The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-02
Nearing the Finish

When the grand jury called last fall concluded
its work. its members declared after eleven weeks
of listening to stories of political corruption that
further investigation should be made
That grand jury and four legal advisors-the
attorney general the prosecuting attorney, former
Supreme Court Judge Fred c. Cause and Ralph
Kane.
Kane Cause and Remy gave out statements that
the jury had received evidence on which indict-
ments should have been returned They also stat
ed that evidence sufficient to indict had been
obtained concerning State officers.
That left the matter down to county and city
officials The jury they advised had met with I'M
usual obstacles Witnesses disappeared and re-
NAMED out of the State. Safety deposit boxes
empty when thew we're opened, Agents of the
prosecutor found themselves baked when they tried
to get from Indiana's famous convict any evidence
he might wish to give.
If these lawyers, all outstanding and notable
were correct in saying indictments should have been
returned against officials for political corrup
tion it is fair inference that the political crimes
occurred in county city elections.
If that be true, then the statute of limitations
becomes important and that statute forbids prose
cution after lapse of two years.
The last city primary was held early in May,
1925, and the two years which give immunity will
be during the present week.
The law provides that the prosecuting attorney
may file direct nformations while grand jury
is in session
There is grand jury in session. 1t charged
early in the year with the task of further nvest-
eating the matters which the former grand jury
said needed further inquiry
But the grand jury, while still a legal body, is
not active. One of it's members made the startling
nh hat hn had briho Of
and city job if he would refuse to vote for indct-
ments against the mayor of this city; matter what
the evidence disclosed
James Armitage, active in politics, is now on
trial for contempt of court this charge
The defense is that the grand juror lied CUES.
tons asked by lawyers for Armitage suggest that
an effort will be made to show that this grand juror
tried to sell his influence, vent about in places which
might fear the law and tried to peddle information
and perhaps protection
Certainly it is not beyond the realm of proper
discussion to suggest that matter what the evil
dence may finally disclose, this grand juror has lost
his usefulness and with his inability to act the
grand jury becomes helpless.
If his own story be true that a bride was Of
fered him and he was assured that two others were
right the jury can act If he tried to barter
his vote as juror, he certainly not act and
the time taken to replace him If the Judge acted
at once before the end of the contempt trial would
carry over and beyond the time when the statute
OF limitations becomes operative against any oense
committed in the primaries
The three lawyers, Remy Kane and Cause who
said that indictments should have been returned ly
the grand jury they advised, know whether the Of
lenses came within the statute of limitations.
They would undoubtedly advise the court if
such an emergency nowS exists as to permit guilty
men to escape prosecution while the court tries
to find out whether some one had tried to hamper
its power and authority.
il the grand jury discharged the prose.
cutor could file direct information He is on rec
ORD as saying that the evidence is in the hands of
the grand jury and recorded in those volumes for
which the State paid many thousands of dollars
Public interest demands that some action he
taken ana taken quickly A dismissal of the grand
jury would free the prosecutor if he desires to pre-
sent direct information. The court it seems
might take this easy way of discovering whether
Hemy was buffing when he said thatsthe ury had
evidence on which to indct. Any other course with
that statute running to its close, will bring the
whole inquiry into disrepute