The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-20
sheriff Luther of shelby County, Vir-
tuaIIy De6es the Governor
of the state.
RAY SLEEPS AT GRAND HOTEL
GOVERNOR DURBIN's SHARP IN
sTRUCTIoNs OVER TELEPHONE.
Detectives Dugan and Gerber En-
pIoyed by the State to Shadow
Sheriff and Prisoner.

dCOI6t nay III tbllOl diIu HioDAittoA
of the S%helbyville Democrat, under SEN
tenee of from two TO fourteen years for
presenting a fraudulent claim TO the board
of commissioners of Shelby county, arrived
In this city at 7:45 o'clock last night in
charge of Sheriff Luther. Accompanying
the prisoner were George II. Dunn, Rays
father-in-law, and William McDougal, the
latter acting I'm the capacity of deputy
sheriff. The whole party remained at
the Grand Hotel all night and this MORN
ing at 600 o'clock the sheriff and his
prisoner departed for Michigan City.
There was no evidence that Ray was
suffering from collapse, since, aside from
his rather untidy appearance, he looked to
be in his usual health. He positively de-
clined TO discuss his unfortunate condi-
ton with a Journal representative, but
to an acquaintance who met him in the
lobby of the Grand Hotel he said that
his arrest and conviction was an out
rage and a travesty on justice, and that he
was going TO Michigan City as innocent OF
the crime with which he was charged as
was the man to whom he was talking.
THE SHERIFF SMARTING.
Sheriff Luther, when seen at the hotei
last night, was still smarting from the
effect of the reprimand the Governor had
administered to him over the long-distance
telephone in the afternoon, and was as
taciturn and secretive as his prisoner. He
declined to say whether the party intended
to remain at the hotel all night or not, but
after a visit to the bar down stairs
the sheriff and his prisoner returned to the
office of the hotel, where they registered
a.,l u..-, ,~-fr,ol e. Dlora AZ coll xraS
left for 5:i5 a. M, and then the party dis
appeared i'm the elevator. thus conveying
the information that, Notwithstanding the
protests of Governor Durbin and Attorney
General Taylor, Ray was not to sleep be-
hind the bars of the indianapolis Jail.
Sheriff Luther admitted that he had been
In communication with the Governor dur
ing the afternoon, but declined 10 state
what had been said. Deputy Sheriff Nc
Dougal, however, was not so uncommunI-
cative, and freely expressed himself with
regard to what he thought was the sher-
ifs ~prerogative in dealing with the pris-
oner. Il am not the sheriff." said Mr..
McDougal, so L can't say what will be
Gone with Ray tonight. But If / were in
charge of the prisoner you can bet L would
keep him just where L wanted to, notwith-
standing what the Governor said about il.
1 do not think" continued Mr.. McDougaI,
that il is any of the Governors business
what the sheriff does with his prisoner, so
long as he don't get away from him
Sheriff Luther, although he did not so
express himself. was evidently of the same
opinion.
LASHING OVER THE TELEPHONE.
Irthar hoe haan frarrapf1y canGnra1 NOT
only by the attorney general, but by the
people of Shelby county for his more than
considerable treatment of the prisoner. and
word reached the office of the attorney gen.
eral yesterday afternoon that if Luther
did not at once depart with his prisoner
for the State Prison there was danger of
mob violence. The attorney general inn
mediately consulted with the Governor and
the latter called the Shelby county sheriff
up by telephone.
The Governor first inquired as to the
whereabouts of the prisoner and when
the sheriff replied that Ray was lying Ill
at his house he demanded TO know why
the prisoner was not in Jail. The replies
OF Sheriff Luther were audible only to the
Governor, but the reprimand administered
by the latter was both distinct and en-
phatic. He warned the sheriff of the dan
ger which attached TO his dilatory con-
duct in conveying the prisoner to the State
Prison, saying that the people were already
incensed and IL would not do to further
arouse their Indignation, as they might be
tempted TO take the law into their own
hands. Finally he wanted TO know just
when the sheriff intended TO take mis-
prisoner to the penitentiary. Il want you
to tell me right here and now said Gov
ernor Durbin, for | an not going to fool
about this matter any longer. Your prison
er has got To go to the State Prison, and
If you don't take him there / Will. If | have
to send a company of the State militia
after him. If l have 10 employ the latter
means said Governor Durbin, Il will
take the prisoner and you Also
SCORED THE SHERIFF..
This emphatic declaration on the part OF
the Governor evidently startled the Shelby
county sheriff. for he Immediately capitu-
lated and promised 10 bring his prisoner to
Indianapolis on his way TO Michigan City
on the first train that passed through Shell
byville. He also told the Governor that he
would lodge Ray in Jail during his stay in
indianapolis, but for some reason known
only to himself he failed to keep that part
of the compact.
Late yesterday afternoon members OF
Rays family called on Attorney General
Taylor at his office, hoping To persuade him
to allow Ray more time before he went 70
prison. Their efforts, however, were unsuc-
cessful.
1t was learned yesterday that after Gov
ernor Durbin had concluded his telephone
talk with the sheriff Ray. who had been
feigning illness. Immediately recovered and
r-eappeared upon the streets OF ~Shelbyville.