The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-28
NEGLEY BUSHES
TO take Oath
AS CITY Chief
Council Goes Through Hot
Session Before ousting
John L. Duvall.

Claude E. Negley wasted no time
qualifying himself to act as mayor
after his unanimous election pro
tenn. by city council late Thursday.
He went Immediately to the city
clerks office and received the oath
from Miss Margaret Inman.
After being sworn, he lett the
clerks office for the Marion County
Court house to confer with several
political advisors on further steps
in the city's pO litical upheaval.
All council members except Austin
H. Todd, who left following two
hour caucus, and Edward B. Raub,
Democrat. out of the city on bust
ness voted for Negley to serve the
ten-day period.
Will Elect Nov. 8
A council resolution introduced
by Boynton j. Moore, naming
Negley to the city's highest post, also
set Nov. 8 as the date when the
council will elect a permanent
mayor to succeed Duvall. The per-
manent mayor may be either
council member or citizen.
After clubbing for more than two
hours on who they should name TO
succeed Duvall, the council finally
decided on Negley. Negley had taV-
ored Duvall on two occasions when
impeachment proceedings were be-
gun.
Robert E. Springsteen, Democrat,
was reported as the majority choice
in caucus, but he declined because
of his health. Otis E. Bartholomew,
south side councilman, and Boyn-
ton ]. Moore, majority leader, also
were suggested, it was said.
an fact nearly everyone was sug-
gested by someone" said one
councilman.
County Attorney Clinton H. Civ
an, friendly to the Otis Dodson
Republican faction, was called into
frequent conference by councilmen IN
caucus. Givan had advised council
men who engineered the custer
move and had been in conference
during the day with Dodson leaders.
George S. Elliott, former Khan
Cyclops, was reported to have
entered the private council cham
bers during the conference.
Majority of spectators in the
council chamber grew tired and left
before the council convened. A num-
Der of administration members and
politicians remained to learn the
outcome.
Duval closeted himself in his
private Office after a short confer
ence with close friends at noon and
awaited developments. He said he
expected "to continu running city
business as If nothing had hap
pened."
Thinks He's Still Mayor
my attorneys advise me that
there can be only one mayor at a
time and, that I am it," he said.
Duvall remained in his office until
late afternoon and went to his home.
When he learned that a detail of
seven police, headed by Sergt. Curtis
Barge, was on duty in the council
chamber he called Barge to his
Office and ordered the officers away.
After short conference with
Duvall, Ira M. Holmes, attorney,
who it was reported was to succeed
Duvall via appointment as city con-
troller, went to the council chamber.
He denied the report that he was
to become controller and later
mayor.
Il am here as a citizen and as
attorney for Duvall. Duvall will
mot turn over the Office, no matter
what the council does. We expect
to continu issuing pay warrants as
fast as we can and the response
bility for collecting the money will
fall or city employees" Holmes said.
Call Is Read
After seven councilmen filed from
the private room, Negley ordered
Miss Inman to read The call for
the special meeting. o. Ray Albert
son, recently before the county
grand jury in the council quiz and
considered friendly to Duvall. ques-
toned the legality of the call.
Negley read a statement declaring
that since competent attorneys be-
lieved Duvall removed automatically
from Office after he was convicted
Sept. % by a Criminal Court jury
on charges of violating the corrupt
practices act, it was the duty of the
council to name his successor.
Negley cited section 1,276 of Burns
statute 1926, which empowers the
council to name a mayor in event
the office is vacant. Mrs. Maude E.
Duval1, the mayors wife, was de-
clared ineligible to hold office, since
she was appointed by her husband
after he was out of Office.
Negley cited the chaos OF city af-
fairs and declared he believed it the
councils duty to, the citizens to
straighten out the muddle.
Albertson sought legal advice on
whether the contemplated move was
according to statute and argued