South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-11
HOIIer Says City Employees Made
Out 1000 False RegiStra-
tiOnS and Compelled Under
world HabitueS to Assist.
FOUR MORE LIKELY
TO PLEAD GUILTY
Saloon Men and Gamblers Fear
Too Strong Efforts to Save
big Three" Roberts, Red
man and Shea.

INDIANAPOLIS, March Il. - The
story of the alleged power Of a police
department over saloon men and the
underworld" utilized TO promote
crooked elections was told in federal
court today by John Edward HOller,
formerly police chief at Terre Haute,
when he testified against Mayor Donn
NJ. Roberts and 27 other Nigo county
politicians charged with conspiracy In
election frauds. Holler was indicted
by the federal grand jury but later
became a government witness.
Holler swOre that Mayor Roberts
had directed him to take charge OF
making over 1000 false registrations;
that he CHoller) had 20 city employees
TO do the work and personally show
ed them how to make out false regis
tratiOn cards.
HOller directly charged Mayor Rob-
arts and former Controller Talbot
with being active in directing or as
sisting in false registration work.
During his examination Holler
named many dive keepers and saloon
keepers with whom he had worked
hand inland"
Four May Plead Guilty.
Persistent rumors that at least four
of the 2S defendants now on trial
would throw themselves on the mercy
of the court by changing their pleas
to guilty along with the SO who already
have taken that stand, We're heard
before the opening of court today. Be
lief was expressed that the trend OF
the testimony within the next two
days will determine the matter. Ru-
NOR had it that the gamblers and
salOOnkeeprs involved had openly eX-
pressed fear that too strong efforts
were being made TO save the big
three"-Mayor Robert. Judge Eli Red
man and Sheriff Dennis Shea.
In answer TO questioning by Dist.
Atty. Daley, former Chief of Police
Ed Holler admitted that he had con-
suited Roberts regarding work at the
registration last November.
Roberts said we had to have about
$500 registrations" said Holer. He
said to get some boys and fix them
out. He said Slim COordes would be
a good man."
Holler said he appOrtiOned the false
registrations for each ward, determ-
lining the number on a basis of what
each precinct would stand" HOller
said there were no legitimate registra-
tiOn blanks use I; that the regiStra-
ton blanks were obtained from dem
Ocratic headquarters and the little
cards" were brought down to police
headquarters in a suit case by Mayor
Roberts. The delicious names being
taken from a gistration of two years
prior and addresses of saloons and
rOOming houses used as a 'precau-
ton"
Made 80 Cards Himself.
HOller admitted making about 40 OF
the cards himself Ito start the boys
off,
Holler testified that arrangements
were made for a lot OF automobiles.
most of them belonging TO saloon
keepers. These were placed in charge
of "fOremen" who selected their own
drivers, the latter being paid So each
by City Controller Talbot. From
saloons men were paid % cents for
each false registration. Holler said.
HOller swore that many city autOmo-
biles also we're used in the alleged
false registration work. The only
fellow he personally hired who was
80. K.'d" by Roberts was Ernest Sill
vers.
Holler also testified that he was at
red light district on registration day
where frankie Hess his wife and Otto
TRAILER were making out registration
applications and sending men out in
automobiles.
Holler admitted that they worked
hand-in- hand with the salOonkeepers
When Congressman Stanley. chief
counsel Tor the deIenSe attempted To
object To certain portions of HOller's
testimony. Judge Anderson explained
the conspiracy charge saying that no
matter how far apart in time were the
acts. men assisting in the conspiracy
were conspiratOrs.
Collected From Saloon Keepers.
HOfler further testified that he gave
authority 10 a man named Wagner TO
open a house of ill-fame providing he
got busy on registration day" This
was done through Assistant Nugent.
Holler admitted collecting money
work.
John Nugenf formerly assistant
chief OF police was expected 10 fol-
low Holler. Nugent is alleged 10 have
manipulated election work through
saloonists and gamblers.
The government continued yester-
day afternoon TO unfold its evidence
TO show that the conspiracy 10 de-
bauch the elections by the admissions
OF former city employees who said they
worked in the city hall. in the old en-
gineer's office and the old controller.
office preparing more than 1000 false
registration applications which later
found their way into the registration
books and were copied on the poll
books SO that the "repesters" might
be voted.
Identities False Cards.
Dist ATTY. Daley identified 916
false registrations made ont in the
city hall by Walter Coordes. Harry
Forebeck. Claude Patton. Thomas
Hanley. Edward Holler. city employees
and David Kints, comprising the of