The Detroit times., 1915-03-26
Terre Haute Election
Scandal Takes New
Turn
BREWERY MONEY
GOES FOR VOTES
Fairbanks Man Is Grill
ed on Witness
Stand
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. March 25.-

INDIANAPOLIS Ind, March 25.-
There was much speculation here to
day whether Distric; Attorney
Daley. who is conducting the Terrc
Haute election corruption conspiracy
trial has something up his sleeve. .
For two consecutive days witnesses
under his guidance have for the mo-
ment left the 2S defendants and have
brought In Crawford Fairbanks. the
wealthlest man In Indiana. the Terre
Haute brewer and recognized leader.
with Thomas Taggart, OF the Demo
cratic. party In this state.
The brewers confidential agent,
Adolph Gagg. was forced 10 admit
that through him Mr., Fairbanks con.
tribnted si,500 to the "slush" fund.
which confessed conspirators have
said Was used TO buy votes at 81 a
head.
In an interview few days before
Mayor Dom A. Roberts and his Ii5
political aides were indicted. Mr..
Fairbanks declared that he had re-
tired from politics year before the
recent eiection and that he knew
nothing OF conditions.
Evidence in the hands OF District
Attorney Daley. which has no, yet
been wrought out. but which caused
him TO direct the arrest OF Mayor
Roberts Sheriff Dennis Shea, City
Judge Thomas Smith and Alexander
Steel. ON the charge OF tampering
with Witnesses, became known to-
day One OF tho confessed conspir
ators will testify that soon after he
appeared before the grand jury he
was thrown into the Terre Haute
jail and left there for weeks with
out care and with barely sufficient
food.
His statement is that he was not
allowed to shsye, and that when his
lace was matted with filthy hair he
tried with match 10 temper a
piece OF iron TO q degree where II
could be used as razor. He was
not allowed a bath during those
weeks, be said. His evidence prob
ably will be heard when the four
prisoners are tried on the additional
charges.
II became known today that the
defense was summoning witnesses
for Friday OF this week. This indi-
Gated that the government would
close after three weeks OF taking
evidence. which would be much
earlier than previously predicted.
Mayor Roberts was taken TO court
today In the custody OF the marshal.
Although the mayors attitude has
changed greatly during the trial, the
loyalty OF Mrs Roberts and his
daughter Mathiidc, 20. has been un-
faltering. Before nc had been in
his cell six minutes last night Mrs.
Roberts applied for permit to see
him. Miss Mathllde was FIRST aide
TO Attorney A. o. Stanley, carrying
10 him confidential letters and pack
ages OF documents.
Leo Smith, attorney for defendant
Arthur ellis the undertaken. today
fled with the federal clerk sub
penaes for nine defense witnesses
for Friday, this week. Witnesses
have testified that ellis was prom
ised the business OF hauling the
city's dead in return for alleged
crooked work at the polls.
Thomas Taggart, Democratic ma
tional committeeman for Indiana,
was directly connected with Mayor
Dom NJ. Roberts In the sensational
corruption conspiracy trial this al
ternoon when T.. G.. Bruenig. agent
for the National Surety company,
testified that Taggart Unidentified
the surety company and paid
premium OF 5000 in order to obtain
the release OF Roberts under $4,000
bond when Roberts was indicted
with his 1l5 political aides.
Mayor Roberts was again released