The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-05
PROBE Jury
RULING SET
FOR FRIDAY
Grand Jurors Ordered Into
I Court by Judge to Hear
Decision.
ARMITAGE ANTI-CLIMAX
One of Three Courses Open
to Collins.

Criminal Court Judge James A.
Collins announced In Criminal Court
today that he had ordered members
of the Marion County grand jury to
appear in court at 9 a. m. Friday.
when 1 will make my decision on
the jury question"
The jury. which was investigating
Indiana political corruption, has
been adjourned since April II, when
Prosecutor William II. Reny pre-
sented to Collins affidavit of Grand
Juror Claude A. Achey charging
that James E. Armitage attempted
to bribe him to vote against indict-
ment OF Mayor John L. Duvall.
Collins sentenced Armitage. whose
brother William II. Armitage was
political boss of city hall during
Mayor Shank's administration, to
serve three months in the Marion
County Jail and pay a $500 fine.
Three Courses
Three courses are open to the
judge in regard to the jury, lawyers
said:
He may order the present jury
TO continue the political corruption
probe.
He may discharge the entire
jury and order new one drawn
to continue the probe.
He may discharge one or more
members OF the present jury, order
their places filed and direct the
revised jury to continue.
The statute of limitations. which
prevents prosecution for criminal
acts committed more than two years
previous to indictment, expired to-
day for any acts committed at or
before the mayoralty primary of two
years ago. The primary was held
two years ago today.
But any law violations in connec-
ton with fling of primary expense
accounts still are subject to prosecu-
ton, as candidates were given until
thirty days after the election to list
contributions.
Seek New Trial
Eph Inman, Armitage's attorney
filed a preliminary motion for a new
trial this morning
Collins asked him to present the
bill of exceptions and additions to
the motion within ten days, if pos
sible.
Michael Clossey of Wayne Town
ship, and Barnett Jacobson, 6O2 f.
Forty-Sixth ST., signed Armitage's
$4,000 appeal bond.
The Judge at that time turned down
Remys motion that the jury be dis
missed. and ordered filing of the
contempt of, court information on
which he found Armitage guilty late
Wednesday,
Quick Close
Conviction of Armitage came after
a hasty close of the case. At 1O:40
a. m. the defense rested and the
State. in the early afternoon, placed
four rebuttal witnesses onfthe[stand.
Judge Collins gave his ruling less
than half an hour after the State
finally closed.
Collins statement gave a resume
of the case since the information was
filed by the prosecutor.
"The evidence offered by the de-
fendant Armitage is not sufficient
to purge him of the contempt In
said information" the court held.
Armitage Smiles
Armitage smiled when the ruling
was announced. He was Immediate
ly taken into custody by chief
deputy sheriff A. 3. Wiltsie, who
took him to the courthouse corridor,
read the attachment and returned
him before the bench where the SEN
tence. was Levied
The court then announced that
the status of the grand jcry and the
preliminary motion for a new trial
were to be considered this morning.
He indicated the motion would be
overruled. Armitage was released on
his recognizance over night.