Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-07

erick Van Nuys, who was United States
district attorney when he indictments
were returned. may be named as special
United States attorney, TO try the cases
as he is thoroughly familiar with them
from beginning TO end, while the present
district attorney, Homer Elliott. knows
about them only through the files in his
Office and his general knowledge OF the
case. However, this Is a matter which
viii depend largely upon whether or not
Mr.. Elliott wishes to handle the cases
AmseIf IN the event he decides to push
N&e prosecution.
SAYS HARTAIAN PLANS
TO GO WEST.
Attorney Ira II. Holmes said, follow
ing the return of the verdict. Hartman
expects TO move to California for resi-
dence as soon as all cases now pending
against him here are dfspuosed OF.
Hartman was acquitted after the jury
had deliberated one hour and forty min
ues.
The verdict was returned ct Q 10 O'Clock
70 Judge A. n Balm, OF the Morgan Cir
cult Court, who sat as special Judge IN
the case. The reading OF the verdict was
a signal for a demonstration on the part
Of spectators, most Of whom apparently
were sympathizers and friends Of the de-
PENDANT
DISPLAYS EMOTION
AT VERDICT.
With the return OF the verdict, the com
p0sure which has marked Hartman's de-
meanor throughout the trial with the ex-
ceptiOn OF one occasion when he broke
down and wept for a few minutes en-
tirely deserted him. He rose slightly
from his chair. then fen on the shoulders
Of Ira N. Holmes, one OF his attorneys
and sobbed.
God bless that 5uryI God bless that
Jury - he exclaimed
Mrs. Hartman was far more composed
than her husband. AS the Jurors left
the box, Hartman. still weeping. shook
hands with each member. He also shook
hands with Judge Balm and thanked him
for the falr trial he had received.
Twelve ballots were taken by the jury
before verdict was reached. The first
two ballots stood eight for acquittal and
pur for conviction On the next three
zDallots the vote was nine to three and
on the sixth ballot another juror swung
over to acquittaL However, the eighth
and ninth ballots showed a loss of one
for the defense the vote again standing
nine to three for acquittaL The tenth
and eleventh found only one juror voting
for conviction. and on the twelfth ballot
the verdict was reached.
CHARGES GREW OUT OF
FRANCIS CONFESSION.
The charges out Of which grew the ca
in Criminal Court were first made By
Frank Francis, the conTesslng burglar,
IN an alleged confession" Ct Louisville
late IN September last ytar. At the time
Francis was under arrest IN Louisville
charged with forgery and burglary. II
has been the contention OF Hartman ever
since that this confession" was made on
the promise that Francis would be tried
only on the forgery charge and the more
serious charge Of burglary dropped. The
confession was made to William II.
BIodgett Of the Indianapolis News and
Ira N. Holmes testified in the trial that
Detective FRANKIE Elvaine, at that time a
detective On the Louisville police force.
told him he had seen BIodgett LAY a
packers on the desk OF Chairman Bur
nngame" OK the Louisville board of pub
lie safety. At all events Capt William
II. De Forester OF the detective depart
msnt he'd Francis brought from jail to
the office Of the board OF safety where
he was interviewed by Blodgett.
In this confession Francis charged that
Hartman knew the furniture which he
haG obtained from Francis was stolen.
and in fact had taken part IN planning
its theft Re implicated Hartman in
,rcharges ranging from receiving stolen
g oods and stolen automobiles to viola
~tion OF the liquor laws.
After this a determined effort TO force
Hartman of the Republican ticket as
candidate for city Judge was made by
interests hostile 70 his candidacy. but he
steadfastiy refused to resign.
On Oct. IL Francis and his wifa Lura
were brought here from Louisville by
Captain De Forester and taken tmme-
diately 20 the Marion county grand jury
where they remained 8 long time and
gave testimony resulting in the return
Of the indictments on which Hartman Is
now under arrest.
Late that afternoon Federal authorities
Unexpectedly took hand and kfr. ana
Mrs. Francis we're arrested on a Federal