The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-07
Lest We Forget

cerity or the Judgment of the two special prosecu-
tors, John w. Hoffman and Emsley w. Johnson, in
their declarations concerning their interview with D.
G. Stephenson.
When they announce that he has given them val
liable information concerning the political corruption
which they probing and say that Stephenson was
thoroughly conversant with the proceedings OF the
grand jury which hunted for weeks and ended with
report which discredited its own actions, the people
know that they telling not only the truth but
that they believe the statements of Stephenson
That the famous convict who ruled this
State and declared ST am the law" adopts a Monte
Cristo attitude in his methods could be expected OF
that individual.
That he lifts the veil and says One, just as ONe1l
IN the old days intoned the words of Dumas play as
another famous prisoner got his revenge upon those
who had helped put him into prison cell, has drama
land is suggestive of truth.
Now it may be well to recall again the incidents
and events that followed the smuggling of the first
letter from the prison cell of Stephenson last Septem
Der.
1t will not do to forget now what happened. For
It is all very significant in view of the fact that Steve
has talked"
When that letter came out and was printed in The
Times and as far as Indianapolis was concerned IN
The Times alone because other newspapers were
afraid that it might nure the senatorial ambitions
of Watson and Robinson. there was vast official 81
Ience.
The Governor of this State refused to ask the war
den to permit six State Senators to interview Ste
phenson and get the same statements or similar ones
that are now in the hands of the prosecutors
Instead it was suddenly discovered that the prison
rules forbade any talking to prisoners, although
the editor of the leading newspaper at Michigan City
he
interview any prisoner tany time. to follow them to
death cells to talk to them whenever there seemed
to be public interest in them.
The only person who got in to see Stephenson was
a Federal agent named Maroney, who was hurriedy
sent to the prison and before his visit mot an official
denied any statement of Stephenson
1t is significant that the official records given
out by the prison trustees omit the name OF Maroney
from the list of visitors although the State board OF
charities in It's defense Of the prison, proudly de-
cares that Omitted States officials had easy access to
him
It should be remembered now that the first denial
of Stephensons statements came after Col. Theodore
Roosevelt at Lagrange refused to talk with Governor
jackson and Republican State Chairman Clyde Walo
unless they denied and promised an investigation and
that Senator Watson, not informed OF the sudden
switch of political policy gave out statement hours
saying
to have it revised before morning with violent de-
mand for all the truth
The people should not forget the grand jury and
the evidence which was sent to that body by The
Times.
There were the statements of those who mad
seen documents and photographed them.
Witnesses disappeared after conversations with
LAWYERS for Stephenson who seemed to be most init
mate with the proceedings of that jury.
Now it is known that Stephenson knew the secrets
of that jury room whose special prosecutors were
paid from the contingent funds of the Governor.
At last there seems to be break in the dam
of silence At last Stephenson seems to really mean
1t when he says that he has been double crossed
for the last time"
Perhaps very, very soon the people will know
what he meant by that who gave him promises and
broke them, who it was that gave him what he calls
that double cross"
The people perhaps very soon will get complete
evidence of the many things which were first charged
in The Times and which has reentlessly persstently
and almost alone followed the trail of the beast OF
corruption as it ruled in this State two years ago.