The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-29
Grand Juror, First Witness
on Stand at Contempt
Bribery Trial Before
Judge Collins.
REPEATS ALL CHARGES
InTan Attempts Coup on
Cr0SS-EXamination
of ACCuSer.

How James E. Armitage,
politician, offered him a bribe
was barred in detail in Criminal
court today by Claude A.
Achey, county grand juror.
Armitage is charged with
contempt of Judge James A.
Collins court. His trial began
this morning.
Achey charges that Armitage
offered him $4,000 and job If he
would refuse to vote for indictment
Of Mayor John L. Duvall.
Repeating under oath as a witness
the allegations contained in his
sworn affidavit which resulted in
Armitages citation for contempt,
Achey related a story Of frequent
alleged conversations with Armitage.
terms of the alleged bribery offer
and how Armitage seemed to know
what was going on in the grand
jury ROOM"
When Eph Inman. attorney for
Armitage, who is the brother of Will
liam II. Armitage, former Republi-
can city hall boss. started cross
examination. he tried to show that
Achey had gone up and down Indi-
ana Ave, relating that the grand
jury had heard evidence against
Duvall and that Achey had sought
bribes.
His question framing the presump-
tion that Achey had revealed that
such evidence had been presented,
was not permitted by the court.
Inman Makes Charge
Seeking to break down the story
that Achey had told, Inman shouted:
did you say to various people
on Indiana Ave. that the grand
jury had evidence against John L.
Duvall, the mayor, but that he
would not be indicted if your price
was paid?"
Immediate objection by Prose
cutOr William III. Remy and Dep
uty Prosecutor John w. Hoffman
and Emsley w. Johnson brought
Innan to his feet and he charged
that Achey had talked to Armi-
tage, but that instead of Armitage
Offering Achey a bribe, the grand
Juror had Solicited bl-ibes. had
tipped off the names of witnesses
and was trying to get S5, "a fln."
apiece out of il.
"Attach on Court"
Remy attacked the relevancy Of
Inman's imputation. Inman, how
ever claimed that the credibility of
the witness was important, and that
Achey had represented himself as
being the virtual head of the grand
jury.
Hoffman claimed that Inman's
remarks were an attack upon the
dignity of the court.
Collins sustained the objection and
relieved Achey from answering
Inman Admits Talks
Cross. ss.eXamination of Achey con.
unued with Inman admitting that
Armitage had had conversations
with Achey and asked Achey IL it
was true that he had pulled a list OF
names from his pocket and shown It
to Armitage; that Armitage had told
him to tear it up or "you will get
yourself in the penitentiary, and
that Achey did tear the list up
Another spirited objection was
made by the prosecution which was
sustained by the court Recess was
taken at 1870 a. m. until 1:30 o. m.
There was no court from 2 until 2:90
in Difference to the funeral of AL
bert J. Beveridge
1nman opened his clients fight
against the charges by objecting to
the hearing of witnesses on the
ground that the court has no juris-
diction in the case; that the defend
ant, by his verified answer of denial.
purged himself of the charges, and
that no issue of law or fact is in
volved.
Judge James A. Collins promptly
overruled the objection and Inman
entered an exception.
Questioned by Remy
Called to the stand, Achey was
questioned by Prosecutor William
II. Remy.
Deputy Prosecutor Holtzman's
motion at the opening of the trial
that the witnesses be separated,
when upheld by the court, caused
the exodus of seventy-five, among
them Herman f. Rikhof, former po-
lice chief, John j. O'Brien, former
fire chief, Joseph l.. Hogue, former
city controller, and Martin j.
Hyland, former street commissioner.
Opening questions brought the in
formation that Armitage's accuser
is S5, lives at GAL E. Thirty-Third
St., served with the A. L. F., fought
in the battles of the Argonne and
st. Mihiel, and was honorably dis
charged.
Inman entered second exception
before allowing Achey to take the
stand.
Remy asked Achey if he had been
by anyone in connection
with the probe being conducted by
the grand jury.
"James Armitage approached
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