The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-26
GRAND JURORS
QUIZ STEvE-|N
VISIT To- Cell
Two Members of Body and
Schaeffer Make Hurried
Michigan City Trip.
SECRECY IS MAINTAINED
Believed Important Evidence
Found Requiring Ex-
Dragons Statement.

Two members OF the county grand
jury, John j. Madden and Harry j.
Wangelin, accompanied by Deputy
Prosecutor william Schaeffer, today
made a hurried visit to the cell OF
d. @. Stephenson, former dragon of
the Klan, in his cell at Michigan
City.
Great secrecy concerning the visit
led to the speculation that the
grand jury had discovered most i'm
portant evidence upon which the
statement Of Stephenson was de-
sired.
Word from Michigan City said the
two jurors and the prosecutor ap-
peared at the prison shortly before
noon and asked 70. conference
with Stephenson.
No intimation had been given to
Warden DAILY or other prison Off
cials that such visit was impend-
ing and prison officials were sur
prised.
No Objection to Interview
1t was not reported that any OBJ
lection was made to an interview
with Stephenson.
No comment was made by the
foreman of the grand jury, William
Mooney, as to the object of the visit.
1t is known the grand jury has
been in daily session since the de-
parture from the city a month ago
of Prosecutor Reny, yho is re-
cuperating at AXE Wawasee and
Special Prosecutors John w. Holtz-
man and Ensley M. Johnson. Holtz-
man returned from Colorado today
ready to resume work.
The legal staff went on a vacation
. following the appearance before
Athe jury of d. G. Stephenson when
5the jury wished information con-
cerning documents discovered in the
black boxes which are now in the
possession and control of the grand
jury.
Importance Evidence Seen
The grand jury however refused
to take a vacation and indicated
Importance of the revelations and
the necessity for early action to end,
if possible, all speculation concern
ing the revelations Of Stephenson
demanded constant work.
That the jury has discovered evil
dence of such Importance that only
confirmation of Stephenson was
needed is the one explanation haz-
arded as to the sudden visit to
Michigan City Of committee OF
its memhers and the deputy prose-
cutor who from the start has had
charge of many phases of the
Stephenson investigation.
Stephenson is known to have
talked freely when he was brought
here to testify. The silence which
he maintained for months was
broken and it is intimated that he
had made good on his declaration
that he had "been double crossed
for the last time" and intimating
that he was very lonely in the chair
factory at Michigan City.
Deliver Black Boxes
Delivery Of the black boxes to the
prosecutor followed visit to the
prison by Prosecutor Remy and his
special assistants and a former close
confident Of Stephenson who has
been actively demanding that Ste-
, phenson furnish the documentary
evidence which he said months age
ne could furnish concerning polit-
ical history of this state.
The first break came when The
Times obtained possession Of the
cancelled checks given by Stephen
son and his notes attached to them
in the Noblesville Jail, detailing the
money spent for political purposes
Then followed the publication ir
The Times of letter written BY
Stephenson during the 1924 cam
paign addressed to Governor Jack
con in which the former dragon anc
political boss upbraided the Gov
ernor for certain activities anc
charged that Stephenson had spent
S73,216 in the Jackson primary cam
paigr.
Leak in the Dixie
That was the leak In the dixie
which had held back the food o.
evidence and since the present
grand Jury has been actively engaged
in following clews and in gathering
evidence.
At Michigan City no statement
was made by the grand jurors Of
Schaeffer as to the statements re.
ceived or expected from Indiana,
famous prisoner