Evening star., 1927-09-23
DUVALL GUILTY,
JURY'S VERDICT
Mayor Fined and Jailed for
Violation of Corrupt
Practices Act.
BY the Associated Press.

| By the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS, September o3.-
Found guilty Of violating the corrupt
practices act, fined $1,000 and SEN
fenced to spend 80 days in the Marion
County Jail, Mayor John l.. Duvall's
status as public official was n ques-
ton of debate among attorneys here
today.
A jury last night found the mayor
| guilty of having made a deal with
| William II. Armitage. local politi-
clan, TO let him name two members
of the Board of Public Works and the
city civil engineer in exchange for
$4,000 and his support at the polls
in the 1925 election. The jury was
out little more than three hours.
The verdict carried with it the add
ed penalty that Duvall be barred
from holding public office for four
years from the date of the commission
of the crime of which he was convict
ed-November ., 1925. 1t is on that
point that local legal lights are in
conflict. Some believe Duvall is in
eligible to continue in Office.
Jury Imposes Maximum Fine.
The jury gave Duvall the maximum
fine, but was lenient as to imprison.
ment. The maximum penalty for the
charge is one years Imprisonment.
Violation of the corrupt practices act
| in Indiana is miSdemeanor
a motion for a new trial will be the
| first move by defense attorneys. Spe-
| cial Judge G. c. Shirley ordered Du-
vail into court this morning in order
| to pass sentence. Failure to obtain
new trial will be followed by an ap-
peal to the Indiana Supreme Court,
DuvalIs attorneys said.
Somewhat pale, but hiding his emo.
tions entirely, Mayor Duvall accepted
the iury's verdict in the same calm
manner that had characterized his
actions throughout the Today trial
He told newspaper men he had no
statement to make.
Duvall is the first man to be tried
on charges developed by the Marion
County prosecutors Office and the
grand jury, which for nearly year
has been investigating charges of
political corruption in Indiana
ku Klux Leaders Charges Aired.
The charges first were aired by
Thomas III. Adams, Vincennes pub
Usher, following receipt of secreted
letters from the prison cell of D. G.
Stephenson, former grand dragon of
the Ku Klux Klan. In those letters
Stephenson said he could give sub
stantial evidence that high county and
State officials had engaged in political
deals with him a year prior to his con-
viction of murder in 1925. He has
been before the grand jury twice.
Gov. Ed Jackson Is under indict.
ment as a result of the investigations,
and on October will be arraigned to
answer charge of attempt to bribe
former Gov. Warren T. McCray to
name James p. Mcdonald as Marion
County prosecutor in 1923 when that
office was vacant.
While Duvall went on trial only on
one charge, several other alleged sales
Of Offices were testified to by State
witnesses. William III. Freeman said
Duvall offered him a place on the
board of public works for $4,000.
Frank Sipe, another figure In local
politics, told the jury that he had been
offered the city market mastership for
$4,000.
Conflict of Evidence. :
knights of the Ku Klux Klan or
former members of that organization
filed onto the witness stand at the
call of both prosecution and defense
to assert and deny that Duvall had
signed an agreement to give them be.
tween so and IS per cent of his patron
age in return for support in the 1925
election.
Armitage, the States star witness
former saloon keeper, gambler and
politician with reputation of never
having gone back on his word-said
Duvall took his money, made the
promise and then double crossed him.
Duvall told the jury he returned Armi-
tage's money after the election. He
said he never had any intention of
keeping it-that his sole purpose in
accepting 1t was to put 1t out of cir
culation and preventing its use against
him If he failed to accept the preferred
assistance.