The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24
EARL MARTIN INVOLVED
SMITH SAYS FORMER NEWS EDITOR
BROUGHT HIM TO THE CITY.
James VI. Noel and Others Said to
Have Been COgnizanf Of Smiths
PIans-Duncan's Statement.

A young man who calls himself James
Smith was released from Imprisonment in
the police station late yesterday afternoon
under five thousand dollar bond after he
had been arrested on the charge Of having
attempted TO bribe Edwin d. Logsdon,
member of the Board OF Public Works. and
after he had implicated members Of the
Citizens League Of Indianapolis: DIR.
George z. Hunt, its secretary; James w.
Noel. prosecuting attorney before the coun-
cilmanic investigating committee which is
trying to ferret out charges made by men,
bers of the Citizens League against Mr..
Logsdon, and Earl z. Martin. formerly
managing editor OF the indianapolis News.
The specific charge against Smith is that
he offered Logsdon $500 for the campaign
fund for the privilege Of operating $50 slot
machines in Indianapolis without molesta-
tion. and he admitted to the detectives that
he had talked with Iogsdon at the instance
OF Noel. DR.. Hunt Martin and others in an
attempt to secure evidence against Mr..
Logsdon for presentation to the Council in
vestigating committee
Smith. as he calls himself. is a St. Louis
detective and has been in the city for three
weeks In the employ OF the Citizens
League. His arrest was at the request OF
Mr.. Logsdon. who notified Superintendent
OF Police Taffe OF the attempt being made
and requested him to have the man ar
rested.
Smith was arrested as he left Mr.. LOGS
don's office in the De Soto building, yes
day morning at IL o'clock by Detectives
Colbert and Hauser. Colbert went upstairs
and found Smith in conversation with
Logsdon, while Hauser waited below for
him to appear. When the interview with
Logsdon ended Colbert met Smith at the
foot OF the stairs and with Hauser placed
him under arrest and told him he would
have to go to the police station.
SMITH WAS ANXIOUS.
Smith demanded to know the reason for
his arrest. but was given little or no salts
faction until he reached the police sta
tion- His persistent questioning availed
nothing and the specific charge against
him was not revealed En- route to the DO
lice station. as the detectives walked the
prisoner through the courthouse yard
Smith turned suddenly to Colbert and said
Whats this. some OF Logsdon's work?r
This was considered significant
He was given no reply and was allowed
to remain in ignorance OF the charge until
he was taken before Superintendent OF Po-
lice Taffe. In the superintendent's Office
Smith was the subject of merciless cross
questioning from the superintendent and
the two detectives. He was questioned
until he showed an inclination to talk of
his connection with Logsdon, and then,
piece-meal. he told of his relations with
the Citizens League OF Indianapolis.
SMITHS STORY TO DETECTIVES.
Smith said he received a telegram from a
"man named Martini" who was employed
by the indianapolis News, about three
weeks ago. asking him TO come to Indian
apoIis. He said he was employed by Mar
tin to secure evidence against Mr.. Logs
don and 10 work on the case" for the
Citizens League. He said he came to In
dianapolis I'm response TO the telegram, and
frequently met DR.. George E. Hunt, James
w. Noel, Martin and other persons con-
nected with the Citizens League In various
parts OF Indianapolis. At these meetings
he made daily reports and was given in
structions. and he stated that all OF the
persons to whom he talked knew person
ally of the attempt he was to make and
were conversant with the details OF its con-
ception-
Smith told Detective Colbert and the
others that the first detail was TO secure
something by which Logsdon could be de-
ceived in the man he was TO deal with. The
slot machine scheme appealed to Smith and
others as being a good one and one that
would accomplish the purpose A telegram.
bogus one. was. he said. prepared. which
stated TO Smith, who was TO receive II. that
he as agent OF the company sending the
telegram, a supposed New York slot ma
chine company. was to arrange for the
placing OF $50 slot machines in indianapolis.
Smith said all OF the members of the Citi-
ems League with whom he talked were
conversant with the matter He was in
structed. he said. by DIR. Hunt TO go 10
Fred Heier's Wednesday and he would
"hnd a telegram waiting for him there"
GOT THE TELEGRAM
Smith said he secured the telegram az
Hefer's saloon and with IL and the refer
ences Of Gus Rahke. Fred Heller and other