Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-07
LAHR SAYS HE
WON'T ACCEPT
FISCUS AS AID
Boards Action in Naming New
Juvenile Court Investigator
Rolls Judge.

The Fat and positive refusal of Judge
Frank Lahr of the Marion county juve-
nile court to recognize the appointment
of Monte c. Fiscus, former justice Of the
peace, as investigator of the juvenile
court, created a sensation at the court
house today.
Mr.. Fiscus' appointment was not made
public until late Yesterday. when Com
missioner Carlin Shank announced that
the commissioners had decided TO dis
pense with the services Of John Engleke,
who has been investigator for the last
two years and that Mr.. Fiscus had been
appointed at a salary of $1,000 year.
Upon hearing unOfficially of the ap-
pointment. judge Lahr went to the com
missionerS to learn if a change had been
made In the investigator Of the juvenile
court.
Judge Lahr protested that the appoint
ment was made without his knowledge
and that the court should at least have
been informed that change was to be
made.
DECLARES CHANGE
would STAND"
Following a heated conversation Com
missioner Shank informed Judge Lahr
that the appointment Of Mr.. Fiscus
''would stand" and that the appointment
is effective at once.
On arriving at his courtroom this
morning. Judge Lahr announced that he
would not recognize Mr.. Fiscus as In
vestigator and that as far as the court
was concerned Mr.. Engleke remains as
investigator.
The commissioners informed the court,
according to Judge Lahr, that the serv-
ices OF Mr.. Fiscus were available.
Several days ago when heard that
the commissioners were contemplating
making n change in the investigator"
said Judge Lahr, II asked the commits
sioners to consult me II change was to
be made.
HEARD OF CHANGE
THROUGH THE PRESS.
'I heard nothing more until read IN
the press on New Years day that Mr.
Engleke was to be retained. l was sur
prised late yesterday when newspaper
men Informed me that a sudden change
had been made prior to the commits
sioners signing the appointments and
that Mr. Fiscus had been appointed. Mr.
Shank promised me that ] would be
consulted II a change was made and the
fact Is that ! was not consulted"
The Investigator acts as a prosecutor
in the juvenile court. Judge Lahr said
that he has never favored a prose
cutor getting fees from the poor people
who are sentenced in the juvenile court
and for that reason recommended some
time ago that the prosecutor, or in
vestigator, be paid a salary by the
county instead of b. fees from those
convicted In the Juvenile court.
Mr.. Engleke was serving as investiga-
tor when the change in pay was made
and was retained by being appointed by
the commissioners. Dngleke first came
into the Juvenile court by tbs virtue Of
an appointment by the prosecutor.
CAN'T USE FTSCUs,
JUDGE LAIR SAYS.
"I can't use Mr.. Fiscus in my court"
said Judge Lahr. ''Mr. Engleke is well
versed in all cases and is especially fitted
for this work l can't use Mr.. Fiscus."
Mr.. Fiscus resigned as justice of the
peace to so to France with the Y. NJ. c.
A. after he had failed to pass the phys
ical examination to enter the first Of
fcers' training corps at Ft. Benjamin
Harrison. Although Mr.. Fiscus is mar
ried and has a family, he was willing to
volunteer his services during the war.
Friends of Mr.. Fiscus claim that he Is
fitted for the position as investigator and
assert that he was under confederation as
a candidate to succeed the late Judge
Keith of superior court, room three, but
Judge solon Carter was appointed by the
governor.