The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-18
CLARK COUNTY GRAND JURY.
Animus of the Futile Attack on the
Record of Warden Hert.
. ,he rditor ~ tho Inaianapolis journal:

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The investigation of the Clark county
grand Jury at Jeffersonville into the charge
of embezzlement against A. T. Hert, SUI
perintendent of the Indiana Reformatory,
seems to have been instituted for the sole
purpose of prejudicing the case of Mr..
Hert. now before the legislative investigat-
ing committee That there never was any
hope OF an Indictment is certain from
the facts that have come out since the
investigation began, and it is freely as
serted that the only desire or the lnsti-
gators of the investigation was TO get
the matter into the newspapers, which as
sertion is borne out by the fact that the
Democratic prosecutor, who has charge OF
the grand jury, telephoned the story or
the. investigation to the Louisville papers
and also to the Indianapolis Sentinel
Thursday night.
The prosecutor is being criticised for his
energy in getting the affair into print, and
II Is claimed that he has not only been
guilty of unprofessional act, but mas
violated his oath of ONCE, which REQUIRES
absolute secrecy concerning matters De-
fore the grand jury. On Thursday AFTER
noon the grand jury began examining Wit
nesses, and on Thursday night, when only
one witness had been examined, the prose-
cutor sent the story to the papers men
toned, although he knew that the regu-
lar correspondents OF the papers were
aware OF the investigation. In his story
to the Indianapolis Sentinel he inter-
viewed himself, and asserted that an in
dictment would certainly be returned, and
he implied that damaging evidence had
been given against Mr. Hert, when only
one witness had been examined, and that
one Fred Pagelar, bookkeeper at the Re
he has not overstepped the bounds of his
authority. and that he has not revealed
any of the testimony given, but has only
stated that the investigation was In prog
The grand jury is supposed to be inves-
tigating alleged misconduct of the finances
of the institution. and yet there are, with
the possible exception OF two, witnesses
among those summoned who can tell any
thing Of the financial administration OF
the Refornnatory: For the most part the
have grievances many of them being for
mer guards who did not at any time
them a knowledge of the disposition of
money. Others of the witnesses are farm
ers who are displeased because they have
not been successfui bidders FOR supplying
farm products TO the institution. One of
the former guards who is a witness de-
clared that he did not get the same brand
Of coffee at the guard dining room as
was used on Mr.. Hert's private table. The
charge also made that the money
received by the sale of flowers at the
green house was not properly applied.
was examined, and IL was said that he
showed the State to have made $500 in
year from the sale of flowers, all of
which money was sent to the state treas
urer.
From the nature of the testimony given
and that expected it is evident that the
investigation was not started with the
hope of an indictment, but was instigated
by the prosecutor upon the advice of the
Democratic State committee with the hope
that the investigating committee from the
General Assembly would be induced TO
believe that there was some thing seriously
wrong with the administration of the Re-
formatory.
The idea of an indictment for embezzle-
ment is ridiculed here, especially since 1t
has become known who the witnesses are
who have been examined. From such
sources, IL is claimed, 1t would be impos-
sible 10 get at the financial conditions, and
the whole affair is looked upon a
''GoebeF' method of embarrassing Mr.. Hert
and injuring his cause.
Only six witnesses have been examined
so far, and when the grand jury ad-
journed Saturday at noon there was yet
about fifteen witnesses TO be questioned.
seems TO be TO drag the investigation along.
thinking that the public and the legis-
lative committee will be induced to believe
Democrats and Republicans. denounce the
methods employed, and believe that the
prosecuting attorney should have waited
for a finding by the legislative committee
before beginning q grand jury investigation
agement, and upon the statements OF dis
eruntled former employees. The only in
dictment hoped for by the Democratic pros
the one published by the prosecutor ON
Thursday night, before any witnesses had
been examined by the grand jury-that
the Indictment by the Democratic press.
PAUL BURLINGAME
| JeffersonviIle Ind Feb Is