The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-28

Negley momentarily held the
advantage through a tempor-
ary restraining order issued
Thursday night by Superior
Judge Joseph Miner, ordering
Holmes and his associates not
to interfere with Negley or his
city appointees in the exercise
of municipal duties.
The situation whereby Indian
apolis awoke this morning to find
two mayors on the job came about
as a result of a rapid, dramatic
series of moves late Thursday.
Declare Duvall Out
City council, in a special meeting,
declared the Office of mayor vacant
because Of John L Duvall's convic-
ton, Sept. %, on a charge Of vio-
lating the corrupt practices act and
the Office Of city controller vacant
because Duvall had named his wife,
Mrs. Maude Duvall, controller after
his conviction.
Then the council elected Claude
Negley mayor pro tenn, to serve un-
til Nov. 8, when a permanent mayor
will be elected to serve out Du-
wallis term.
Meanwhile, it developed that Du-
vail secretly had resigned. making,
according to his Interpretation, Mrs.
Duvall mayor. She appointed
Holmes controller and then resigned
herself, moving Holmes to the
mayors chair.
Holmes got down to the mayors
Office at 4 a. m, after a special
guard of armed policemen had stood
watch all night to see that no one
entered.
Issues Appointments
He issued a list of appointments
a short time before Deputy Sheriff
Frank BroSius arrived to serve Judge
Miners restraining order on him.
Then few moments later Negley
and a quartet of supporters
marched" into the mayors Office
to demand the seat.
The rival mayors" accepted the
situation gracefully and good ma
turedly shared the office, pending
decision of the court.
Negley and q party of his friends
went to city hall at $3.50 to lay
claim to the Office.
Holmes was out eating breakfast
when Negley and his party arrived
at city hall.
Mrs. Holmes at Desk
Mrs. Holmes was at the mayors
desk and Negley quietly retired to
await Holmes return.
Mrs. Holmes, and her son, Horace
c., 20, an Indiana Law School stu
dent, who live at 528 N. Central
Ct, had not seen Holmes since
Thursday morning. Holmes tele-
phoned them about $50 to come
down to the mayors office.
Slaps Rival on Back
Holmes returned short time later
and greeted Negley with a jovial
Hello, Claude, how are you?" and
slapped his rival on the back.
Thirty or forty people had gath
cred in the Office by this time.
Hello, Nom, how are your"
Holmes greeted his wife, still seated
at the mayors desk.
do you want to sit here?" she
asked.
mo, you stay there, unless Mr..
Negley objects, it's his desk today"
Holmes answered.
Hold Friendly Chat
Negley and Holmes then sat down
by the desk and began a. friendly
conversation while photographers
took pictures. Previously they had
posed shaking hands.
'Negley and I understand each
other. I'll honor the court order
restraining me from acting as
mayor, of course. Negley and l are
good friends He can have the may
or's Office today, but this is pub
lie building and I'll be around here,
too"
Battle to Be Courteous"
He said the battle is a legal one
and will be fought out along legal
lines, with as much courtesy and
good nature as possible.
Here is how Holmes says he be-
came mayor:
At 3:45 p. m, Thursday while the
councilmen were upstairs getting
ready to declare Duvall and Mrs.
Duvall. the controller, out of Of
fee. Duvall signed his resignation in