Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-30
Third Probe of Alleged Cor
ruption in State Begins
at Indianapolis.
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE
PROMISED AT HEARING
Documents From Famous Black
Boxes Furnish Basis of
New Investigation.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 30.-D. c.
Stephenson was taken before the
Marion County grand jury today i'm
mediately upon his arrival under
guard from the Indiana State prison
at Michigan City, presumably to tes-
tify in the investigation of alleged
political corruption in Indiana.
Stephenson, former grand dragon
Of the Klan, who is now serving a
life sentence for the murder Of Madge
Oberholtzer two years ago, was
brought to Indianapolis by automobile.
1t was understood that in recent in
terviews with William II. Remy, prose-
cutting attorney of Marion County I'm
dianapolis), Stephenson had indicated
a willingness to appear before the in
quisitorial body.
Last Fall Stephenson was brought
to the city to testify before the first
Of the three grand juries that have
Investigated the corruption charges
originally instituted by Thomas H.
Adams, Vincennes. Ind. publisher.
1924 Elections Involved.
At that time it was understood that
he declined to give any information in
his possession concerning alleged bar
gainings for his support by persons
now holding high public Office. The
charges center around the 1924 elec-
tions. Two previous grand juries
have failed to return indictments.
II will go through with what 1 have
started" Stephenson was quoted by
Robert A. Moore, his attorney, as say
ing. II purchased persons involved in
the investigation in the open market.
I paid an excessive price for them.
Afterward they railroaded me to prison
and convicted me of a crime of which
I was rot guilty. I can't even have
the right to talk with my attorney
privately. They denied me that privi-
lege. Now I am going to turn them
over to the State of Indiana for a
WHILE"
The decision to bring Stephenson to
Indianapolis for appearance before the
grand jury was reached, Moore said.
after William H. Remy. Marion
County prosecutor. had communicated
to him the line Of questioning he pro-
posed to put to the former Klan Official
and after Stephenson had expressed
his willingness to answer.
Once before, when one OF the two
previous grand juries which have in.
vestigated the charges of political ir-
regularities was in session, Stephen
son. who asserts that he once dictated
political activity in Indiana, was
70 India fo foctffy
Then he refused to answer the ques-
tions put to him.
Hold Additional Evidence.
Now. additional evidence is in the
hands of the prosecutors and the
grand jurors-documents from the
famous black boxes which were
turned over to one of Remy's special
assistants on orders from Stephen
son a week ago. The pertinence Of
these documents, the most important
Of which were placed before the jury
by Prosecutor Remy, probably will
cause the jury to continue in session
beyond today, when it's vacation was
scheduled.
The same secrecy which surround
ed Stephenson'S previous return to
Indianapolis from the State prison
IIldIkcu IllS movements ldoI HASAI,
and the same care that was exercised
in protecting the prisoner on his
earlier visit was in force today.
In the first instance Stephenson
was smuggled into the city in a
closed automobile and taken to the
county Jail, about which a Gordon
Of police had been thrown. He was
closely guarded on his way from the
Jail to the grand jury room at the
courthouse, where halls were cleared
and police stood guard at intervals.
Probe Ordered Continued.
The present grand jury was in.
structed early this week by Judge
James A. Collins of the Marion
County Criminal Court to continue
the investigation into graft and cor
ruption. The first jury failed to re-
turn any indictments, but recommend
ed that the investigation be continued.
The second was dismissed after an al
legged attempt had been made to bribe
one Of the jurors to vote not to indict
Mayor John J.. Duvall of Indianapolis
All of the testimony taken by the
previous inquisitorial bodies was i'm
pounded and turned over to the
present jurors.
Mayor Duvall and three other In
dianapolis officials have been charged
with official misconduct as result of
the investigation. None, however, was
indicted by the juries hearing evil
dence. The affidavits were returned
by the prosecutor and his special as