The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-05-13
LingenfeIter Resumes Job as
City Civil Engineer-Fire
Prevention Chief RiedeI
Reduced and Virgil Furga-
son Named to Position,
NEW MAN ASSUMES
DUTIES IMMEDIATELY
Official, 0uSted Because
Shank Thought Him Dis
loyal Declares He Went
Down the Line for Execu-
tive as Candidate,

Frank c. LingenfelteI completed
all details necessary for taking
office Of city engineer late today fol
lowing his appointment by Mayor
Shank to succeed John L. Elliott.
ElIott's resignation was demand
ed by the mayor Monday afternoon
after Shank had said unfavorabe
publicity attached to a $4,000 loan
Of Elliott from William H. Arnai-
tage, political director of the Shank
administration, had caused his ac-
ton.
With the change in the engineers
office. Virgil F'urgason. assistant
purchasing agent. was preparing to
become chief of fire prevention
Wednesday morning. F'urgason sue
ceeds Jacob Riedel, who was re-
duced in rank on recommenda-
uon Of Fire Chief John J. O'Brien
by the board of safety today.
Riedel to Resign
The recommendations swere sub
mitted after a series of whispered
conferences between O'Brien and
Ernest L. Kingston, president of the
board.
Friction between Riedel and
O'Brien has been reported for some
months and the mayors attitude
toward Riedel after the primary
election served as the death knen
to Riedel's job.
eof1 rr-or1II ~oefo-r,
fireman and accept one Of several
positions waiting for him in bust
ness.
''I went down the line for Mayor
Shank, despite all he says" said
Riedel. "and worked hard at my
Job In fire prevention. Friends told
me was going to get fred, and l
guess this is the reward for my
hard work"
Elliott sad he was going to take
a rest for some time and had not de
cided on his plans for the future.
''This Job has just about broken
my health" said Elliott.
The mayor denied statements of
Monday that the council investiga-
ton had anything to do withs FL
liott's dismissal
Shank "Knew 1t Was Coming"
'T knew this thing was coming
for two months" said Shank IF
Elliott had wanted money he should
have gone to a bank and not bor-
rowed it~from Armitage."
1ingenfeIter was city engineer in
the Jewett administration, leaving
office when Shank replaced him with
Elliott at the beginning of the pres
ent administration. Elliott had been
assistant to Lingenfelter for three
years
New appointments indorsed by the
mayor after his first drive against
the "disloyal" were Jacob Rosenthal,
Wylie e. Bynum. Alex Ferris, John
Shea, Robert Cunningham and Henry
Ming, inspectors in the engineers
office; James Briggs, elevator oper-
ator, and Roger McCann and Charles
w. Tompkins. janitors at Tomlinson
Hall.
The demand for Elliott's resigna,
ton came as lull in the storm
Monday. The mayors request was
in a short letter delivered TO Elliott
by messenger. Elliott Immediately
rendered his resignation, effective at
the mayors pleasure"
Shank Is Criticised
Elliott's resignation was discussed
openly around the city hall. consid-
cradle criticism being directed at
Shank from various city officials.
1t was regarded as a victory for the
city council investigation commit
tee in some offices despite the fact
the mayor has practically ignored
the committee to date.
Elliott was never active in sup
port of Shank's campaign for Gov
ernor, but was known to be a heavy
contributor to campaign funds. Fail
ure to support Shank more openly
is not regarded as a reason for the
mayors move.