The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-11
Sullivan County Citizen Illegally As
suming Office of Sheriff Must Not
Go Too Far.
STATES PATIENCE Is LONG
SIGNS INDICATE, HOWEVER, THAT
THE LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED.
Prosecutor and Coroner VIII Be Given
Their Opportunity, then Summary
Action May BE Taken.

John s. Dudley, the Sullivan county citi-
zen who Is assuming the duties Of sheriff
after being deposed by the law and found
guilty Of negligence by Governor Durbin,
may yet try the patience of the State au-
thorities to such point that summary
action will be taken. That Dudley and the
Sullivan county authorities who are said
to be abetting him in his disregard of law
and executive ruling may go too far is the
thinly-veiled. but acknowledgements
opinion of Attorney General Charles w.
Miller. who, with Governor Durbin, is CIV
ing the Dudley case the closest scrutiny.
"How long does the State intend to re-
main quiescent in the face of the devel-
opments in Sullivan county?" Mr.. Miller
was asked yesterday.
"It is not the duty Of the State to take
action" he replied, until the prosecutor
and the coroner, both of whom are empow-
cred to take legal steps to oust Dudley,
clearly demonstrate that they can or will
do nothing
But supposing that neither the prose-
cutor nor Coroner Maxwell will take the
necessary steps, by quo warranto proceed
ings or other procedure. what does the
State intend to do about it?'
THERE is A WAY.
'That is the question which the Governor
and myself are considering" replied Mr..
Miller. "As for myself. 1 have not yet
gone into the legal phases of the problem
as thoroughly as / desire to, but / believe
that there is a way for the State to put
an end to this species of law violation
If IL comes to a showdown"
Attorney General Miller then stated that
the prosecutor and the coroner will be
given every opportunity to do their plain
duty in the matter and that no hasty ac-
ton would be taken by the State: but he
other things, there is time when patience
ceases TO be virtue.
when a commonwealth proceeds to take
action in a matter of this kind" Mr. Miller
observed, 1.-The best plan always is to find
out lust exactly what may or may not be
done. 1t is another application of, BE sure
you are right and then go ahead policy. L
am now examining carefully the statute
under which Mr.. Dudley was deposed. II is
a self-acting statute and one that admits
perhaps of more than one interpretation
The question that arises is whether Dud-
lev. allowing that he had a vested right
i'm the property of his Office could have
been deposed without first being given a
hearing Nevertheless, l am of the opin-
ion that the State cat get at the matter"
Neither the Governor nor the attorney
general is I'm a position at the present time
to give the Dudley case their fullest atten-
ton The Governor is almost entirely oc-
cupied with business arising on account
of the session of the Legislature and Mr.
Miller Is handicapped by coming into his
office at time when its duties are mulfi-
piled for the same reason. He has hardly
had time 10 pick up the loose ends" and.
in addition. the office force is crippled bv
the illness of Mr.. Hadley.
The sentiment around the Statehouse is
that Dudley had better look little out !"