sewer The mayor got in
timations that his afternoon organ was
frightened lest it had misjudged the result
of the election, had taken up the fight of
the losing side and was getting ready to
flop to the Republican candidate. In fact,
there was a general throwing up of hands.
and something had to be done. The mayor
saw the noon editions of the afternoon pa
pers, both demanding Hollis resignation
forthwith, and he awaited Holt at the
Grand. They met at l o clock and Taggart
briefly laid the facts before him. Holt saw
at once that the fate of the whole ring de-
pended upon his getting cut in d hurry,
and expressed willingness to resign in
the hope of saving the rest Of the admins
tartion and relieving the mayor Of as much
of the odium that attaches to the White
river sewer scandal as was possible at this
tardy hour. Mr.. Holt was quoted by the
Taggart organ yesterday afternoon as say
ing: Il resigned of my own motion. Mr..
Holt's resignation was brief and to the
point. 1t read:
''T. Taggart, EIayor-I hereby tender my
resignation as member of the Park
Board On account of rumors now in circu-
lation, and not wishing to embarrass the
administration er, take ms I5a. action = f5or
Mayor Taggart at once indorsed the
resignation: Accepted, Oct. Z, 1897. T.
Taggart, Mayor
Mayor Taggart was seen yesterday after
noon.
1T is reported that Mr.. Holt has re-
signed?'
YES he has resigned
WAS his resignation voluntary"
His resignation speaks for itself"
Since Holt returned the money to c. S.
Denny for his clients the silver Democrats
have regarded this as a confession that
Holt had received it, and have urged that
he be asked to resign or be removed The
mayor was sorely tried by the condition
that confronted him, and made no promises
to the push" leaders who urged him to
take summary action. At noon yesterday,
when Mr.. Holt appeared at the hotel, he
and the mayor had a brief consultation.
When the mayor appeared after the painful
interview he had just had he looked grave
and showed the resignation to politicians,
who could i'll conceal their satisfaction.
FOURTH MAN TO GO.
This is the fourth resignation of high Off
cials in the Taggart regime. Ed A Austin
led fc he Ioa I'd Of
Public Works because Of his alleged inter-
est in public contracts Mr. Austin claims
that NJ. A. Downing president of the board,
was as deeply interested as himself. The
superintendent of the City Hospital was re-
quired to resign on account of an investiga-
ton made by the State Board of Charities
and Correction. The mayor had his Board
of Health ask for this investigation on ac-
count of charges that were made against
the superintendent by the head nurse and
the official board of the Nurses Training
School. There were charges Of cruelty and
inefficiency. 1t was given out that the
charges had not been sustained but the
young superintendent was required to re-
sign. The resignation of Thomas f. Colbert,
Mayor Taggarts superintendent of police,
who was charged with unbecoming conduct
for appearing at & Republican meeting in
a sorry condition, is still fresh in the mem
ory of readers of the papers. Out of that
grew a breach in the ranks, as Colbert ex-
ploded a campaign secret that had for its
burden the scheme to down Cox Now
comes Mr.. Holts resignation. Beside this
very serious charges have been made with
regard to the building inspector but they
were never pushed to a conclusion.
The interview with the mayor occurred
in his private Office. where he appeared no
longer ago than Monday night to listen to
the request of Messrs. Fumer and Seibert,
through their attorneys, Mcbride & Denny,
for the acceptance of the White river in
terceptor out OF that meeting grew the
sensational charge that Mr.. Holt had ac-
cepted $500 to use his influence to have
the grade of the sewer raised and the still
more sensational return of the money on
Wednesday, Taggarts supporters have
been like a herd of stampeded Texas cattle
ever since and the curses against Holt have
been .oud-mouthed an0 deep. The silverites
were rubbing their hands with nervous glee
yesterday afternoon when they heard of the
wicked partners downfall.
Mayor Taggart did not share in the jub-
ilee Mr.. Holt has been mis- friend--his con-
ndential adviser and business partner for
years and his feelings We're mixed
WHY THE MONEY WAS PAID.
The end is not yet. So far the sewer CON
tractors have not charged directly that any
one else was involved but yesterday after
noon City Attorney Curtis spoke of "at-
tempts to bribe' which Will have to be in
vestgated before he is willing to say wheth-
er the assessments for the White river in
terceptor are valid or not. The city at
torney was in a hurry to catch q train to
Lebanon, where he expected to meet Mayor
Harrison. of Chicago and did not have
time to go into details. 1t has been charged
that George W. Seibert paid Mr. Holt 81, 000
for his influence in having the grade Of
the sewer raised two feet after the work
had been under way about a year. City
Engineer Jeup first refused to permit this
He subsequently wrote the city attorney
that it appeared TO be a matter of de
tail" The attorney held if it We're merely
a matter Of detail in the engineers opin-
ion the change could be made. The engi-
neer however. could not act without the
sanction of the board and il is said that
the Board Of Public Works directed him to
authorize it in open meeting, after the city