The Indianapolis journal., 1903-06-07
insult TO 7. A. WYNNE
NOEL MADE INSINUATIONS IN STAHL
TRIAL THAT WERE NOT JUSTIFIED.
Committee VIII Select Another AttOr.
ney to Conduct Pending Investi.
sation-SeveraI Applications.

James W. Noel has been summarily dis
missed from the employ of the Council
committee investigating the charges against
Edwin ID. Logsdon, Of the Board of Public
Works. AS the result of a meeting OF the
committee yesterday afternoon, Chairman
Thomas A. Wynne informed Mr. Noel that
his services are no longer required.
Taking the position that Mr.. Noers acts
speak for themselves, Chairman Wynne
did not think it necessary to enter into
lengthy explanation of the reasons of the
committee in giving Mr.. Noel his walking
papers. The attorney whose connection
with the Indianapolis News and others in
an attempt to entrap Mr.. Logsdon into the
commission Of crime, was simply told that
the committee had no further use for him.
The dismissal Of Noel was not made public
by the committee until several hours after
the meeting had been held. Five minutes
after Mr.. Noel had been discharged the In
dianapolis News was seeking information
Of the committees action.
REASONS FOR DISMISSAL.
Noel was dismissed for the reason that his
connection with the Indianapolis News and
the Citizens League has embarrassed and
hampered the committee in the pending in
vestigation. Although in the employ of the
committee. acting under specific instruc-
tions, it is alleged he concealed his methods
from the committee and worked hand in
hand with Logsdon's enemies in securing
evidence against the official against whom
the investigation is directed. When he was
employed by the committee to take charge
of probing matters connected with the let
ting of sprinking and sweeping contracts,
he was instructed to keep away from the
Indianapolis News. from members of the
Citizens League and from Mr.. Logsdon, the
committee believing that fairness TO all con-
cerned would be best served by the attor-
ney in charge having nothing to do with the
persons most interested in the result These
instructions Mr.. Noel disobeyed.
When Mr.. Noel was employed by the COM
mittee he asked that the investigation be
thorough and complete; that there be no
whitewashing. glossing facts in the
interests of the friends OF anyone. Mr..
Wynne, Mr.. Expert and Mr.. Shea assented
to this proposition instantly, informing Mr.
Noel that this was the purpose of the COM
mittee contemplated by the mayor and
Council. The attorney was told that the
committee was named for the purpose or
throwing the searchlight the action OF
the Board of Public Works, and particular
ly the action OF Mr.. Logsdon, in awarding
contracts for city sprinkling and sweeping.
The scope of the committee was limited 10
looking into these matters, and ii had to
do with nothing else. So far as sprinkling
and sweeping were concerned. Mr.. Noel
was told to go ahead, unearth guilt IL he
found it; exonerate the unjustly accused IL
evidence Justified; in a word, to do his duty
according to the dictates Of his conscience.
DISOBEYED INSTRUCTIONS.
These instructions were followed by the
attorney until it became evident TO him
there was absolutely no evidence Of any ir-
regular transactions on the part Of the
man against whom charges had been fled
That there was no evidence he admitted 10
Oliver z. Ensley, A A Young and to men,
bers Of the Council committee. Then his
course departed from the others given by
the committee and began 10 include mat
ters with which the committete had moth
ing whatever 10 do, such as attempts 10 Sc
cure evidence OF the city administration
protecting gambling and other forms or
vice. He gave the committee absolutely
no intimation that he intended TO enter into
an investigation of alleged protection OF
gambling on the part OF city officials. keep
ing all his acts in that direction profound
secret from the body which was paying his
fee.
Then the Stahl-Indianapolis News-Dr
Hunt fasco came along, with the huEiliat-
ing arrest of the detective employed 10 Sc
cure evidence against Logsdon- 1t devel-
oped that Mr.. Noel, without informing the
committee of his contemplated action, had
been comforting with Hilton l.. Brown, gen.
eral manager OF the Indianapolis News.
which has a $4,000 libel suit to defend; with
Dr. Hunt and other members OF the Citi-
zens' League; that he had gone 10 ST. Louis
TO consult Prosecutor Folk with Earle L.
Martin, formerly managing editor OF the
News, and that he had employed n sleuth
who had done some work for Mr.. Folk. IL
further came out TO the surprise OF the
committee that Mr.. Noel had been fully
conversant with the efforts OF the detective
and that he himself had planned with
Brown. Hunt and the detective TO entrap
Logsdon into the actual commission OF a
crime for the purpose OF securing incontro-
vertible evidence against Logsdon.
CALLED ON THE CARPET
Then the committee. thinking 1t about
ers into his confidence. called him into con-
ference and asked him what authority he
had been given 10 act with the News and
the Citizens League. since instructions had
] been diametrically opposite and since both