The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-07
STATEHOUSE
QUIZ begun BY
GRAND JURORS
Ex-Governor Goodrich Is
Called as Inquiry ReSump-i
ton Is Ordered.
WALB ONE SUMMONED
Chairman Fails to Appear;
Luke Duffy Not Located
for Jury.
WALB ONE SUMMONED

Former Governor James P. Good
rich was before the Marion County
grand jury fifteen minutes today
as the jury began, it is believed,
an investigation of contributions to
Governor Jackson's 1924 campaign
fun.
Charge that untility interests paid
$4,000 to help elect Jackson was
being probed, it was understood.
Nine witnesses were heard before
the jury adjourned at 1920, to meet
again Tuesday morning.
Former Public Service Commis-
sioner Frank Wampler was with the
jury fifteen minutes.
Clyde Walb, State Republican
chairman, summoned to testify, did
not appear. The prosecutors were
unable to locate Luke Duffy, real es-
tate dealer, who has been active in
State politics, to summon him.
Prosecutors announced that they
sent a telegram Saturday to Walb
at his home at La Grange, but had
learned by telephone that Walb had
not been there over the weekend
and probably had not received the
telegram.
Others Are Questioned
Other witnesses heard this morn
ing were Leo M. Litz, Indianapolis
News, Frank j. Prince of The Times,
James Scanlan, local automobile
dealer; Donald D. Goss of the Sc
curity Trust Company, former news
paper man; Arthur Renick, 1898
Julian Ave-, real estate dealer, who
sold the city a fire station site at
Hawthorne Lane and Washington
ST.; Miss Pearl Nichols, secre-
tary for John L. Duyall while Duvall
was mayor, and James F. Wheeler,
farmer. living near Southport, who
operates a city market stand.
The jury also was continuing the
probe Of city hall affairs which re-
suited in indictment of four city
councilmen on pribery charges last
week, it was indicated.
After Miss Nichols had been before
the jury half an hour, she, Special
Prosecutor Ensley w. Johnson and
Juror Ross Hill went to city hall.
They searched the mayors Office
and the desk Miss Nichols used as
the mayors secretary, looking, it
was believed, for stenographic notes
Of dictaphone records of some of
Duvall's conversation with council
men and others.
Duvall and Deputy Prosecutor w.
H. Sheaffer made an unsuccessful
hunt last week.
Johnson said their search today
also was failure. He and Hill con-
ferred with Claude E. Negley, mayor
pro tenn, and it was understood,
asked Negley to appear before the
jury.
Charge by Rucker
The charge that utility interests
paid $4,000 to the Jackson cam
paign fund, which it is believed the
jury was probing today, was made
by Alvah j. Rucker, former city
corporation counsel, in an injunc-
ton suit in Circuit Court, in which
he sought to prevent the merger OF
Of the Merchants Heat and Light
Company and the Indianapolis Light
and Heat Company into the Indian.
apolis Power and Light Company.
The suit was dismissed and the
merger granted by the public serv-
ice commission.
Rucker asserted that the $4,000
was paid with agreement that Jack
son would select public service
commission favorable to utilities. The
money did not reach the regular
party Golfer, according to expense
account filed.
Rucker has been frequent visi-
tor to the grand jury rooms. He has
not testified before the jury, but
within the last few weeks has been
seen talking with Prosecutor Will
liam H. Remy.
A few days ago Rucker came to
the jury room and handed Remy a
letter written on estate of Indiana"
stationary. Remy read it and re-
turned it to Rucker.
Rucker lost his job as corporation
counsel during his fight against the
light merger. Former Mayor Duvall
dismissed Rucker suddenly.