The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-20
In Palm Of Jury Foreman's
Hand Rests Answer, will
Vermillion County, ILL.,, Be
Purified?"
CIRCUIT JUDGE TO
GET INVESTIGATION
He Calls Grand Jury and the
Foreman Now Says He
Will Probe into the Elec-I
ton of His Honor.
palladium Specially


Danville. ILL.,, Jan. 20.-Judge L. r.
E. kimbrough. who instructed the
Vermillion county grand jury to inves-
tigate vote selling in the county open
ed his mouth and put his foot in it,
by SO doing, for Isaac Woodyard, fore
man of the jury. says he will inyesti-
gate the Judges election along with
the others. When Kimbrough was
compelled, by public sentiment, to or
der the investigation he instructed the
jury to investigate only election brib-
cries." which investigation may only
go back eighteen months. The Judge
was elected three years ago. Foreman
woodward looked into the matter and
found he could 60 back three years or
to the time of Kimbrough's election
under the "city election law" which
provides a penalty for election con-
spiracy. And he says he will do II.
Not only will this involve Judge Kim.
brough, but also John H. Lewman,
states attorney; John 7. Shepard.
sheriff, and Louis Plat, mayor of DAN
vile. together with other city and
county officials.
They Are Very Frank.
Judge Kimbrough does not deny his
election cost him much money. Platt.
the mayor, is Joe Cannon's right bow
er in vermillion county politics. Al
so he is business partner OF Judge
Kimbrough He admits that the last
election cost him $4,000 cash. spent
about $4,000 in the election, said he
on Saturday, land l know it went for
vote buying, but just how / cannot say.
l got rid of it through ward heelers.
| For instance man came to me and
said he wanted $500 to spend in the
third ward. gave it to him and that
is all l know about it." Commercial
izing elections is an art, at which Ver-
million county public and private citi-
zens are past masters. The system is
wholesale and retail
To go back step or two and see
how all this rumpus was stirred up.
Over at West Union, Ohio, vote-seli-
ing scandal was uncovered which stirr-
ed the entire country.
Citizens of Vermillion county, iii.
nois, read the dispatches from Ohio
and said; MY, my; why that's just
like it is here, only it's lots worse here
than it is over there. We've known
| it ever SO long but what's the use OF
saying anything; it doesn't do any
good"
Murmur Grows Louder.
Then came more dispatches and the
talk increased. Editorial comment
comparing conditions in Ohio and Yer.
million county, appeared in the local
press. The murmur grew louder. Pub
lie officials began to fidget. They
didn't want any investigation. The
people continued to talk, but without
much thought of obtaining an investi
cation.
Unconsciously they were soaring the
public servants, who. common talk has
| it. all were elected by votes at one dol.
lar and up, Just like room at hotel
Or pair Of boots. or sack OF flour
Without warning Judge E. r. +
! Kimbrough. Of the circuit court, in
structed the grand jury to investigate
alleged vote-seiling in Vermiilion coun.
tty. Then he said he would do nothing
| further, as lie was ..out from under
having given the instructions.
! Now comes States attorney. John F.
Lewman and says he will not do any
thing unless evidence is placed in his
hands concerning the yote-selling-
| Thus it is that in the palm of the
grand jury foreman's hands rests the
answer. And he is conservative
| man. saying little. doing much. Nc
action is looked for from him before
next Monday, but it is expected he
will make good his promise to clean
up the county politics.