The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-15
GIRL SAW
CHECKS TO
POLITICIANS
But StephenSon'S ex-Ste-
nograher viii Not Reveal
Who Received Them.
ASKED NOT TO TELL
Says She Wrote Letter to
Campaign Manager.

That she had seen checks for
sums as much as or exceeding $1,000,
made out to a number of Indiana
politicians, but that she could men,
ton no names" was the statement
today Of Miss Maxine Elliott, 2003
n. Harding ST., a former stenogra-
pher in the office of d. c. Stephen
son, who, it has been alleged, can
bare political corruption in this
State.
Good friends of Mr.. Stephenson
haveeinstructed me to keep still, 1T
will be better for both you and him
if you don't talk, they told me, :"
Miss Elliott said.
"You see, Mr.. Stephenson was
mighty nice to all of us in his office
In fact, he was just grand, and
wouldn't want to do him any harm"
she continued. "Of course, saw
checks, letters, by the hundreds, to
prominent politicians while 1 was
working in his office, and saw about
every politician in the State in his
office at some time. They always
were dropping in
What about Governor Jackson?"
she was asked.
oh. I saw him a number OF
times" the girl answered.
Where? In Stephenson's officer"
Saw Him in Her Work
Well, I wouldn't exactly say. I'll
say | saw him in my work there.
But Id rather not talk. I'm sure
Mr. Stephenson's friends who in
structed me not to talk know what
IS best for him. I must not talk"
About those checks, Miss Elliott
could you name- the persons who
received them?" she was asked.
Yes, in many cases, and they
were to prominent persons, but I'd
better not. I can't tell you how
many folks have tried to get me to
talk lately" she smiled. Miss Elliott
is petite little person, very earnest.
She admitted writing the letter to
Daily G. Mccoy, JaclIson's campaign
manager, and now State purchasing
agent, recently published in The
Times and signed by Stephenson
Her initials NJ. r. appear at the
bottom Of the letter. 1t was dictated
to her.
When inquiry was made about the
location of copies and originals OF
the letters and checks, Miss Elliott
said "ahe believed Straider and
Julian had them"
She referred to Forest Straiter.
formerly Stephenson's private secre.
taly, and L. G. Julian. who was as
sociated with the ex-Klan leader in
the coal business in Evansville sew.
eral years ago.
Knows Missing Girl"
She also said she knew Mildred
Meade, the missing girl" in the
Stephenson inquiry. But don't
know where Mildred is now. I used
to see her occasionally in Stephen.
sons office" she stated.
She also mentioned another sten.
ographer who worked in the Ste.
phenson office at the same time.
This girl I've talked to recently and
she very earnestly advised me to
say nothing about what took place in
the Office and also asked me not to
mention her name. She, 1 am sure.
would know much Of the same things
! do-about papers, checks, etc. This
girl also feels kindly toward Mr..
Stephenson and won't tell anything
to harm him" Miss Elliott concluded.
Miss Elliott seemed to be under
the impression that Stephensons
friends are attempting to aid him
and that she had been instructed not
to talk until a certain time.
She indicated that at this time
revelation Of many of the facts in
the case might be made by Stephen
son. She was seriously opposed to
the general belief that Stephenson
has sold out to the persons whom
he had intended to expose.