The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-02-09
Indiana State Prison Head
Denies Former Klan Head
Has Been Outside Walls,
Except for Trip to Mobiles
vile Court.
STORY CARRIED BY
PRESS ASSOCIATION
Daily Suggests Investigation
by State Board Of Chari-
ties - Governor Jackson
Not to Give Order, Said at
Office.

UIIlC6.
Investigation of the report
that d. G. Stephenson has es-
capped the Indiana State prison,
Michigan City, was asked today
by Warden Walter DAILY, the
inquiry to be made by the State
board of charities if board
members believe necessity for
such action existed
Daily denied Stephenson has been
outside the prison except when ta-
ken to Noblesville, when Judge VIII
M. Sparks denied him a new trial on
the charge that he murdered Madge
Oberholtzer, for which he was SEN
fenced to serve a life term.
After saying there seems to be
some doubt in the minds of the
public" Daily declared he would
welcome investigation and cooperate
in every way to allay this uncer.
tainty in the minds OF the public.
Story Is Carried
A press association Saturday car
ried an extensive story based ON
escape rumors, the story being
printed in o number Of papers in the
State and IN Chicago.
1t was said at the Governors office
that he would order no investiga
tion.
Monsignor Francis II. Gavisk, 1876
w. Georgia ST., a charity boarC
member said:
"Tf Warden Da'v says Stephen
sons in prison wouldn't doubt it. u
Daly's statement:
II wish to state the following
facts in relation to the d. c. Stcph,
enson case, of which there seems to
be some doubt in the minds OF the
public.
I'D. c. Stephenson was received
here Nov. 16. 1925, to serve a life
sentence, and was. Immediately puI
through the routine of examination
such as every prisoner must &c
through. He was assigned to work
In the chair shop to weave chairs
and is doing the same work today
He he's not been absent from his
work. except when taken under
guard to the trial at Noblesville
Indiana. and returned the same day
and when he was stricken a few
days and in the prison hospital inside
the walls.
No Privileges
I'VE have granted him no special
privileges, nor do we intend to perse
cute him. We do intend to let him
go along living the same life and
observing the same rules as the other
1900 men confined here.
I'VE decline to permit newspaper
men to see him as we decline to
permit him to see other prisoners,
in accordance with a standing rule
at this institution, which we have
adhered to for many years.
IF there is any doubt in the minds
Of anyone regarding any part of the
above statement there is an agency
In this State that is authorized to
make Investigations as to the affairs
of any State institution. refer to
the board of State Charities, Room
404, Statehouse, indianapolis. Indi.
ana.
The board has the confidence of
the people of the State and their
findings win be believed and re,
spected. The board is made up OF
Catholics, Jews and Protestants, and
the personnel Is as follows:
Governor Ed Jackson. president;
Monsignor Francis II. Gavisk, Nor
ris M. Feuerlicht, Mrs. E. c. Rump-
Ter, William II. Richborn. Mrs. Flor
ence Ham, the Rev. w. j. Sayres,
and John A. Brown, secretary.
II am confident the board OF
State charities would make such an
investigation If they thought the
necessity for such action existed. |
would welcome such investigation
and cooperate in every way to allay
this uncertainty in the minds OF the
public"