The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-01
SHUMAKER LIE
|SCHARGED IN
G|LL|OM Brief
Dry Boss 'FaISified Under
Oath on Witness Stand
Official Declares.
ASKS STIFFER PENALTY.
Attorney General Details
Reason for Demanding
Longer Sentence.

Charging that the Rev. z. S. Shu-
maker, superintendent Of the Indi-
ana Anti-Saloon League, obviously
falsifled under oath on the witness
stand" and that Senator Arthur r.
Robinson did not remember the
teller one conversation on Aug. s."
while Senator James E. Watson
and Henry Lane Wilson obviously
told the TRUTH" Attorney General
Arthur L. Gilliom today filed brief
with the Supreme Court, setting
forth reasons why Shumaker's SEN
tence should be increased.
The Supreme Court has under
advisement the motion to increase
the sentence to $3.50 and sixty days
Imprisonment passed on Shumaker
in former trial for contempt of
court.
Trial Held Nov. FL
Upon motion of Gilliom to in
crease the sentence, in view of adj
ditional evidence obtained, purport-
ing to show that Shumaker at
tempted "corruptly to influence
judgment favorable to himself" by
endeavoring to bring pressure to
bear upon the Supreme Court, a
trial was held Nov 81.
During this hearing, Shumaker
charged that the dispositions Of
Watson and Wilson contained
'falsehoods."
Gilliorn's brief says that Shu-
maker used his political influence
to approach two candidates for
United States Senator and the
chairman of the Republican State
committee, Clyde Walb, during the
campaign of 1926, for the purpose of
influencing a favorable and early de-
cision in his case before election.
"It is judicially known that all
members of the court are RepUH-
licans and that two OF the members
were candidates on the 1925 ticket.
Tried to Influence Decision
"Shumaker told the leaders he
approached that they should
see to it that the court would
convene and decide the case in his
favor, in turn for which the votes
he professed to influence would
support the Republican ticket,
otherwise, not
"Votes were more valuable at this
time to those Shumaker so ap-
preached than money. His offer
to produce and his threat to with
hold the votes he professed to in
fluence-in order to influence the
decision of his case-is every bit as
corrupt as if he had offered to give,
or threatened to divert money on
the same basis" said Gilliom.
Senator Watson and Wilson
obviously told the truth concerning
the telephone conversation of
Aug. 5, when Shunaker is said to
have told Watson that the
Methodist Church and the Anti
Saloon League would hold him per-
sonally responsible if the case was
not decided in Shumaker'S favor.
Charges Perjury
Senator Robinson did not remem-
Der it; and Shurnaker obviously falsi-
fed under oath when he denied
that the conversation was as stated
by Watson and Wilson. Shumaker
again obviously falsified when he
denied the conversation with Walb
'' as Walb narrated it. Shunaker's
Justification is obvious from the
manifestly unreasonable version he
gave of those conversations.
"Shumaker falsified again when
he said he at no time has attempted
to influence any decision of the Su-
preme Court, and that by his pub
lished report of 1926 he intended no
disrespect to the court, any of its
judges or its decisions.
"He, Shumaker, admits that he
approached the Senators and in
uuired cautiously whether he might
talk about his case. Why approach
politicians about a case in Supreme
Court?"
And Gilliom answers with: For
no other purpose than to bring po-
litical influence to bear on the de-
cision of the case. r
Decision by Christmas
"How bring such political inf1u-
ence to bear?" the attorney general
asks again? "By means of offering,
impliedly if not expressly, votes in
consideration for such influence, very
obviously.
1.-THE evidence shows acts on Shu-
makers part to influence the judg-
ment of the court in this case in
favor of himself The State nov
asks that these corrupt acts be per-
mitte5 to influence that Judgment,
but to the opposite effect from that
inended by him.
"The system erected, by Shu-
maker to dominate the decisions OF
.. the highest court of our State un-
der pain and penalty of political
death to the judges of that court
must be destroyed once and
for always" Gilliom concluded.
He also sets forth in the brief
that the court has the power to
modify the Judgment and increase
the penalty in the case.
Decision is expected to be handed
down by Christmas, it was learned.