The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-01
LINK NAME: OF
CONGRESSMAN
With STEVE
Photograph of Contract Is
Shown, With RoWbot-
tom as Signature.
DENIES HIS CONNECTION
Letters Bearing on Election
and Patronage Also
Are Disclosed.
Copyright, 1927, The indianapolis
Times,

Copyright, 1927, The Indianapolis
Times.
Among the documents delivered
TO The Times at the request OF D.
G. Stephenson, former political die
tator of Indiana, was photograph
of what purported to be contract
with Harry Rowbotton," congress
man from the First District.
If authentic, it was interesting as
evidence of the claim of Stephenson
that in dealing with those seeking
Office he made them Sign on the
dotted line"
Congressman Rowbottom denied
to The Times that he ever had
signed such document and said
further that he never had written
any letters to Stephenson or signed
his name Harry Rowbottom." His
official signature on congressional
letters is H. E. Rowbottom."
Original is Revealed
The original from which the pho
tograph furnished The Times ap-
parently was made was in the
= "black boxes" when delivered to the
prosecutors.
Also within that box were several
letters relating to matters of poll
tics, patronage and election, all
bearing the signature Harry Row
bottom" and apparently written in
the same hand as that affixed to
the document, the photograph of
which was given to The Times.
1t is not matter which interests
the Marion County grand jury, as
no crime is involved. The incident
is more than two years old and has
no relation to Indianapolis.
Rowbottom Tells Story
A staff man was sent by The
Times to. Evansville on the day that
this photograph came into its pos
session.
When questioned, Congressman
Rowbottom talked freely to The
Times and to a representative of
the Evansville Press, another
Scripps-Howard paper.
The name of Mrs. Nellie Klenck
appeared on the photograph as a
witness, as did the name of Earl
G. Klenck.
Mrs. Klenck said she remembered
an occasion about three years ago
when Rowbottom came to their
home and the Congressman talked
for several hours with her husband.
"Was Mr.. Rowbottom at your
home at the time he signed paper
for Mr.. Klenck?" she was asked.
"Yes. He and Mr.. Klenck had
been on the front porch talking
about two hours before they asked
me to witness the paper"
Asked what they were talking
about, Mrs. Klenck said she could
not hear them as she was inside the
house sitting near window which
opened on the porch.
What was the nature of the docu-
rnent you signed" the Times man
ment you signed?" The Times man
"It was about some appointments
Rowbottom was to make"
Like One She Signed
Shown the photograph of the al
legged document, Mrs. Klenck was
asked if that was the one she had
signed. ,....-.....,........
ST think it is," she replied. THAT
certainly looks like my signature"
"Are you quite sure it is a copy
of the contract you signed?"
"I am not certain. The one !
signed was very much like this, If
not the same. That surely is my
S5signature and the one above it is
my husbands"
She said that was the last time
Rowbottom had been to their home,
"It is a forgery" was Rowbot-
TOMS vehement reply when asked
about the purported contract.
He went on to say that he had
seen Stephenson only three times In
MS life, and then before the former
dragon of the Klan had gained
political power in the State. Row.
bottom was firm in denying that he
ever had dealt" with Stephenson.
Denies Visit to Kleiick
Rowbottom also denied ever
having been to the Klenck home.
He admitted that he knew Earl
Klenck, but said he never had seen
Mrs. Klenck, and wouldn't know
her if she came in here now."
Did you ever sign your name
"Harry Rowbottom?" The Times re-
porter asked.
mo. I always write it H. E
Rowbottom,' as appears on my con-
gressional mailing frank"
The Congressman admitted that
he had been questioned about the
alleged agreement last fall by
Klenck and a reporter for the Ev-
ansville Press and denied at that
time any connection with the man
who said he was "the law in Indi-
ana"
Klenck, when shown the photo
graph given The Times by order o,
Stephenson, smiled and said, "That
sure looks like my signature"
Then Klenck said that Rowbot-
tom had signed an agreement fol
him personally regarding appoint.
ments in Pike and Gibson Counties
both in the First. district.
AS proof of his innocence. Row
bottom pointed out that Klenck hat
been against him Ia the primaries