The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-09
MOST INTERESTING

Certainly members of the Legislature, who will
soon meet must be interested in the rather remark
able happenings before the grand jury.
The jury itself will of course determine what
crimes have been committed and who committed
them if it is able discover the necessary legal
evidence.
Most of its evidence and its conduct is secret
under the law, but the public has had two gimpses
of what is going on that may furnish the basis for
legitimate comment.
The first was the campaign speech made by At
torney General Gilliom at Vincennes when he de-
clared after statewide advertisement being In the
secrets of the grand jury and therefore more tnan
usually interesting that the convict, Stephenson
had tried to blackmail his way to freedom
That definitely made the charge that the motor
ious political leader who had charged that ne was
being kept from appealing his case in order that
political secrets which he held would die with him
behind prison walls, had attempted to force his way
to liberty by disclosures
The curtains drawn for moment In the
omen court room when the witness, Julian, former
business associate of Stephenson, cried out to- the
Judge that to force him to answer the simple ques-
ton of whether he had been given two boxes, pre-
sumed to contain Stephenson documents, would be
to incrimnate himself
The Judge thought otherwise, at least for the
present and later it is disclosed that ne dld TESTIFY
that he had such boxes, but that to tell where they
are at present might bring him into the danger OF
the law.
His lawyer, ready at hand, suggests that there IS
danger ahead of his client being robbed OF his con-
titntona1 rights if he is forced to tell what he did
with these boxes
It is very important that citizens be protected
in their constitutional rights one of which is that
no one may be forced to give evidence against him.
self Age old tyrannies lie in that direction.
It is not justification that this particular citizen
disappeared for four weeks when the jury wished 10
interrogate him concerning these documents
But the State Legislature may we'll make some
Investigations in which the rules of evidence are not
SO rigid and in which the truth about fitness to hold
nublic Office not evidence of positive crime, may De
the object.
In such an inquiry these circumstances might
be illuminatinf as they must be to the public
The conduct of Julian then might be given it's
proper perspective as would the open charge OF
Giom.
It would show that Julian had no difficulty in OBJ
tanning an audience with Stephenson at time when
every other citizen of the State, including six state
Senator's were refused admittance
It would show that he disappeared Immediately
after that conference and for nearly four weeks re-
manned away from those who hunted him and did
not notify even his wife of his whereabouts
It would show that he had at one time DoXes
given him by Stephenson, of character which he
himself believes might incriminate him for having
them In his possession.
It would show that some one somewhere is
NIGHTLY interested in preventing those boxes from
being found.
It would indicate, at least, that the convict mad
sonoe weapon when he tried to blackma his way
to liberty if he did make such effort, as charged
by Mr.. Gilliom.
These things should interest the Legislature,
lust as should the widely heralded charge that
Stephenson is now being kept in solitary confinement
and has been in such state since he was brought
before the grand jury to testify
The Legislature ought to be interested in that
charge for such punishment is reserved for the
most obstreperous and uncomfortable and is per-
missble only for breaking the rules of the prison.
No court in this country has the power to
sentence men to this form of brutality under which
the strongest may break mentally in a few weeks
and which means death If long inflicted
There are many things in this matter which are
subjects for other bodies than those of grand ures
and alert members of the Legislature should be
minded that the public will expect them to exercise
all their rights and powers in cleaning up Indiana
WHEN NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE