South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-06-30
SIX CHARGED WITH
VIOLATIONS OF LAW
Former Grant County Officials
Are Indicted by
Grand Jury.
News Times Special Service

News Times Special Service.
MARION. Ind. June 30.-SiX Of
fciaIs and former officials of Grant
county we're arrested today by Sher-
if .. + Wright on indictments re-
turned by the grand jury. which re-
ported fifteen true bills after ses-
sion OF twenty-seven days. during
which PAP witnesses were examined
IN an investigation supposed TO have
been devoted largely 70 county af-
fairs.
Those arrested are: Charles Mel
son and .. NJ Brumfel. members
OF the board Of county commission
ers. Thomas Lucas. of FairmOunt,
former member OF the board Of
county commissioners whose term
expired in December, 1915, Clark
son u. smith. county surveyor; +.
Fl Kimball. former county auditor;
Doyle Pitcher. former county road
superintendent
All the men obtained their release
under bonds varying from $500 TO
$1,000 Kimball, Brumfield and
smith are republicans. and the
three other men are democrats.
other arrests in connection with
the investigation of county affairs
are expected soon. but no indict-
ment has been made public. pend
ing arrests by Sheriff Wright.
Charges Against Men Arrested.
Nelson Brumhel and Lucas are
charged with violations of the fee
and salary act: Kimball is charged
with extoTtiOn; Pitcher is charged
with grand larceny. and Smith is
charged with filing false claims
against the county Charles Nelson
reported at the office of the sheriff
charge against him TO be presented.
The warrants were not handed 10 the
after Nelson arrived.
The charges against Brumhel and
Lucas are similar. II is alleged that
these men on December 10, 1915, un-
lawfully received SLAP for their ser
vices in inspecting four roads in
Grant county. The roads had been
completed by contractors. and the
commissioners charged $35 for the
Inspection of each road. the inspec-
Statement of Nelson.
Nelson said it has been customary
for county commissioners TO charge
for the inspection of roads when
completed The commissioners had
the matter up with the state board
of accounts year ago. he said, and
the charge for inspection had not
been denied.
Nelson also is charged with being
an accessory in fling an alleged
false claim 70. material bought for
the county.
r. II. Kimball completed his term
as county auditor last year He is
charged in two counts with extor-
ton. II is alleged that on March
Is. 1915. as auditor and by virtue
OF his Office. ne extorted from Char
les Fleming $50 as a Zee in the case
of a mortgage for school fund
loan. II is averred in the indict-
ment that this fee could not exceed
$3.50 and that the excess of S24.50
was extorted.
Docs Not Remember Charges.
In another indictment Kimball is
Eva s. Young on July II. 1915. in
connection with a school fund loan.
The former auditor said he had no
recollection of making such charges.
or of such charges having been
made by any deputy in his office.
Doyle Pitcher. whose term Of Of
fee as road superintendent expired
last December. is charged with grand
larceny for the alleged theft of
sewer pipe worth S71.25, Of road tar
worth SIS. and OF stone and gravel
Of value not known, all belonging
10 Grant township.
Clarkson u. smith. county sur
veyor. is charged with being an ac-
cessory i'm filing false claims against
the county in connection with road