The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-19
MELLETT MURDER
CLEWS ARE S|FTED
Continued From Page y

raise a pot among the vice lords to
kill the Rev. w. II. Longworth, pas
tor of the First Congregational
Church, five years ago, when the
minister was attacking vice from
his pulpit, according to a former
woman divekeeper.
Both Questioned
HE came to me and asked for a
$50 contribution to have Longworth
removed this woman, whose name
is also a secret to Investigators was
reported as saying. II was running
two places at that time and he SAID
the assessment was S25 for each
house in the district. refused to
give 1t to him."
Both the woman and the deputy
sheriff were to be questioned today
by Ora Slater. private detective, who
has been given complete charge
Of the investigation BY county
Prosecutor C. B. McClintock.
The, under world character in
question was among those brought
in Sunday by police, but was re-
leased with the rest. Although q
few loiterers in pool halls of the
y 'Jungle" were herded into police
headquarters, they were detained
only half-hour and emerged with
broad smiles. Police denied that the
questioning had been perfunctcry.
Significant Coincident
It came to light Sunday that
leaders of Canton's underworld ar
rived at a truce during the week OF
July s. following a controversy OF
long standing over various conces
sions. The divekeeper under sus
picion was said to have received the
bonded liquor rights. This left Mel
lett the only obstacle to prosperity
That same week Mellett urged
Governor Vic Donahey to give nc
consideration to applications for
parole Of certain prisoners convicted
in Canton. Coincidence Of the two
events Is considered significant.
With Slater in direct employ n
the county as McClintock's chief
investigator after being released for
this duty by the Scripps- Howard
league Of newspapers who had re
tanned him, shalee-up in the police
department appeared imminent. Ear,
II. Hexamer, safety director, has
come forward as one of the most
valuable aides to Slater.
by nightfall me- may have a diff
ferent set up" said Hexamer con
corning the police department Chief
of Police S. A. Lengel has constantly
defended the department. activities
in the investigation, but no progress
has been made since the killing sc
far as outsiders can learn.
Petition Circulated
Action from Canton's more sub
stantial citizens took the form of a
petition circulated in downtown
Protestant churches. It called upon
Governor Donahey to launch imme
diately secret probe of the murder
Independent and apart from the pc
lice department and officers. Solu
ton of Mellett's Staying is secondary
to apprehension Of the cliques behind
the outrage. it was pointed out.
Tie Ku-Klux Khan also circulated
resolutions deploring the death OF
| Mellett and calling upon Canton tc
clean house.
Slater and his aides hoped the
s25,00o reward that has been sub
scribed would draw out of the under
world the author of the telephone
message of warning received by Mel
lett on Sunday night, four days prior
to the killing.
II am the enemy of your enemies
Keep away from your garage al
night" was the message. 1t has
been impossible to trace the call be
cause of the automatic dial system
in Canton.
Slater spent his first day on the
job going over the premises of the
Mellett home, scene of the killing
and talking to several persons who
had information of one sort or the
other.
Number of Leads
Slater admitted that "a number Of
possible leads have already beer
| placed in his hands. What they