The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-30
GRAIL EXPLODES CANARD
HIS POSITION WAS GROSSLY MISREP-
RESENTED IN THE NEWS.
He DID Not Call on Chairman heach,
but Replied to a Question Asked
Him on the Street.

For purposes of it's own. it is declared
by Chairman Harry E. Negley. of the spe-
cial committee appointed to investigate the
books of City Clerk Charles N.
Elliott, the Indianapolis News mis-
represented the position of Council
man John H. Grail and garbled state
ment made by Mr.. Grail relative to the re-
port for the purpose of making 1t appear
that Mr.. Grail was out of harmony with
the other members Of the committee and
would demand a more complete investiga-
ton. That view of the matter is the one
taken by Mr.. Grail himself, who states
plainly that he never made any statement
to Chairman Reach, of the Democratic city
committee. such as was ascribed to him in
the News, and that he has never said any,
thing TO any one about not signing the re-
port when it ready to be presented.
The News contained the assertion yes
terday afternoon that Mr.. Grail had called
upon Mr.. Reach and told him that he
favored an "open investigation" The News
goes so far to say that Mr.. Grail told
Mr.. Reach that his constituents Of the
Third ward were demanding an open inves-
tigation and that he believed they were
right in making that demand. Mr.. Grail
says nothing of the sort happened. In the
first place, Mr.. Grail did not call upon Mr..
Reach at all.
One day last week Mr.. Grail met Mr..
Reach on the street. The Democratic
chairman asked him: John, what do you
intend to do about the report of the COM
mittee investigating Elliotts books? Are
you going to stand for any monkey bust
ness. any embarrassing?
WHAT GRAIL REALLY SAID.
az certainly do not intend to be a par
ticipant in any embarrassing transac-
TONS" replied Mr.. Grail, and the CONVEX
sation ended there.
Mr.. Grail states that when he replied that
he did not intend to countenance white
washing he made reply which expressed
not only his own sentiments, but those of
the other members of the committee-Mr.
Negley and Mr.. Wall The committee, he
says, has not been of the whitewashing
variety. 1t has employed expert with
the understanding that its report to Coun-
ell would be based on the report submitted
by the expert, John w. Coons. The report,
as has been published in the Journal, goes
no farther than to show that Mr.. Elliott
still owes the city small amount, less
than 500. The report does not show any
crookedness on the part of Mr.. Elliott in
the conduct OF his office; II reveals that
there were some irregularities in book
keeping, which were. in all probability,
the result of careleSsness. Therefore, it is
pointed out, the committee has nothing TO
whitewash. The committee cannot take
into account, the members say, vague
rumors that fly about the street. The re-
port will be based on the report Of the
expert and on the facts ascertained by
members of the committee.
Mr.. CralPs statement to the Journal,
boiled down to its kernel, was this: THE
Indianapolis News misrepresented my po-
sition in publishing the article that APP
peared In Its columns to-day"
Members of Council say that the whole
matter trick of Mr.. Reach and the
News for political ends.
1t has also been stated that Chairman
Negley has never called meeting of the
special committee since its appointment by
Council. This Mr.. Negley Indignantly de-
mics and refers the matter to the other
members of the committee for their state
ments. He says that a meeting was held
Immediately after the committee was
named. and that in addition the members
of the committee have met each other on
the streets and other places and have dis
cussed matters relative to the conduct of
the investigation.