The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-02
FLOYD A. WOODS ON THE STAND
HE TEsTIFIEs AS sTOCKHOLDER In
MARION COUNTY COMPANY.
Had No Talks with Logsdon About
Contracts and Knows OF No Irregu-
larities-H. u. Brown and Others.

Be1ore the Council COmrnittee on lnNeSIi-
cation and impeachment. which resumed its
sessions last night after Just a months in
terruption. eight witnesses were called TO
tell what they knew personally of the let
ting of the street sweeping and sprinkling
contracts of 1902 and 1908. with particular
reference TO the bids Of the Marion County
Construction Company. and every one OF
the eight declared he had no personal
knowledge of the manner in which the
contracts were awarded.
Hilton U. Brown. manager of the Indian
apolis News. now under Indictment for con-
spring to corrupt Edwin ID. Logsdon. of
the Board of Public Works: Floyd A.
Woods and William N. Gates. both stock
holders of the Marion County Construction
Company: John F. Lyons and Cornelius
Sheridan, both foremen for the Marion
County Construction Company: James w.
Noel, formerly the attorney conducting the
investigation. and also under indictment
for conspiracy to bribe; William c. Smith,
secretary of the Marion County Construction
Company. and Lucius b. Swift. member Of.
the executive committee Of the Citizens
League. were the men who testified. Abso-
lutely nothing that could assist the COM
mittee in probing the matters OF contract
letting were ELECTED from these gentlemen.
Not only did they declare they knew moth
ing of their own personal knowledge as to
the manner of awarding the contracts. but
they swore they knew of no persons whose
testimony would be Of value other than
have already been before the committee.
The session OF the committee was begun
at O'Clock and adjournment was taken at
10. and. while there were a number OF in
teresting passages at arms during the two
hours. there were no fish caught in the net.
A water haul resulted. The committee will
meet again tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock.
NOEL WAS BELLIcOsE.
Perhaps the most surprising feature Of the
session was the attitude of Attorney Noel.
To every question put to him by Mr..
Ketcham on cross-examination Mr. Noel
insisted on returning either an explanation
or an evasion. When he was asked II he
had told Oliver p. Ensley that he believed
Mr.. Logsdon was an honest man and las
straight as a string" Mr.. Noel split hairs
until the patience of the committee and the
attorneys was well-nigh exhausted. When
he was asked as to conversations he had
held with the members of the committee
on the same subject. he answered by say
ing that he did not want TO open up that
controversy again. referring. to the sworn
statement Of Thomas A. Wynne, chairman
of the committee. that he had told him
(Wynne) that Logsdon was honest and
that there was no evidence against him.
Still later. when Mr.. wynne refused 10 let
him depart from the line OF Investigation
that Council provided for-the matter of
the sweeping and sprinkiIng contracts-he
told Mr.. Wynne fatty that he had been
authorized TO go into all matters OF official
49,. ~
that statement, Noel came within an ace OF
passing the lie. Matters looked warm for
a few minutes. but the chairman of the
committee preserved his temper and Noel
left the stand.
The first witness called was William N
Gates. brother of Harry B. Gates. and a
Company. which secured a three years
sweeping contract in 1902. Mr.. Gates
testified that he now holds s3.oC
sressed sress his the orsna s1mRanyh holding hayns 10
He had absolutely nothing 10 do with the
letting of the sweeping contract. he de-
Megrew. Mr.. Mcguire or Mr.. Logsdon. the
members OF the Board OF Public Works.
He had no knowledge whatever OF the
figuring on the contract was done by Presi-
dent Seibert and Secretary Smith. OF the
Company, Mr.. Gates said, and that was as
held conference with Edwin d. Logsdon
of any kind he said.
NOEL ON THE STAND.
James w. Noel testified that he had gone
into the investigation OF these matters April
20, when employed as attorney by the COM
mittee. The committee had held thirteen
sessions, he believed. prior TO the time OF
his discharge A list OF the witnesses who
had been examined was read and Mr.. Noel
was asked If he had contemplated bringing
others before the committee. He replied
that the investigation of the sweeping and
sprinklng contracts was about completed.
but that he had intended to summon Harry
b. Gates, William ~. Gates. Floyd A.
Woods, Medford b. Wilson, Romney l.
Wilson and George w. Seibert before the
committee to tell what they knew. Attor-
yestigation. informed Mr.. Noel that the wit
nesses desired by the committee were
wanted to testify on the sprinkling and
s~eepig 1; ork ias' raS,sS
by the resolution of Council Mr.. Noel then
stated that he had expected 10 examine the
books OF the Marion County Construction
Company. He had made a diligent and
painstaking examination OF every fact and
of every person which or who might throw
any light the matters before the COMFY
mittee, he said, but he had found that while
people had been suggested TO him know
| ing great deal, il usually resulted in their
telling him that they knew nothing. or that
they could not talk because their relations
with the persons under rre had been that
of attorney and client, consequently confi-
Dental. He suggested that Conrad Rust
be called testify who wrote the letter
mentioned as having been shown 20 r. w.
| Fuehring. IL was written BY fireman BY
the name of Deiisr % or Daiier: he though,
suggest he said. Toward the ciose OF
direct examination Mr.. Noel attempted 20
| informed both by Attorney Bosson and
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