The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-09
FLOOD OF CLEWS
Swamp TURNER
Prosecutor AdjOurnS Grand Jury
Until Monday.
MORE INDICTMENTS PROMISED

Bribery Dragnet - Wet and Dry
Campaigns In Assembly May Also
Produce Pay Dlrt--Turner Says
Evidence Produced by Detectives is
but Small Part of Testimony Upon
Which to Work.
Columbus, o., May 5.-Work of in.
vestigation of bribery charges against
members of the Ohio legislature
has been discontinued until next
Monday. Norton Loundon, secretary
to Former Governor Herrick; Robert
Wolfe, owner of two Columbus news
papers; Franklin Rubrecht, a Colum-
bus attorney; Opha Moore of the
Ohio Manufacturers association and
Archie Huston we're among witnesses
examined Mr.. Huston is connected
with the Buckeye Transfer company
of Columbus lie is supposed to
know something Of Joy rides said to
have been taken by representatives
as guests of the optometrists.
G. N. Mcdonald, president of the
National Association of Optometrists,
who was to have testified was ex-
cused. The grand jury will be in ses-
sion next week and will finish its
work about Wednesday or Thursday.
From members of the assembly,
from anonymous letters and from de-
tectives a great amount of material,
most of II unfavorable, has been col
lected for the consideration of the
grand jury. Turner, while indicating
that there were important develop
ments to come, and while stating
clearly that the evidence secured by
detectives while acting as lobbyists
comprised only small part of the
clews secured, refused to say just
how may Legislators would be indict-
ed. There is every likelihood that
the indictments will affect past as
we'll as present members, and that
wet and dry campaigns which have
featured in recent sessions will fur
nish pay dirt in the corruption probe.
DR.. Nye, the indicted representative
from Pike county, will be placed on
trial Monday, May II. The other
trials will be taken up Immediately
after
Two indictments Indicated.
When the jury meets again 1t Is
believed that two or more legislators
will be indicted at once, and that
other indictments will follow during
the week. That these will be numer-
Gus was forecasted when Mr.. Turner,
the prosecutor, announced that the
grand jury would have to let up until
Monday in order that he and his as
sistants and Attorney General Hogan
could examine into proffered evidence
involving many legislators.
Representative Nye was the only
indicted solon not in his seat when
the two branches of the legislature
convened. Representative Lowry ar
rived an hour before the starting
time and was in conference with
Speaker Vining in the latter's office
When he reported on the floor a mum
Der of representatives shook hands
with him.
Senators Cetone and Huffman
reached the senate together five min
utes before Lieutenant Governor
Nichols called that body to order
Senator Andrews closely followed
them, and Sergeant-at-Arms Diego
came last. All three senators went
straight to their desks and busted
themselves about legislative matters
They signed several committee re
ports.
Rev. w. r.. Riebel, in the house
prayed that the members should be
"hlled with great disgust for all evi
and dishonest things" In the senate
Rev. l., c. IIaddox asked divine guild
, ance to keep us from the tempta
! tions that snare u.s..
Asks Suspended Judgment.
The first definite reference on tn,
fioor of either house or senate to tn,
indictment of legislators on boodl,
charges came when Representativ,
+. Ratliff OF Hamilton county asket
y members to suspend judgment ol
= Representative Lowry until he wa
y proven guilty.
= Ratliif declared Speaker Vining'
statements showed Lowry to hav,
:, been enmeshed in circumstances tina
:, We're easily eXplainable. He told o
y Lowry being asked to aocompan,
Representative George B, Nye to ac
y as a witness in catching the allege'
II bribers.
- "If you believe the speaker OF thi
. house, you believe me, and IL you be
:" ', lieve mo you must believe DR.. Lowr
u innocent" said Ratliff. 'Dr. Lowr
: was picked out because of his spot
< less reputation" Lowry wept as Rat
II liff spoke for him.
" The fact that all the indicted me
, have retained the same law firm-Be
8 cher & Connor-is taken to mea
T. that all will set up the same defense
!. The general belief is that all will joi
u with Representative Nye in the pie
i that they were setting trap to cate
Z supposed lohbyists-bribers. This