Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-03
HE INDICATES.
PRICEPAIDF
CONFESSION
Witness for Hartman
Tells of Package
on Desk
FRANCIS SAW $500
Detectives Version of
BlOdgett Visit Given
at Trial:

That the alleged confession OBJ
tanned by William H. Blodgett of the
indianapolis News from Frank Fran
els, the confessing burglar, at Louis
vile before the Indianapolis city cleo
ton last November, was bought and
paid for" was indicated in testimony
at the trial of j. Herbert Hartman,
deposed Republican candidate for
city Judge at the last election,
charged with receiving stolen goods,
in Criminal Court today.
The testimony, which was given by
Ira NJ. Holmes, attorney for Hartman,
was in the form of conversation with
Francis and Detective Elvin, formerly
of the Louisville police department. and
proved to be the biggest sensation Of
the trial to date
SAID BLODGETT LAID
PACKAGE ON DESK.
According to the testimony, Detective
Elvin said Blodgett had laid q package
on De FOrester's desk" Ode Forester is
chief OF the louisville detectives), and
Francis had told Holmes that part Of
his confession involving Hartman was
untrue, but when a fellow is In jail
and broke he will do about anything TO
get money" When asked point blank
If he had received money for making
the statement to Blodgett, Mr.. Holmes
said that Francis replied:
AZ am not saying anything, but I saw
$500"
This confession" obtained by Blodgett
generally was understood to have been a
part Of a drive against the candidacy of
Mayor Samuel Lewis Shank, prior to the
election last November, and was to be
used 20 discredit him with the voters of
Indianapolis.
PROSECUTOR MAKES
STRENUOUS OBJECTION.
The testimony If Mr.. Holmes was in
troduced. over the strenuous objection
Of Prosecutor william Z. Evans, who
made a bitter, though unsuccessful ef-
fort TO have 1t excluded. He seemed
particularly anxious to show that the
News had had nothing to do with pay
ing any money for the Francis confess
sion, but he was unable to shake the
testimony of the witness at any point
on cross-examination.
According to Mr.. Holmes, Francis told
him that Captain De Forester had said
to him:
There is a lot Of money in this for
us"
DE FORESTER LISTENS
TO STATEMENT.
Captain De Forester. who came up
from Louisville to attend the trial today,
was seated Immediately behind Prose
cutor Evans, while Mr. Holmes gave his
testimony and listened intently to every
word. He made no comment on it after
court adjourned.
The sensation of the revelations made
by Mr.. Holmes WIS so great that It even
exceeded the interest displayed by spec
tatOrs when Hartman took the stand in
his own defense at the conclusion OF
Holmes testimony.
Mr.. Holmes, on taking the stand said
that he had gone to Louisville the day
before election in response to a letter
received ty Hartman from Francis. The
defense tried hard to get this letter in
evidence, but Judge Balm sustained OBJ
jections Of Prosecutor Evans and it was
not read. The witness said this was the
first time he had ever seen Francis.
He said that when he saw Francis he
asked him if he knew the indianapolis
News had furnished money for the state
ment duplicating Hartman, and Francis
had replied:
81 am not saying I got any money, but
| saw $500"
you wouldn't tell a lot Of lies on an
innocent man." Holmes said he asked
Francis and the latter answered.
when n fellow is in jail and broke he
Continued on Page TweIve.)