Evening star., 1926-10-10
SEEKS SENATE QUIZ
IN POLITICS
Adams Believes Special
State Session Is Best Bet
in Thorough Airing.

BY the Associated Press.
1NDIANAPOI.IS, October 9-In
answer to the cries Of a group of Re
publican editors for an investigation
of alleged political corruption In In
diana. a number Of probes We're in
various stages of progress today.
Thomas II. Adams. veteran publisher
OF the Vincennes. Ind, Commercial.
who has been most active in calling
for an inquiry into the influence al
legged TO have been exercised over In
diana politics by ID. G.. Stephenson.
former grand dragon OF the ku Klux
klan. frankly expressed skepticism
as to the possibility of far-reaching
results OF any of the promised probes
and proceeded with his attempts to
summon special session Of the state
senate. The senate, he believes. Is
In the best position to hold thor
ough inquiry.
Aside from the senate investigation
dema nded by Adams, the other in
vestigations proposed or under way
include one by a special committee
to he appointed by Gov. Jackson. an
other by Prosecuting Attorney Will
Remy, and still another by the Fei
eral Department Of Justice.
Newspaper Men Can't See Prisoner.
Adams insists that Stephenson, who
now is serving life sentence In TN"
Michigan City state prison for the
murder OF Madge Oberholtzef holds
the key that will unlock evidence
" hich will substantiate every charge
of corruption that has been made
Adams has been demanding that
Stephenson be permitted to tell his
story to newspaper men, but press
representatives have repeatedly beer
refused permission to see the prisoner.
The door to an opportunity to Set
Stephenson back TO India napolis tor
a brief period apparently was closed
today, when Warden Walter n. DAILY,
at the State prison, refused 10 honor
court order for the prisoner re-
turn to the capital city. Stephenson
testimony was wanted in a receiver
ship case involving tailoring COM
pany in which he was finan ncially in
terested. 1t was alleged he had failed
to atisfy judgment rendered against
him in favor oI the receiver. II was
considered possibility that il he
were brought into court for question
ing as to his ability To pay off the
judgment, he might reveal alleged
promissory notes from high public ON
cials which II is claimed he holds
Warden Daily, however. acting "n
an opinion rendered by Attorney Cen
eral Arthur l.. Gilliom, held that il
was his prerogative to disregard the
court order. A deposition may lie
taken later.
Governor to Name Committee.
The investigation promised by Gov.
Jackson had not reached definite
stage. The governor, before leaving
for Madison, Ind, where he was I"
make an address, sa lid he would, upon
his return Monday, name a commit
! tee to inquire into the Adams cha rses
The Department OF Justice investi-
cation, according To- Washington dis
patches, will cover only one phase of
the Adams charges. Among Adams
accusations was the charge that I'm
an attempt TO gain control of the In
diana State Highway COMMISSION
stephenson had assisted in fra ming"
indictments in the Marion County
courts against certain commission
members and officials. The indic,-
nlents were based on alleged irregu-
iafities in the disposal of surplus war
materials turned over To the commits
sion by the Federal Government
Stephenson purported declaration
that he could explain the indictments
led the Federal authorities To enter
the case.
John MarOney. Department of Jus
tice agent. interviewed Stephenson
today. He said he had learned moth
ing that had not already been given
publicity. Other developments Of the
day included the filing Of q million
dollar suit by John l.. DuvslI, mayor
OF India napolis. against seven news
papers and several individuals charg
ing that he had been damaged bv
publication Of phOtostatic copy of
a letter which purported to be COM
munication from Duvall to stephen
son promising TO submit certain ap.
pOintments to the ex.klan leader for
approval In return for Stephenson
political support. The signature on
the letter was forgery. Duvall al.
legged.
Papers DuvalI Names.
The newspapers We're the ChicaS"
Daily Tribune and these Indiana pa
pers: The indianapolis Times, the
Rushville Republican, the Huntington
Herald. the Richmond Palladium. the
Nincennes Commercial and the Ander-
son Herald. individuals sued were
Thomas H. Adams and Chester Adams.
publishers of the Nincennes CONNER
cial; William O. Feudner. publisher of
the Rushvlle paper: Walter Rail.
Huntington editor: -. G. Stephenson
and Court Asher. Asher is an asso-
ciate Of Stephenson and has heen as
sisting in the Adams investigation.
Adams expressed satisfaction TODAY
with the progress Of the inquiry and
said he was receiving much encour-
agemsnt from various sources He
made public a telegram from A. r.
Erskine. president Of the Studehaksr
Corporation at South BEND. Ind, in
which Erskine congratulated him and
offered 10 lead committee to raise
funds to assist Adams.
Queen Mary has set a new ashton
or rather revived an old one, ny TAX.
ing to wearing q Shetla nd shaw Sev-