Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-16
FIGHT ON CRIME SHOWN
Mellett Assumed Responsibility for
Imprisonment of Pair.

COLUMBUS. Ohio, July Is 6P.--
Murder of Don r. Mellett, publisher
Of the Canton Daily News, early to-
day brought to light here the young.
publishers activities in efforts to put
down crime in his city.
On July Mellett conferred with
Gov. Donahey on the crime situation
there, at which time, according to
Secretary J.. A. Meckstroth, he. as
sumed sole responsibility for the
confinement in the State penitentiary
of Harry Turner and Harry Bouklias,
who had been convicted of perjury in
grand jury, Investigations of crime
conditions.
Mellett told the governor his news
paper had hired detectives who
gathered the evidence to show that
Turner and Bouklias had violated
their paroles, and that he, personally,
in his office, obtained a pledge from
Prosecuting Attorney c. B. McClin-
took that the two would be cited
for parole violation and sent to the
peniteptiary. He protested to the
governor against early release OF
Turner and Bouklias.
Describes Pairs Work.
MeIlett also told the governor that
whenever his newspaper attempted
to make an investigation Of matters
pertaining to the police department,
the investigators trails invariably
were crossed by Turner and Bouklias.
Turner and Bouklias never had
Served any part of their sentences,
being placed on parole Immediately
following their conviction. They We're
received at the penitentiary last Feb
fuary for parole violation. Efforts to
obtain their release have been made
frequently, the last pleas In their
behalf having been made early this
week by Joseph L. Hilton, their at
torney, and Mrs. Turner.
Both Turner and Bouklias, also
known as Harry the Greek" were
star witnesses against former Mayor
g. G, Curtis of Canton, and his
brother. E.. E. Curtis, safety director,
both of whom were removed from
office by the governor on May 2, 1924,
following a lengthy hearing at which
highly sensational testimony was in
Charges against the Curtis brothers
had been filed by Attorney Hilton,
representing the Anti-Saloon League,
in August. 1925, but the governor
declined to hear them, pending the
municipal elections in November. al
which Mayor Curtis was a. candidate
for ro-eleCtlons lie WdS ES-SASSeS0.
Charges Are Renewed.
The following April the charge:
were renewed against Mayor Curtis
and his brother1 Sov. Donahey sus
pended the mayo Apd plaGea b1m q
trial with the resS4t that -!
= navor and, safety director Wsf,e
moved for failure To enforcet fChtb1
ton and gambling laws. - !.
At the hearV1g befoEe theigeEeN3R
Turner 'testifieE he HAD acfAa ~
iector Of money from EainAlteE -
protection, wlTich<he paaUT0 70 ~
dis, Bouklias testified he
a similar capacity As cSAIe3f -
bootleggers, and fhat p. EA gutIds eslss
aft one time been effR|Eed WIZ pm
...aL;ne @1isa,,or. Bou ias Ee$si
the time that he had pnce beent g1
9s6iggest bootlegger In appons ys.s
urotection of Safety Df4sctor 0Ql1
Boillklias also testified at the FoVen
NrAS hearing E. e. Curtis han ~
sn,yed with him to assassinatH u ti1l
ister who had been active saiK
fosfiegeers. e. q. Curtis deHa1 i
had been implicated as charged
turner and Bouklias.
Pair Later Changed Story.
In his order removing Mayor Gt'
y tis and the safety director, Gov. Don
hey called attention Of the prosecutiI
attorney to the sensational test1mof
that had been given at the heaxll