The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-24
Effort to Discredit Witness
Before Reed Committee
Is Recalled.
KLINCK FACES U. S. JURY
Thomas V. Adams Says He
Will Demand Drastic
. Action Soon.

Earl Klinck, tried with D. G.
Stephenson for the murder OF
Madge Oberholtzer and acquitted,
was a witness before the Federal
grand jury, Thursday.
So were Albert S. Sanders, former
editor of an Evansville paper, con-
victed of using his position to stop
prosecutions for bootlegging and
William Rogers, who testified before
the Reed senatorial committee at
st. Louis last fall, that Senator
James E. Watson once possessed a
card to the Imperial Klan Klon-
cilium.
While neither District Attorney
Albert Ward nor his assistant, Alex
Cavens, stated definitely the purpose
of their testimony, it was charged
today by Thomas A. Adams, VIM
cennes publisher, that for months
there has been an effort to secure
his indictment and that OF others
who were interested in the Stephen
son investigation.
He charges efforts have been made
to secure perjured testimony which
would discredit his charges and per-
haps place those who consorted with
Stepuhenson politically in better
light.
Rogers Threatened
Early this year Klinck. who had
worked with Adams, in the Indiana
political probe, met Rogers, accord
iu&. to the latter, and told him to
AN affidavit in which Rogers
wy6ld have sworn that his testimony
at st. Louis had been untrue, and
that he had been paid to testify
falsely.
This Rogers says he refused to do,
despite the fact that Klinck threat
ened him with dire results. Klinck
used the name of Attorney General
Arthur L. Gillio1n freely in his
threats to Rogers saying that
Gilliom and Watson would see to it
chat nothing happened to him
tRogers) if he signed on the dotted
line.
Instead of signing the affidavit
Rogers took it with him on pretext
of discussing it with his wife and
turned it over to friend who gave
it to Ralph K. Kane, local attorney.
Shortly thereafter according to
Adams M. L. Clawson, attorney with
Offices in the Continental Bank
Building, an uncle of Russell V.
Duncan, State representative since
sentenced to the Federal prison for
= theft of a Government check, was
active in securing aff1davits or in"
formation regarding the political
probe in order to enlist the support
of Watson or Republican county
chairman George v. Coffin, to save
Duncan.
~ Copies Are Made
It since has been definitely estab-
aished that Clawson secured an
adaWt from Sanders signed about
1aMay 81, of which he had photo
Static copies made.
a Then Sanders, says Adams, after
Eaving made an affldavit for Claw
went to Adams and offered to
49, an affidavit that Klinck, Claw
son and other had conspired to ruin
Adams by trickery for the purpose
of helping Duncan.
On several occasions since the
original conference, Klinck, accord
ing to Rogers, has been insistent
that the former Klan organizer
sign the affidavit in order ito keep
from going to the penitentiary for
perjury and you know Jim Watson
can put you there"
Rogers has told friends that he
has not signed any aff1davits of that
character and that he told nothing
but the truth at st. Louis.
District Attorney Ward is credited
with saying after Klinck and Saun-
Gers had testified that "it is just
little matter and not important"
Adams announced that since the
plot to discredit him had received
official attention, he would insist on
drastic action.