The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-07
E. D. LOGSDON Is INDICATED.

annapolis News as follows:
Desiring TO have absolutely lair ana
straightforward investigation of the charges
made against Mr.. Edwin Logsdon. and one
that will meet with the approval of the citi-
zens OF Indianapolis, the investigation and
Impeachment committee will be greatly
obliged il you could assist in this matter by
suggesting to the committee the names of
six attorneys from which to choose one 10
conduct the investigation and to assist the
committee. If you could send us this list
to-day IL would facilitate matters greatly"
This letter was presented TO Mr. {. h
Williams, of the Indianapolis News, by the
chairman of your committee, who at the
same time verbally requested of Mr. Will
liams his assistance In any way that would
be of value.
The indianapolis News did not reply by
letter, but Mr.. Williams stated TO the chair
man of your committee that the lndianapo-
lis News would not assist the committee in
any way, as they did not want to be placed
In the position of a prosecutor or prosecutor
of the administration or of Mr.. Edwin ID.
Logsdon. Mr.. Williams stated that the
News management would simply print in
the columns of their paper such informa-
ton as came from the investigation from
time to time, but would have nothing fur
| ther to do with it.
letter was written to the Citizens
League, under date of April IL, as follows:
'On behalf of the committee on in
vestigation and impeachment, respectfully
request that you supply us with the names
Of six attorneys from whom to choose one
to assist the COMMITTEES in the matter of
the trial of MIR: Edwin Logsdon on the
charges preferred against him."
"A reply was received follows:
I'VE acknowledge your favor of April IL,
on behalf of the Council committee on in
letter is addressed to "A. L. Mason,
We learn from you by telephone
that it was intended for the
Citizens League. We note your courteous
six attorneys from whom you offer ito
choose one TO assist the committee in the
| matter of the trial of Mr.. E. w. Logsdon
on the charges preferred against him." We
think proper to decline to comply with your
suggestion for certain reasons, among
others these:
Il. The Citizens League has been max
ing an inquiry into the affairs of the pres
ent municipal administration with a view
to determining whether or not Mayor Book
walter and other officials should be re-elect-
ed. Our object is quite different from that
Of your investigation under the city char
ter, which we suppose is to determine
whether, In your Judgment, Mr.. Logsdon
should be impeached by the Council AS
Mayor Bookwalter has the power to remove
Mr. Logsdon, and has not done so, it is
evident that in his Judgment there is no
just ground for removal. Should your COM
mittee agree with the mayor ii would dis
pose of the question which you have be-
fore you. but not of the question as to
whether Mr.. Bookwalter should for the
best interests of this city, be reelected
mayor. Our work and yours, therefore.
cannot and ought not be combined.
making and is still continuing an investiga-
ton of the Board of Works and it's conduct
OF affairs, the results of which We expect
to lay before the people at the proper time
But this investigation has not been COM
plete. Certain information furnished the
league also reached the papers of the city
from sources other than the league but
We are in the midst of our inquiry and do
not desire at this stage to be put in the
position of prosecutor.
"3. The names of all witnesses known to
a aQIla a NV
nington have been published by the press,
SO that We are not in a position to give
your committee any information on this
subject not already within its reach. We
will, however, give careful consideration to
the facts ELECTED by you in your investiga-
ton bearing upon the general inquiry in
which the league is engaged"
This was signed by Thomas G. Day, Will
liam Fortune. Francis Henry Gavisk, Theo-
dore f.. Griffith. George Edwin Hunt, Au-
gustus l.. Mason, Lucius b. Swift, members
OF the executive committee.
PROCURED AN ATTORNEY
The committee therefore. with the knowl-
edge that they were to proceed in the in
vestgation without the assistance of the
Indianapolis News and Citizens League,
proceeded to procure an attorney. which
they did in the perron of Mr.. James w.
Noel, and the investigation was COM
menced.
In canvassing the methods to be employed
in taking evidence from witnesses to be sub
poenaed Mr.. Noel declared our position to
be that of the grand jury, and that hearsay
as well as direct testimony should be pub-
llcly given, the committee asserting to this
proposition without the knowledge that i'm
the grand jury investigation all Testimony
oaaoaa oil any Kind should be strictly behind
closed doors, and each member of the COM
mlttee, as we'll as all persons testifyinp
peiore the committee be sworn to secrecy
Mr. Noel was instructed by the committee
10 make a full and free examination into
the charges preferred, but was especially
instructed TO rlaintain a position of abso-
lute nutrallty between the indianapolis
News, the Citizens League. and Mr. Ed
win ID. Lodgsdon. He was told that he was
not to assume the position OF a prosecutor
but mat we desired obtaining the truth in
regard req 10 Mr.. Logsdon's guilt or innocence
ano aIso as TO whether or not Mr.. Logsdon
or the Board of Public Works had been
falsely accused by either the Indianapolis
News or the Citizens League
He was ordered to subpoena the off,
GERS and prominent members of the Citi-
ems League, as well the officers and
stan OF the News, they to be examined
along with any other witnesses that could
be found TO throw any light upon the sub
ject. Mr.. Noel accepted the employment
under these conditions. and as the commit
Tee mad absolute confidence in him a great
number of subpoenas were signed in blank
by the chairman of the committee Mr.
Noel filling I'm the names of the people
whom he desired TO examine before the
committee.
The committee never knew who were to
be examined in the case, leaving this en-
tirely with their attorney, expecting him
10 pursue the inquiry absolutely along the
line OF the charges. AT no time was he
given permission authorized to take nm
matters other than those involved i'm the
charges preferred. which We're i'm connec-
ton with the letting of the street-sprnkIing
and sweeping contracts
AS the investigation proceeded. Mr.. Noel
made frequent statements to the committee
that he had been unable to secure any evil
dence, showing that Mr.. Logsdon had been
dishonest in any way and that so far as
he could learn Mr.. Logsdon was an
honest man. He also stated number of
times TO the committee that IL there was
an honest man in the employ of the ad-
ministration. that man was Mr.. Logsdon,
morning of May 20. 1908. in the office of
Mr.. 7. A. Wynne, before the entire COM
mittee. Mr.. Noel stated that Mr. Logsdon
was honest and straight as a string,
showing that up TO that time he had not
the slightest evidence of guilt against Mr..
Logsdon.
An examination of the prices paid for
the street sweeping by the city shows that
IL is being done now for less money than
has ever been paid before, with exception
OF one year, that of 1898. when the price
paid was Ia cents less per great square
than IL now being paid. The price ranging
16 cents I'm 1902.
A comparison of the prices paid for
sprinkling for the past ten years reveals the
fact that the CITY Is now getting it's .prink-