The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-19
TESTIMONY IN DUVALL CASE

Mayor John L. Duvall took the
witness stand at 9:l6 a. m. Mon
day and began tale contradictory
to that told by the States star wit
ness, William H. Armitage.
Duvall followed Buser, recalled fol
a few minutes by the State. Before
going into the courtroom the mayor
talked for some time with Clyde
Robinson, president of the Marion
County State Bank, in a corridor.
The mayor said he had lived at
6242 College Ave. for the last four
years and before becoming mayor
he was in the banking business, con-
nected with the Marion County
State Bank, the Ft. Wayne Ave
State Bank and the Citizens State
Bank in Haughville.
He said he was county treasurer
from 1924 to 1926 and practiced law
two or three years before that. Prior
to becoming an attorney he was liv-
ing on farm near Pekin, ILL.,, where
he was born. he said.
Tells of Kinship
He said William c. Buser and
Thurman Washburn, both defense
witnesses, were brtohers-in-law of
his.
He said he is married and has
two children.
He said he announced his candi-
dacy April 2, 1925, and was NOM
mated in the primary May 5, 1925.
Odd you have conversations
prior to filing your papers of de-
termination to be candidate, in
April, with friends and ac-
quaintances on the subject of be-
coming candidate? Al did.
Q-Do you know William H.
Armitage? Al do.
GLOW long have you known
him? A-Perhaps three years.
Odd you have any business or
social relations with Armitage prior
to announcing your candidacy? A
No, sir.
Knew Him Casually
Q-Your acquaintance with him
was just casual? Ayes, sir.
Odd you have any political as
sociations with Arnitage? A--No,
sir. ~
Q--Before~ the primary in 1925,
did you have any conversations with
Armitage bearing on your candi-
dacy? Ayes.
Q-Where? Ain the Washing
ton Hotel.
He said he didn't know the room
number, but he had a room there
as headquarters.
Q-When was that conversation
with Armitage? "A few days be-
fore the primary.
Q-That was after you announced
your candidacy? Ayes.
Called Duvall at Bank
@. How did you happen to meet
him? A. He called me at the bank
and said he wanted TO see me.
told him I thought the Washington
Hotel would be the best place, at
o'clock.
Duvall said he was chairman ol
the board of directors of the Mar
ion County, State Bank at the time
and was there about every day.
Odd you have the meeting
with him? Ayes, about 2 o'clock
When we got there-rather went
f1rst-he came in the room and said
he had quit the Lemcke camp and
said he wanted to get behind me
and I told him I didn't think ii
would be the thing to do.
Q-What did he say, if anything
Ale said he'd put $4,000 behind
me in the primary and that he
would be able to do me a lot OF
good.
Would Talk to Shank
Q-what did you say, if any,
thing? Al said I didn't think he
ought to do 1t. He said I might talk
to Lew Shank about it and 1 said
I would.
Duvall said Armitage asked him
if he would talk to Lew at Shank S
house about 4 p. m. that day and
arrangements were made. Duvall
said he drove to Shank's house and
parked behind Armitage's car, in
which Armitage and Shank were
talking. \.
Q-Had you asked Armitage for
support in the primary? Al
hadn't seen him.
Glad you asked him2 A-No
sir. I mean 1 hadn't seen him OF
talked to him up to that time.
Q-What occurred at Shank's
home? A-Armitage was there in
hiss car talking to Shank when
drove up.
Didn't Leave Car
@. Did you go into the house7
A. No.
@. Did you get out of your car?
A. No.
@. What occurred. A. Shank got
out and came into my car.
G. Did you have conversation
with Shank? A. Yes.
@. Was Armitage present at any
conversation between Shank and
yourself?\ A. He was not.
Q-After your conversation with
Mr.. Shank, did you talk with Armi-
tage? Ayes. In my auto.
Q-Tell the jury what was said
by either of you A--Armitage said
he would like to come over with us
and I told him that would be abso-
lutely impossible, because it wouldn't
do to have him in my camp. He
said was about right.
Didn't See Him Again
Odd you see Arnitage again
or have any conversation with him
prior to the primary? A-No.
$50 far as you know, after your
meeting with Armitage at Shank's
home. die Arn1itape take anv mart