The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-29
THE REFORMERS UNDER fire
MANY Sensational Facts Secured in the Examination
of the Alleged COnspratOrS.

in that the intent of the
Machaevellianism came to naught. The
testimony, from the lips of men in the fore
front of civic life bore singularly striking
to chronicles of medieval,
Jesuitical diplomacy.
The Jesuitical idea was further carried
out by the general defense set up by those
whom Mr.. Logsdon charges conspired with
Detective Stahl to corrupt him; defense
which may be epitomized in the famous
maxim of Ignatius Loyola: ''The end JUS
titles the means Witnesses who testified
as to the purpose of the Citizens League,
Hilton U. Brown, manager of the Indian
apolis News, James W.. Noel, conducting
the prosecution of Logsdon, and others
whose names have not been exposed TO the
public eye, in seeking to compromise Mr..
Logsdon for the purpose of making his
conviction on charges of dishonesty an abb
solute certainty before the Council COM
mittee, entered no denial as to the part
played by the individuals named. Deny
ing that they are conspirators. they yet ad-
mitted through the lips of DIR. George h.
Hunt and Earl Martin, that Stahl was en-
ployed and sent to Logsdon with the intent
of absolutely mailing him to the cross.
A REMARKABLE TRIAL.
The trial was remarkable not only in the
sensational character of the testimony
sensationalism made more acute hy the
grave and formal nature of the examina-
tion-but by the prominence of the men un-
der fire on both sides. of the witnesses and
of those who attended the court. Those
who had direct part. or who will occupy
a direct part before the trial is over. were
Edwin D. Logsdon, of the Board OF Public
Works, the prosecuting witness; Detective
Stahl, the discredited sleuth; DR.. George
Edwin Hunt, secretary Of the Citizens
League and formerly secretary of the Com
mercial Club, alleged conspirator; James w.
Noel, also alleged conspirator prosecutor
of Logsdon before the Council committee;
Hilton u. Brown, manager Of the Indian
apolis News. who was directly connected
with the attempt to bribe Logsdon through
DIR. Hunts testimony; Earl Z. Martin, man
aging editor of the News when Stahl was
brought to the city; Thomas A Wynne,
chairman Of the Council investigating COM
mittee; Councilman Fred Expert, member
of the committee; Councilman Shea, men,
ber of the committee; Charles r. Williams,
editor OF the News; Lucius b. Swift, Au-
gustus L. Mason, William Fortune Thomas
c. Day and T. E. Griffith, members of the
Citizens League; the Rev. Francis III.
Gavisk, of st. Johns Church, and Superin-
tendent Taffe, Captain Gerber and Detective
Hauser, of the police. The legal force ar
rayed deserves more than a passing mention
Representing Logsdon is Henry N. Spaan,
Keen, searching, sarcastic, thorough, relent-
less in cross-examination. Representing
the Citizens League, and by the same token
the shared sleuth. are John S. Duncan and
Charles w. Smith, both at the front of their
profession.
These were present in the crowded court
room during the progress of the examina-
{ ton or witnesses. Martin. Expert. Oliver
r. Ensley and DR.. Hunt testified. The 9TH
ers have been subpoenaed and will be called
on to-day and during the succeeding days
OF the trial to tell what they know about
the attempted bribery. The trial began at
o'clock and was adjourned at s. IL will be
resumed at 2 o'clock this afternoon
FACTS ESTABLISHED.
These facts were established by the testi-
mony or witnesses yesterday afternoon:
That Detective Stahl was brought here by
Earl Z. Martin and James w. Noel. the
indianapolis News paying the expenses of
the trip with the knowledge and approval
OF DR.. Hunt and Hilton u. Brown. indi-
rectly of the Citizens League and the In
dianapolis News, for the purpose of Sc
curing damaging evidence against Logsdon:
that Stahl worked under the direction of
DR.. Hunt and Noel; that Stahl reported
the progress Of his sleuthing daily to DR..
make case against Logsdon a scheme wa s
Matched by Hilton l.. Brown, DIR. Hunt
and Noel to trap him into an overt act of
dishonesty; that at Hilton u Browns sue-
gestion an admittedly false telegram was
sent to a newspaper man in New York
city and by that newspaper man relayed
10 Stahl In this city as lure TO enmesh
the bird they hungered for; that the nlsn
or oner1rg 1880 for slot machine privileges
Tor year was conceived in the brains
or Hilton U. Brown, Dr. Hunt and Attor-
Noel. he fhra
danger of law violation and consulted At
torney Noel who assured them IL was ga fe
enough; and that Stahl's bond was secured
by DR.. Hunt. Hilton L. Brown Lucius b.
Swift. William Fortune and others; and
that the whole plan was for the purpose of
securing something tangible against Logs
don Tor the Holy Alliance" as Henry
Spaan. In moment of inspiration, dubbed
the Citizens League, to work on
Earl 4. Martin was the first witness
examined. He stated that he was formerly
now in the employ of George F. McCulloch
In newspaper enterprises. Attorney Noel
came to him. he said, with the statement
that SO far little headway had been made
against Logsdon and that there was no
| evidence obtainable under the methods In
vogue to convict him of wrongdoing Mar
| tin said he suggested that Noel consult
| Prosecutor Folk, of st. Louis. who has
been remarkably successful in sending
boodlers to prison. He thought that Folk
might be able to give Noel some use
4
Brown was taken into the matter and Mr..
| Brown made arrangements for Noel TO se-
| cure an interview with Folk. Martin spoke
| of a meeting attended by members of the
| Citizens League.
INTERVIEWS WITH FOLK.
When they got to st. Louis they had two
| interviews with Folk. Mr. Folk did most
of the talking, describing the methods he
had used in running down corruptionists
Martin and Noel talked to Folk about al
legged blackmail levied on gamblers in In
dianapolis and other taxes on crime They
asked Folk what he had to suggest, and the
attorney suggested the employment of a
detective skilled in that particular kind OF
work. Martin and Noel inquired If Folk
had any one TO recommend to them, and
| Folk spoke of Detective Stahl. who. he
said, had done excellent work for him IL
| clearing the moral atmosphere of st. Louis
| Martin and Noel met Stahl and talked the
! matter over with him. Stahl agreed tC
! come to Indianapolis for s. a day and ex.
| penses. No definite engagement was .nadt
with the detective but they took his ad-
| dress and returned TO Indianapolis. Till.
/ ton u. Brown was informed OF the result
| Of the trip to st. Louis. and he said that
nothing more should be done until he mao
talked things over with DR.. Hunt. Some
thing passed between Martin and Brown as
/ TO whether Stahl should be placed on the
pay roll of the Indianapolis News 1--WE
both agreed" said Martin. that IL was not
| the province of newspaper TO do that"
| Martin declared he had nothing TO do with
| Stahl after the latter came 10 the city
| He had seen him two or three times, hS
Of opinion that the detective did not ever
| recognize him.