The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-10

AAC A4dA4AC Va NONOAAAOA LII goOh
son flashed into the Stephensonism
investigation at the outset last Oct
and repeatedly was interviewer
into the startling developments.
On Oct. 2, Thomas H. Adams
Vincennes publisher, made public a
statement which D. c. Stephenson
had struggled out Of Indiana State
Prison, declaring he could disclose
an extensive story of corruption in
official Indiana life if permitted tc
talk freely.
The indianapolis Times, upon
receipt of this statement on Sat-
urday afternoon, Oct. 2, interrupted
the preparation of a world series
baseball extra, ripped open the
front page, and was the first pa
per to print the story. For five days
The Times was the only Indian
apolis newspaper to carry the i'm
portant developments from Ste
phenson's dramatic move.
Jackson in Spotlight
Jackson took the spotlight in the
investigation, out of which he sell
dom has strayed since it began, the
Sunday evening following issuance
Of Adams statement.
Two Times reporters found him
at a church in Cleveland, Ohio
where he was speaking. The Gov
ernor fatty declared he would not
permit a Times representative to
interview Stephenson in prison to
determine whether Stephenson had
anything with which to back up his
charges.
The Governor was asked II 1t was
rot within his power to let reporters
see Stephenson. He replied:
IT suppose I could, but I will not
do it."
Sticks to Policy
And Jackson stuck to this policy
throughout the months when prose-
cutors. grand juries. The Times,
and at least dozen leading news
papers of the Nation Of all political
compilations were trying to ascer-
tain what Stephenson had up his
sleeve.
Baked by the Governor, the
agencies of the law and the news
papers turned to other channsl:
and proceeded to dig into Stephen
sons political activities, with the
result that three grand iuries have
been kept busy for practically
eleven months.
Obstacle after obstacle was thrown
in the way Of the grand jury
Important witnesses disappeared
Stephenson's documents and his
BLACK boxes" were chased about the
country like a will-o-wisp.
witnesses Dodge Issue
Witnesses, when finally cornered
and compelled to go before the
grand jury, evaded questions.
City hall agents joined with
agents of the State political or
ganization in the blocking tactics.
0mOkeu Out Dy hOOScNckt
After repeated demands by The
Times and after group of Repub-
lican leaders had been smoked out
by a speech of Theodore Roosevelt
Jr., in which he declared that he
thought 1t most certain this al
honest officials would want : ,om-
plete investigation and had made
statements suggesting an investiga-
ton, Criminal Judge James A. Col
Inns laid the matter before the
Marion County grand jury on Oct
IL, 1926.
On the same day Prosecutor VIII
liam H. Remy named Ralph K
Kane, Fred G. Cause and Attorney
General Arthur L. Gilliom special
prosecutors.
While this staff was chasing the
elusive witnesses, the investigation
was enlivened by United States
Senator James Reeds inquiry into
Indiana politics, as the result Of re-
quest of The Times and several
prominent citizens.
Meanwhile, Times agents were
Locating witnesses and furnishing
docu .nents, letters and papers for
the grand jury.
Duvall Files Suit
Mayor John L. Duvall filed suit
for 100000 each against The
Times, six other newspapers, and
several individuals, charging con-
spiracy to defame. He dismissed
these suits several days ago.
Some time before the conclusion
of the work of the first grand jury
! Stephenson sent a message out OF
prison that the report of the grand
jury would be four to two for in
dictment. 1t takes five votes to in
dict.
No indictments we're returned,
the jury on Dec. II reporting
''This is the best possible report un-
der conditions as they now exist in
the grand Jury room" The prose-
cutors said indictments should have
been returned upon the evidence
introduced.
: Members of this first grand jury
were Wilson Furnas, foreman; O.
F. Calvert, 1852 Central Ave; Hilary
Morris, 6O45 Ashland Ave-; Joseph
Schaf, Columbia Club; William
Webb, 1916 w. Washington St, and
Herman F. Sprandel, 1l35 Cen
trail Ave.
New Jury Called
Judge Collins Immediately called
new grand jury, but it took several
weeks and examination of f1fty-two
talccmen before these men were
sworn in: john Colle.t, rs e. Thirty
Third ST.; Charles L. Clark, 25l4