The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27
LIKE AESOP'S MOUSE.

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.)
Logsdon designated to make an examna-
ton of my record?'' he said. II can dis
pose of them in very short order. The first
is Ovid b. Jameson, whom you all know as
the law partner of the notorious Fred Joss,
city attorney, and member of the Book
walter ring. The second is IL. w. Bennett,
treasurer of the Republican campaign fund,
the man who took the $500 contribution
made by Gus Rahke to the Republican
campaign fund and who is accepting now
the dirty money wrung from saloon and
dive keepers by street inspector at the
bidding of the. Republican machine The
third is Charles L. Coffin. president of the
Park Board under the Bookwalter admins
tration, the man who signed the contract
admitting this new railroad without the
proper restrictions. There you have them
"a proper committee, Is 1t not, to investi-
gate the record of any man?
COULD NOT RECALL FACTS.
"Now as to these cases which they go
into stating that out of over 5000 about
100 were dismissed, wish to call your at
tention to the fact that no case can be dis
missed in the Criminal Court without the
prosecutor stating his reasons to the judge.
No case can be dismissed without the
consent and acQuiescence of the Judge
It's been nine years since the bulk of these
cases were handled and naturally 1 cannot
recall the facts in all of them at the pres
ent moment. although 1 have good mem
ory | will pick out two, however, and
submit the facts to you.
Two cases which were dismissed after
indictments had been returned were against
a member of this committee WHICH investi-
accused of renting houses for immoral pur-
poses. L was convinced that no conviction
could be obtained because l believed it
could not be made clear that Mr.. Coffin
had rented these houses with a full
knowledge of the purposes to which they
were to be put. This is all / have to say
about the matter and L intend to let it rest
there.
AS TO the other cases which were on the
docket when Mr.. Hoffman was prosecutor,
cases in which there were no lack of wit
nesses against the saloon keepers, live
keepers and gamblers under Indictment Mr..
Hoffman made absolutely allusion. 1t
may be that his memory tagged on all but
two instances, which he used rather
maladroitly for a gentleman of his ability.
Is means of prejudicing his audience
against member of the committee which
has made il hot for him.
THE DEFENSE"
The defense may be summed up as fol-
| lows:
Abuse of the committee.
The plea OF lack of memory.
Selection of two cases calculated to throw
| discredit n member of the committee
| with absolute disregard of about 100 other
| cases OF greater fagrancy.
The remainder of Mr.. Holtzman's speech
| was rehash of the written address deiv-
| cred as his keynote. Mr.. Bookwalter' 5
| financial policy attacked with the
| same loquacity and the same lack of sub
! stantial facts; Mr.. Logsdon was attacked
| as n protector of gamblers. the language of
| this portion of the speech bearing a strong
resemblance 10 editorials from the Indian
| apolis News about the time of the Stahl
| fiasIo; charges OF bad administration of all
| departments were made and everything was
belittled that occurred To Mr.. Hoffman as
worthy of belittling.
The hall at the corner of Washington
street and Eastern avenue was about half
| filled, there being at a liberal estimate zoo
| people present A number left during the
| speech. The meeting was opened by DIR.
| Nj. j. Spencer. who presided. He intro
| duced Edward Little, candidate for police
| Judge who spoke for half an hour i'm a
painful sort Of way. Mr.. Little alluded
several times to Mr.. Hoffman as "the next
mayor OF Indianapolis" and Ii was treat
TO see the SNUG complacency that settled
/ over the face of Mr.. Hoffman. The ref
| erences however. were not received with
] that tumultuous enthusiasm which might
naturally have been expected from a Demo
\ cratic audience. Mr.. Little finally backed
| away from the platform paying his audi
ence the graceful compliment OF hoping
/ that he would not see them so often when
he became police judge.