The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-02

'sThe names Of these plaintiffs and
others complained Of never were on
the Klan membership rolls" Milton
Elrod, editor of 'The Fiery Cross"
said. Here is what happened. On
Athe afternoon of the Fourth of July
fhe card index containing a long list
residents of South Bend was stolen
rom our South Bend Office 1 would
biggest you ask Joe Roach just how
The got those names.
'Attemtp to Cover BIunder'
This card index was not a list
OF Klan members but of persons prob
ably eligible for membership. These
names later were published in Toler-
ance as names of Klan members. AS
result Tolerance found itself in hot
water Immediately. This suit is an
attempt to cover up the blunders of
Tolerance and is defensive measure
on the part of it's hackers
Appointment Of a receiver to take
charge Of membership lists of the
Indiana Klan and-an injunction
ordering the names of the six plain
tiffs stricken from the membership
roll Of the Klan were asked.
According TO the complaint none of
the plaintiffs ever were members of
the Ku-Klux Kan, but their names
were placed on the rolls together with
the names OF many other persons
without their knowledge or consent.
Charge Names Were Listed
The names of thirty-six residents Of
South Bend, including that of Thad
Talcott, United States commissioner
were set out as having beeR listed as
nembers Of the Klan when such was
not the case
IT is understood that when the case
is heard before Judge Albert B. -Ander-
son that attorneys for the plaintiff will
subpoena at witnesses judges, sller-
ifs, county prosecutors and other pub
lie officials in an attempt to prove the
sharges made in the complaint.
According to the complaint the Klan
eyas been guilty of the following acts:
attempting to sppplant the laws and
pnstitution of the United States by
z8s laws and purposes of the Klan;
conspiring to corruptly take over to
itself administration of Justice
throughout the country; securing as
co-conspirators judges of State courts.
prosecuting attorneys, sheriffs and
other officers; administering the laws
so as to obtain Immunity from pun
1shment for members of the "con-
spiracy guilty of murder, mayhern-
mutilating the bodies of victims. tar.
ring and feathering and beating cii.
gems into insensibility; boycctting
Jews, negroes and Catholics. CONNER
cially; stealing government property
and turning it over to the defendants
without compensation, and unlawfuIIy
influencing Army inquiry boards
charged with investigation of such
affairs.
Receiver Termed Only Relief
Only by the appointment of a re-
ceiver TO take charge OF the member
ship roll Of the Ku-Klux KIan in In
diana can the plaintiffs be assured
that their names will be stricken from.
the roll, 1t was asserted.
Plaintiffs in the suit were: Ben
Jarnin Dubois, teacher; John Doss-
man, clerk; Peter J. Birmingham. ply.
slcian; Daniel A. Youngerman, travel
ing salesman; Zelman Dekelbaum. at
torney. and Earl Jackson, merchant.
False representations that they are
members of the Klan have injured
Aeir business and personal standing,
Iey said. o
y The complaint was fled by Joseph
r. Roach, lawyer, and Patrick O'Don.
nell of Chicago, an official of the
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