Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-31
SAYS HE WILL "COME BACK"
Former Governor Asks Opportunity
to Vindicate Himself.

INDIANAPOLIS, August 31.-"I am
coming back" former Gov. Warren t
McCray of Indiana said when he en-
tered the Federal prison at Atlanta on
May /, 1924, to start 10-year sentence
imposed for use of the mails in fur
theranee Of a scheme to defraud.
He asked the Indiana public to have
faith in him, hoped for an opportunity
to vindicate himself and to pay back
every cent lost by friends and asso.
ciates in his financial collapse, and
declared that IL he had an opportunity
he would prove that he had no intent
to defraud any one.
Known as millionaire and an astute
business man with no bad habits when
he became Governor of Indiana In
1921. McCray was caught in the de-
fation of farm land values which soon
wiped out his fortune On the witness
stand in his trial he admitted sign
ing names of other persons to notes
but disclaimed any intent of forgery
or wrongdoing. At one time he was one
Of Indiana's largest landholders.
Elected i'm 1920.
From grocery clerk to wealth and
recognition as one of the Middle Vests
greatest Hereford cattle breeders, Nc
Cray came to look yearningly at the
Indiana executive chair. Beaten by
James p. Goodrich for the Republican
nomination in 1915, he won in 1920.
Hardly was he acquainted with his
duties when rumors of his financial
condition gained circulation, but his
real status was not learned until Au-
gust, 1923, when he quit the presi-
dency of the Kentland, Ind, Discount
G. Deposit Bank.
Political and personal friends formed
pool" to pay back $155,0OO he had
borrowed from the Kentland bank and
similar amount borrowed from the
State board of agriculture.
Meeting with creditors here, he in
sisted that he had assets of $3,223,0
and listed liabilities of $2.650,000. A
Marion County Qndianapolis) grand
jury indicted him. however. on charges
of forgery, embezZlement and larceny.
A jury disagreed and after he was
tried in Federal Court the county writ
was dismissed.
Refused to Quit Office.
McCray refused to listen to pleas
that he resign as governor, withhold
ing that action until the day he was
"a, 1924. He WAS sentenced to 10
years in prison and fined $4,000.
His thousands of acres Of farm land
over the country are gone to satisfy
his creditors. Scattered also is the
herd Of more than 600 Hereford cattle,
once called the finest in the country.
Only his family home at Kentland
and, it is understood, Summer home
In Michigan are left to him.
McCray was 62 in 1927. His physi
cal condition was reported poor soon
after his confinement. He was widely
respected by prison officials and in
| mates.
McCray will return to Indianapoli;
with William p. Evans, his son-in-law
who went to Atlanta the first of thu
week. Evans was Marion County
prosecutor at the time the county
| grand jury indicted McCray on EN-
bezzlement and forgery charges. HI
resigned almost Immediately.
McCray's pride was evident through
out his confinement. When he return!
to Indianapolis, where his wife ha.
been making her home, it will mari
the first time he has seen her sine,
he left this city for Atlanta, He would
not see any member of his family, ex
cent Evans. while attired in prison
garb.
! Plans for McCray's future have no
been disclosed. 1t was reported re
Gently that influential friends planned
to establish him on farm where hi
could resume cattle raising, but The
story has not been substantiated.