The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-05-04


supplies sold to them. He gave &c
Governor Harmon. after he left tn,
Ruggles-Gale Company, books of that
company containing entries of alleged
commissions paid to s;a,e officers. This
started Governor Harmon on the trai
of what he considered graft. Evidence
obtained by him was turned over &c
the Beatty legislative Investigating
committee, which had accountants
working on the books of the Ruggles.
Gale Company for many weeks.
Evidence obtained by state examin-
ers showed graft trail that is said
to have led into three state depart
ments and more than half of the coun-
ties of Ohio. The Franklin County
grand jury took up the investigation
then. Former purchasing clerks in the
offices of the secretary of state and
railroad commission, in addition to
Judge John T. Gale, president of the
Ruggles-Gale Company; George L..
Ruggles, former president of the con-
cern, and John w. McCafferty, for
mer official of the county and former
warm personal friend and business
associate of Ross.
Several After Ross.
These indictments are said to have
brought considerable wrath down on
Ross and herculean efforts have been
made, IL Is asserted, to have him in
dicted. Charles Brown, former sales-
man for the Ruggles-Gale Company
asked to testify before the Beatty
graft probe COMMITTEES, against Ross,
1t is believed, but he was denied the
privilege. 1t Is said a former county
salesman for the Ruggles- Gale Com
pany gave the testimony which re-
suited in Ross Indictment.
The first indictment against De
Weese AYERS that false charge for
witness fees. aggregatlng $11, was
made In his expense account for
Sl9lS3, which he collected from the
state treasurer March 81. 1907. An al
legged false charge OF Sl3 for similar
fees is alleged to have been made in
an expense account, collected by DE
Weese oct. 3, 1907.
DeWeese might have escaped an in
but for n charge made by
former Deputy Fire Marshal Williams
TO the Beatty probe committee, that
DeWeese collected on false accounts
for witness fees.--ohio state Journal.
Gillespie Denies IL.
Joseph ID. Gillespie, former Marion
county commissioner, indicted on
three counts for receiving $lO4.75
worth of clothing from representa-
tives of the Ruggles- Gale company,
today absolutely denied the truth of
the charges against him to a repre-
sentative of the Mirror
Mr. Gillespie states that he does
not even know James Ross, who was
for giving him the wearing
apparel and furthermore offers evil
dence to show that he is innocent.
Mr.. Gillespie says, and the records
bear him out I'm the statement, that
during his term of office all supplies
were purchased by the various coun.
ty officers and that no bills for such
were allowed by the COM
missioners without the officers hav-
ins first approved them. In the com
missloners' office, the records show
that in 1908 the purchases from the
Ruggles-Gale company amounted to
$2S.25 while in 1909 the purchases
from the Ruggles- Gale company
were less than 500.
Mr.. Gillespie cites the names Of the |
officers In the court-houre at the time
he Is alleged to have received gifts
for allowing padded bills for sup
plies, as evidence of the falsity of |
the charges. At that time c. L. Allen
was county auditor; G.. II. Foster, |
probate judge; w G. Wottring, treas
urer; w W. Klinefelter, clerk of
courts; John A. Key, recorder: Ed
ward S. Ault, surveyor, and Easton
=. Drown, sheriff.
Mr.. Gillespie is probably one of the
best known men in Marion county.
He owns a large farm near LaRue. /
He came to Marion this morning inn
nediately after learning of the in
lictments against him in Franklin
county, and after he had read the ac-
count in the morning papers, en-
oloyed attorney Crissinger and Guth-
Try, and Mouser and Moloney to take
,harge of his case.
Mr.. Gillespie and his attorneys
vent to Columbus on the Hooking
Valley this afternoon. The indicted
nan will present himself in court
md secure his release on bond. In
Marion today Mr.. Gillespie was met
)n every hand and assured by his
friends that they do not believe the
charges brought against him.
Grant e. Mouser and Fred e. Guth-
Try, of counsel for the defendant,
stated that they consider the indict-
nent of Mr. Gillespie as nothing less
han an outrage. Mr.. Mouser con-
.inued:
"Those bills for supplies in the
'arious Offices were verified and APP
proved by the county officers who
ordered them. 1t is outrageous and
impossible to think that the officials
we're in any scheme to defraud the
county and If the commissioner was
n such scheme the officials would
have to be In also.
'Mr Gillespie Is one OF Marion
'ounty's most highly respected men
md II is a shame that such an alb
'urd charge should be made against
l., aaf Ns,t. %. nkI tat