The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-10
AMOS IS OUT OF OFFICE
INDICTED SHELBY COMMISSIONER
TENDERS HIS RESIGNATION.
Complains Bitterly of "PersecutiOn"-
Succeeded by w. p. Jackson-Rays
Threatened with Libel.
ecial to the Indianapolis Journal.

SHELBYVILLE, Ind, Feb. 9.-Commis-
sioner William Amos, under accusation OF
the last grand jury for malfeasance in Of
fee, this afternoon handed his resignation
to Auditor Gilman. In a written statement
accompanying it he said:
'In connection with my resignation as
commissioner of Shelby county, which
herewith present, 1 desire to make to you.
and through you to the people, brier
statement of the reasons that cause me to
take this action Almost from the hour L
received my nomination for the Office of
commissioner at the hands of my party,
have been pursued, slandered. and vilifed
with political abuse and insult unsur-
Passed and, ever since / became member
of the board, personal enemies have mis-
represented my official acts, and at every
opportunity sought to injure me. When
became a member of the board the county
was carrying considerable Indebtedness in
temporary loans. which. with other indebt-
edness, has been funded into bonds. There
has been, also, strong demand from many
parts of the county for public improve
ments in bridges. culverts, much free
gravel road worki3nd county asylum re-
in having done. Because of this indebted
ness and the public clamor melted and di-
rected against me and other members of
the board by designing partisans and per-
sonal and political enemies, and within a
few months of the end Of my term of Of
fee, have been subjected to a prosecution
"A
has been raised against me, and. as 1t
seems to me, by constant misrepresenta-
lions and falsehoods published and circu-
lated concerning myself In particular, the
county has been filled with excitement and
hitter and unreasoning prejudice has been
raised against me and my cause, which will
listen to no explanation or defense. My pc
tition for a change of venue. to which be-
lieve was justly entitled has been denied.
IT. view of the public feeling and excite
nient about the case, and the general and
bitter prejudice against me brought about
by the means and conditions mentioned, 1t
would be useless for me to expect a fair
and impartial hearing at the forced trial
that is proposed L am satisfied that, be-
fore impartial jurors and with fair and i'm
partial and unpreJudiced surroundings, L
could meet and successfully defend myself
against the several charges alleged in the
accusation filed against me, which no one
could hope to do before tribunal so unfair
and unjust and with surroundings so
wrought up, bitter and prejudiced they
are in this case. At my age in life, having
in view my limited means and my financial
condition, do not feel able to bear the
expense of such an unfair contest and do
not desire to attempt 1t. For these reasons
i now hereby tender my resignation Is
commissioner of Shelby county, Indiana,
the same to take effect at once.
WILLIAM AMOS"
The resignation was accepted, and late
this evening Auditor Gilman announced
the election of William Perry Jackson as
county commissioner, in place of William
Amos. resigned.
Two years ago Amos and Jackson were
both candidates for the nomination as COM
missioner before the Democratic county
primary. 1t has always been claimed by
Jackson's friends that at that time he
had the majority of the votes cast, but
that certain persons, in order to get con-
troll of the County Board of Commissioners,
falsified the returns and gave the place 10
Amos. In fact, on the face of the early
returns Jackson was nominated by about
thirty votes, but Amos was declared the
nominee. 1t is expected by the Democratic
politicians of the county that the appoint
ment of jackson will heal some of the To-
cal trouble The resignation of Amos will
act dismissal of the charges against
him. 1t is expected that James L. Cherry,
the other commissioner under accusation
will resign before his case comes UP for
trial next week.
of the grand Jurors against whom the
Democrat made charges of accepting a
bride from Mrs. r. w. Davis, to-day filed
a legal demand upon the Ray sisters, de-
handing retractiOn of the libel, as fol-
lows:
ITO Mary Ray, Sadie Ray, Fannie Ray and
Hattie Ray, partners doing business un-
der the firm name and style of The
Shelby Democrat:
You and each of you are hereby notified
that in your issue of the paper to wit, the
Shelbyville Daily Democrat, issued and
published at the principal office of said pa
per. in the city of Shelbyville, on Monday,
the 5th day of February, 1900 in an article
therein. headed The Prizes in the Box,
you publish of and concerning the under
signed the following false, libelous and
defamatory matter; to wit: 1t was this
man. Andrew Hensley, who sat on the jury
which tried the murderer of Sheriff Albert
McCorkle and gave him two years in pris-
on. 1t was this man, Andrew Hensley. who
signed a trustee bond for Cyrus Montgom-
cry, once the trustee of Union township,
for which favor he is alleged to have been
paid $50 by both Mr.. Montgomery and j. p.
Carter, who resided with Mr. Hensley. Mr..
Hensley referred TO is the same man who
took to his home from Shelbyville since be-
ing drawn upon the grand jury supply
of new carpets.
ANDREW HENSLEY."
Mr.. Hensley said this morning that there
was no foundation whatever for the article
as far as ne concerned, and that UNI
less the libel was retracted he would insti-
tute suit for libel and he has employed
counsel for that purpose.