New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-23
indianapolis Grand Jury
men Accuse Mayor and
Chief of Police.
CONSPIRACY CHARGED
IN 1914 ELECTION
Started with Primary in May
Democratic Committeeman
Asserts Innocence.

man for Indiana; Mayor Joseph r.
/ Bell. Chief of Police Samuel V. Per-
l rott and 125 others were indicted by
the Marion County Grand Jury to-day,
charged with conspiracy TO commit fell
onies in violation of election laws,
bribery and blackmail.
Not half of the 12s defendants had
surrendered to Sheriff George V. Coffin
and given bond tonight. Messrs. Tag
CART, Perrott and Robert W. Metzger,
Republican member of the Board of
Public Safety, however, were among
the first to acknowledge service and
give surety.
Mr.. Taggart and Mayor Bell tonight
proclaimed their innocence, and as
serted they had committed no crimes
for which they should be indicted.
az have not been able to find out
what have been indicted for" snid
Mr.. Taggart. 81 have not seen the in
dictment, and when our attorneys
asked for copies they were told the in
dictment was not ready to spread upon
the record. Until know with what |
am charged. obviously there is little
for me TO say"
Mr.. Taggart added that he would re-
main in indianapolis until bonds were
provided for all those who were in
dicted.
Mayor Bell declared that he was
ready for trial now. ~ have violated
no law" he said, land the story in
the newspapers to-day was the first in
timation that ! had Of the indictment.
After our attorneys have had an op-
portunity to examine the indictment l
may have something to say"
No Difficulty in Getting Bail.
The SheriT's Office was crowded all
afternoon with defendants and their
friends arranging bonds. Only q few
capiases were served outside of the
Sberif's Office. While a few Of the
bonds were provided by surety com
panies, the majority of those offered
we're bv friends of the indicted men.
None seemed to have difficulty IN fur
nishing the required surety.
All the men Democrats, Republicans
and Progressives- named IN
single indictment, which contains forty
eight counts and covers 22S typewrlt-
ten papers. The bill charges that the
conspiracy began prior to the primary
of Nav >, 1914, and extended through
the election of November 3, 1914.
Included among those indicted are
several primary, registration and elec-
ton officials. The indictment charges
them with conspiring TO permit persons
to register falsely and to vote 1aIseIy
in the primary and in the election; An
other count charges persons with re-
peating.
Other counts allege that certain pri-
mary and election boards permitted the
destruction Of ballots for the purpose
of substituting other ballots therefor;
Two counts set up conspiracy TO ald
and abet primary poll clerks IN marK-
ing ballots IN manner dlHerentiy
from that requested by the voter, while
other counts alleged the use of money
in influencing the electors, both at the
primary and in the general election. In
this connection another count charges
certain election officials with giving in
formation TO outsiders as TO how some
of the electors voted.
Charge Repeaters Were Imported.
Padding the tally sheets for certain
candidates is alleged in another Sec
tion of the indictment, while another
count charges policemen were permitted
to stand within fifty feet of the polls
for improper purposes" in violation OF
the state law. Repeaters were import
cd from outside Of the county for use
in the election, il is asserted in the IN
dictment.
Several counts charge election Off
cials with failing TO do their duty III
connection with having the voting ma
chimes in proper order, with falling TO
have KEYS to unlock the machines on
the morning of the election, with fail
ing to examine the machines, and with
tampering with the machines during
the day.
Conviction on the charge of conspir-
ing TO commit a felony carries with it
a fine Of not less than SO nor more
than $4,000, and Imprisonment of not
less than two years or more than four
teen years.
The grand jury, under the guidance
of Prosecutor Alvah J. Rucker, has been
investigating election conditions since
early last January, and 1887 witnesses
were examined.
The bill names the largest number of
men ever accused in single indict-
ment. II contains two more than were
named by the Federal Grand Jury here
after its investigation of the Terre
Haute election conspiracy. In that case
llo arrests were made, and all were
either convicted by jury or pleaded
guilty.
Among Those Indicted.
Members of Mayor Bells official
family, former city officials, policemen,
ward leaders and primary and election
officials are among those indicted. The
more pro linent are: Herman Adam,
city sealer of weights and measures;
Dennis Bush, Street Commissioner;
Edward Lyons, Democratic candidate
for County Treasurer; Dr. John W.
Sluss, Republican and former superin-
tendent of the City Hospital; Dan NJ.
Roberts, ex-Mayor OF Terre Haute, who
was convicted in the election fraud
trial in the Federal Court here re-
Gently; Charles Coval, formerly Mayor
Bells secretary; Jacob II. Hilkene,
city bdilding Inspector; Oscar Merrill,
police lieutenant; James s. Rockford.
superintendent of street cleaning;
William Clauer, clerk Of the Board Of
Safety; James Hegerty, custodian of
the City Hall; Nelson Hyde, former
member Of the Board Of Safety; Will
lam A. Mcconnell, city veterinarian,
and William T. Brown. clerk of the
Board of County Commissioners.
Several patrolmen and two police
sergeants are also named.