The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-17
Mayor Faces Perjury and Election Corruption Charges
DUVALL, BUSER
ARE ARRESTED
Continued From Page u

ser, failed to list the $4,000 contri-
button and listed only $3.50 expenses,
the affidavit declares.
The mayor also failed to set forth
that he promised the Rev. George
S. Henninger, pastor of the East
Tenth Street Methodist Church, that
IS per cent of the city hall appoint
ments would go to members of Khan
No. 3.
1t also charges Duvall failed to
set out that he had promised George
Snider, former sheriff, appointment
to the board of safety. and promised
Harvey Bedford. former Khan leader
and police traffic inspector. appoint
ment as park superintendent and
the gift of an automobile.
1t also charges that Duvall
promised Elliott and Bedford that
he would appoint no Catholics to
positions of responsibility.
The affidavit charging a false
statement alleged that Duvall's
campaign fund statement was false
in that it did not list the Freeman
and Armitage contributions and
made no mention OF his various ap-
pointment promises.
Basis of Joint Charge
The other affidavit jointly charges
Duvall and Buser with conspiracy
) to commit felony. the felony being
! the fling of the alleged false cam
paign expense and contribution ac-
count and swearing that the account
was correct.
Buser is guilty because he, know
ing. Permitted Duvall 10 swear to
the false statement. it charges.
Prosecutor Ready
II am ready to go to trial on the
charges against Mayor Duvall and
Buser at once" said Prosecutor
Remy.
He indicated several more cor
ruption probe affidavits will be
filed, but would not say whether
they would be filed soon, or after
the Duvall-Buser trial.
Ralph a. Lemcke, Republican, de-
feated by Duvall in the 1926 primary
for the mayoralty nomination, was
before the prosecutors Monday aft
ernoon for a long time and it was
believed he was being questioned
about various details of the primary
election.
Priest Questioned
Two other witnesse5 were called
before the group Monday. They
were the Rev. Joseph j. Weber. pas
tor of the Church of the Assump-
ton, 1125 Blaine Ave, and Orville
Scott. chief clerk in the city assess
ment bureau. The Rev. Weber was
called after Duvall made a statement
that he had been offered immunity
in the probe and a bride II he and
Controller William C. Buser would
resign. He said one man appearing
before him was a Catholic priest.
The Rev Weber retaliated with a
statement that Duvall had come to
him begging he use his influence
with Judge Collins and Remy to pre-
vent him from being hit in the
probe. Weber was called to the
grand jury rooms and interviewed
by the prosecutors.
Scott. whom the Rev. Weber said
accompanied Duvall. was then called
and taken into Criminal Court when
he refused to answer questions.
Speaks Reluctantly
However, on the witness stand,
after a series of objection, Scott
hesitantly told story Of being with
the mayor the evening they went to
Weber's and after telling the mayor
Weber wanted to see him.
Scott declared the conversation at
weber's was general and there was
some discussion Of an article in
Chicago newspaper that Duvall and
Buser would resign.
Weber took the stand then and
testified Scott had called him and
said the mayor wanted to see him.
When they came to his home,
Weber said. Scott pleaded with him
to aid the mayor.
Cited Contempt Risk
81 would do anything for Scott.
but I told them 1 couldn't see how
could go to Collins or Remy on
this matter without getting in con-
tempt Of court" Weber testified.
He stated the conference was sup
posed to be secret and he would
not have said a word about It only
the mayor dragged me into It and
have to protect myself"