The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-10-12
PENDANTS as evidence of their guilt,
would your"
"NO." Said Craycraft


would your"
NO" Said Craycraft
Craycraft said he had read con-
siderably of the case in the In
dianapolis and Noblesville newspa-
pers, and said he had heard it dis
cussed much. Craycraft said he had
formed an opinion as to the guilt Of
the defendants.
Would it require a good deal OF
evidence to remove that opinion?'
Inman asked.
I'm afraid il would" He was
Immediately excused for cause by
the defense, and replaced by Lew
Fenner. Judge Sparks. before call
ing the moo nrecess, warned the We
niremen against discussing the case.
Third Trial Date
The trial today follows months of
tiresome jockeying by attorneys in
legal maneuvers, such as change of
venue from Marion County. petit
ton for freedom on bail and motions
for separate trial. Twice before the
trial date has been set, only to be
changed at the last moment. The
County Criminal Court and the Sec
ond, July 6, in the Hamilton County
Circuit Court.
Stepsenson, the principal defend
ant, is the ringleader of the trio, ac-
cording to Prosecutor William II.
Remy, and it is upon him the heavy
guns of the State have been turned.
A Marion County Republican poll
tician and coal dealer at the time of
his arrest last spring, he was widely
known through the State as the man
who pushed the Ku-Klux Khan to the
front in Indiana in 1922 and 1928.
He was known as the "Old Man"
holding the official position of Grand
Dragon. Present Khan leaders have
repudiated Stephenson.
Girls Charge
According to the dying statement
of Miss Oberholtzer, a Butler Col
lege graduate, she made Stephenson s
acquaintance through politics during
the session of the 1925 Legislature.
The gist of the statement, upon
which Prosecutor Remy bases his
case, and which the defense claims
was framed" in an unsuccessful at.
tempt to have Steve" as he is
known to his followers, settle for a
cash sum. is as follows:
On March Is she was summoned to
Stephenson's home in Irvington. for
merly the home of the Butler chap
ter of the Kappa Kappa Gamma So
rority. On entering, she was con-
fronted by Stephenson and some men
and was forced to drink liquor. Later
that night she was taken by Steph-
enson and the other two men to the
Union Station. and placed in a state
room with Stephenson. The ne3.,
morning the trio took her to a hotel
in Hammond. During the morning
she got Stephenson's chauffeur to
take her shopping for cosmetics and
hat, as she had left home bare
headed. The chauffeur had met the
party with Stephenson's car at Ham
mond. the statement said.
Buys Poison
She bought some bichloride of
mercury tablets the statement con-
tinued, and took six of them, forty
FIVE grains in all, on her return to
the hotel. She became deathly sick,
and that afternoon told the
chauffeur, who told Stephenson.
The latter said she was "a fool"
and made her drink some milk.
The party then started to Indian
apolis. She asked for a doctor, but
the request was refused. the state.
ment said. She was taken home
the next day and carried in the
house of her parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
George Oberholtzer, 1902 University
Ave, who were downtown looking
for her.
Miss Oberholtzer died April IA,
after a long period of unconscious
ness.
Previous to her death. Stephenson
was indicted on charges Of kid
naping and attacking Miss Ober-
holtzer. He was charged with as
sault. conspiracy and malicious
mayhem. He was released on $25, 900
bond.
At the coroner's inquest it was
testified the girls body was lacerated
and bruised, including her lips, chest
and legs.
In Jail Since April
After her death, the murder in