Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-05
INDIANAPOLIS
NEWS CONTROL
CHANGE NEAR
Warren Fairbanks Expected
to Take Place Held by
Delavan Smith.
POLITICIANS SEEK HOLD

Negotiations which have been un-
der way for the shifting Of the con-
troll of the Indianapolis News from
the hands Of Delavan Smith, surviY-
ing partner of Charles Warren Fair
banks, are expected to be concluded
in the near future, it became known
today.
Warren Fairbanks, son Of the late vice
president, executor of the Fairbanks will
and one OF the benehciaries under Its
terms, is expected to become the nominal,
II not the real, owner of the property
within the next few weeks. Fairbanks
is now living In Chicago, where he is
interested IN the Oliver Typewriter Com
pany and several other interests with
which Delavan Smith Is also said to be
connected.
Following the sensational disclosure Of
the real ownership of the News which
preceded the indictment OF Smith by the
federal grand jury IN connection with the
false statement of ownership filed by
Hilton T. Brown, it was learned by the
executors of the Fairbanks estate that
the site of the News building and the
site of the Griffith building adjoining
was in reality a part Of the Fairbanks
estate. although in the name Of DelaYan
Smith and mortgage loans were hoated
In the name OF Delavan Smith.
TITLE TRANSFER
DEEDS READY.
It Is understood that the executors OF
the Fairbanks estate have reached an
agreement with Delavan Smith by which
the title in these pieces Of real estate Is
TO be transferred by Smith to the estate
and that deeds for that purpose have
been delivered to Smith and are ex-
pected to be executed any day, II, IN lact
they have not already been executed,
some time ago the executors OF the
estate received permission from the pro
bate court to convert 4 large part OF
the estate into cash at private sale, ana
It is reported that this step was taken
with a view to clearing the property
Of membranes and entering into agree
nents by which the three-fourth IN
terst of the Fairbanks estate in the
News could be preserved as a unit.
II is also reported from reliable
source that the desire OF warren r fsft
banks Is 10 eliminate Delavan smith,
not only from the control Of the prop
erty. but from the ownership OF any
interest in It, and it is also understood
that Smith is not opposed to such an
Arrangement, since his experience with
the federal court, which grew out of
his falsely represented connection with
the newspaper.
The general public has shown no par
ticular interest IN the ansirs or the
Fairbanks estate, although there are be-
quests to 1t in the will, and It is re-
garded as likely that the executors VII!
not meet with any opposition in their
conduct of it as long as the interests
Of Mrs. Timmons, the one heir who is
contesting the win are not placed IN
jeopardy.
POLITICAL INTERESTS
WANT CONTROL
Back of the activities Of the executors
is the desire Of strong political interests
to own or control the newspaper. These
interests are represented in Indiana by
Joseph B. Healing, who is the attorney
for the executors of the News and In
that capacity expects to pull over the
coup by which the control Of the poll
cies of the News will remain at his
finger tips as they have, through his
shrewd manipulations for many years.
Healing is said to favor a complete re-
organization of the News and 1t ap-
pears that he will be able to bring it
about sooner or lateF. 10 De luosI eA-
fective to Healing and his interests the
reorganization Of the property must be
effected before the Indiana primaries in
May and the earlier it is effected the
more power Kealing will be able to
exert in the forthcoming primaries, al
though it is conceded that without any
changes IN the News he can generally
direct its political policies.
Recently there has been report that
Hilton L. Brown, who has been general
manager of the News for years and who
Continued on Page EIeven.)