The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-08
TACGART SAYS HE IS BEING PERSECUTED
 NOT PROSECUTED
Democratic National Com mitteeman IssuesS Scathing Statement on Indiana
 Election Fraud Trials

Indianapolis, July 7.-"Thls whole business Is a persecution and not prosecution. and demand immedt- nte trial" said Thomas Taggart, dem Indianapolis, today after 12O of the I3t men charged with frauds in the 1914 registration, primary and election bad been arraigned and seven had pleaded guilty before Judge James A. Collins in criminal court.
 T never had anything to do with any one of the men who pleaded guilty to- day declared Taggart T do not know these men and it seems odd that they should be permitted to go on their own recognizance if they are so guilty. l don't know what I have been indicted for, al- though l have made every effort to find out. l want an immediate trial because this whole thing is an effort to besmirch my name as well as many of my friends
 Mayor Joseph E. Bell who also was among those indicted, issued a. statement wing:
 ihS Bith'lh6 SuillN pl lle StNfn liitI today is an attempt to connect us with men with whom we never have had any dealings in any way whatsoever. These men came into court and pleaded guilty without the indictment being :ead. They were released immediately on their own recagnizance and this seems rather un- usual"
 Seven Plead Guilty
 Those who pleaded guilty are: John w. Lee. democratici inspector of the Eighth precinct of the Third ward at the pr- mary held May 6, 1914; Robert w Board a negro political worker; Charles Gibbs, a negro progressive judge at the primary; Earl Clifford Nelson Hughes, Edward O'Leary and Bernard Rickleman, all po- litical workers
 Rickleman, Lee, Board and Gibbs were released on their own recognizance by Judge Collins after they had entered their pleas. Hughes was ordered remanded to the county jail, where he is being held on a charge of forgery O'Leary also was ordered into the custody of the sher- if. Clifford is serving time in the work house
 Besides the l20 who were arraigned to- day eight have not been arrested Two are in prison, one is out of the state. but has promised to return, and the other five are believed to have been designated in the indictment by wrong names Three others have been given additional time to study the indictment before pleading.
 After motion for change of venue to another judge was filed, Judge Collins fixed Friday as the date when attorneys for the state and defense will select judge to try the case. They will choose from list of five lawyers prepared by Judge Collins. The motion for a change of venue was signed by 106 of the de- fendants. They will have a separate trial from those who did not ask for change.
 Stir in Courtroom
 A stir was caused in the courtroom when Charles Gibbs announced that he wished to plead guilty His name had ap- peared in the list of those who will be defended by the attorneys for Taggart Bell. Perrott and others. Gibbs told the court that he had signed request to be represented by these attorneys, but wished to plead guilty. A controversy between Gibbs, the lawyers and the judge ended when Gibbs name was stricken from the list and his plea of guilty accepted