Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-23
THE TURNING POINT
IN TERRE HAUTE
How the Evidence of Criminal Con-
spiracy in the Last Election Was
Secured-Seemingly Trihing Incl
dents Made Prosecution Possible.
BY IRWIN L. GORDON
VIII

BY IRWIN L. GORDON
VIII.
LNNACTLY how the Government first be
Leame interested in the Terre Haute case
has not come to light. A surprisingly shor
time, however after Judge A. r. Anderson
who is now trying the case was petltionet
by the women of Terre Haute, and after sew.
eral of the prominent citizens visited the
Judge and District Attorney, Frank a.
DALEY, at indianapolis, things began to
move.
The first great question to be settled was:
Has The United States Government any right
to interfere in an election? It was pointed
out to the officials that no redress whatever
could be obtained in the State courts-they
were owned body and soul by Roberts and
Fairbanks 1t further argued that the
! United states Government did have the right
to step in when Senator or Representative
was elected. If fraud was pcrpetrated, it
was fraud upon the United states.
The general proposition was placed before
the Attorney General He, as well as num-
Der of eminent jursts, passed upon the ques-
tion, and it was finally decided to push the
case, In fact, definite orders were issued in
! Washington.
| Secret service men disguised as umbrella
members, Tcnderloin habitues and gamblers,
visited Terro Haute They made their homes
in the saloons Of the notorious 9th Ward and
kept watch upon the men who We're supposed
to have been responsible for the election
frauds, No arrests, however were made at
tins time.
Bold and Bra2en Deal
While the Investigation was in progress
one of the boldcst pieces of judicial trickery
in the history of the West was perpetrated.
Judge Fortune must step aside for his sue
ccssor, Eli II. Redman. Realizing that he
would be out of a position he resigned about
week before the expiration of his term and
appointed a close personal friend as his
cessor, This man Immediately appointed
Fortune as Probate Judge, raised the salary (
$1,000 a year ana thus gave the cX-Judge n |
position to which lie could not legally ap- |
point himself Tie Probate JudGrship in IN. |
diana is a subsidiary position Of the Circuit .
Court
Tho newspapers of Terre Haute and In
dianapolis have openly charged that this deal
was permitted by Fairbanks and that it was
part of the written agreement made be-
tween the two mon when Fortune called off
the Grand Jury which investigating the
Roberts election. 1t has been explained that /
Rodman would not have appointed the man,
as he n mated rival and that Roberts
wanted him thrown on the political scrap
heap.
Tho secret service men, working in the
Tendcrlon and receiving tips from the citl-
zens, gradually unravcled the meshes of po-
litical corruption. They saw how the Fair
banks beer flowed in the red light district,
heard the stories of the Roberts Fairbanks
"slush fund" and gradually got together a
mass of evidence. Everything, however, was
too thin to make a definite case At this
stage 1t all was talk.
The agents, however learned that the
Roberts licutcnants had paid the ropeaters
% cents for each time they registered and
that 30 cents to 81 was the price they re-
ccived every time the election lever was
worked or Il Democratic ballot cast on No
vember s. They also learned that Jack Hines
md Frank Hess, tho saloonkcepcr ward
leaders of the 9th. had voted more than 600
men from one precinct alone, where there
we're but 2S5 honest votes These men have
since turned States evidence In another
precinct $50 moro votes were counted than
names appearing on the poll books In still
mother precinct, where a number Of Progress
ives live, there not a single Progressive
'ote recorded on the election machine A ,
lumber of election machines which had been
with We're unearthed. "
Brass Tags Cashed $
The Government agents soon learned that o
systematic plan had been worked When
repeater voted he either received small +
White paper or a brass tag These were s
ashed at the various gang headquarters fl
sually saloons-at different points in the
ity. The record repeater, who has since
voted 36 times, One negro voted
times The average repeater, however,
suaIly made from six to ten trips into the
lection booths
The secret service men also discovered that
heriff Dennis Shea was the leader of the
rouE-arm men, and that Joe Jeffers and his
40 brothers were the leaders of the Roberts
Juggling force, Joe Jeffers, known as the
'uGhest character in the whole vicinity, was
special policeman. No man in Terre Haute
I'd shot so many persons and slugged as
any as Joe Jefers He was always freed
Y the Roberts Magistrate. He was the same
an who led band of thugs in the car II
rike and demolished the terminal of the
traction line. Since the inyes OF
cation began, this man has confessed and -
Ill be the star witness for the Government l
is understood that he received his orders wi
rect from Roberts and the Chief of Police.
is confession forms remarkable story of ~ ~
e criminal phase of politics. ce
They also learned that a complete card ST.
stem had been kept in City Hall bearing m 90
e names of the repeaters The Govern -,
ent now charges that this system was to