The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-09
Proving His Case

The Judge at Goshen who called upon to de-
eide the right Of D. c. Stephenson maker OF gov
errors and state governments in his day OF power and
know number to talk to his attorney without
guard listening in, says that as matter OF law
the warden and trustees of the prison have right
to listen
But as important as was his decision was his
comment during the trial when he suggested that II
he were trustee of that prison, he would let this
prisoner talk to his attorney alone as long as ne
wished.
The State of Indiana seems to be going to rather
extreme lengths to give credence to the wild state
ments of Stephenson and to raise some Suspicion
that he may have been telling the trutn "nen he
says that there is conspiracy to keep MIN senC anu
prevent him from defending himself
ST The State sent three lawyers to Goshen to argue
that as matter of law Stephenson has no right to
consult his lawyer concerning his appeal from the
murder verdict without his conversation being heard
! by prison authorities.
J Whatever the law may be, the people know that
he has been handled in exceptional manner since
he first struggled out letter declaring that ne mad
documentary proof of political corruption
4urredy the trustees of that prison were called
together to enact rule that had been in force
under the regime of Warden Fogarty.
That rule prevented him from being interviewed
by the newspapers of the State of talking to any
one except in the presence of guard
y The people have right to the conclusion that
there must have been some reason for the swift enact
ment of the rule.
The people have not forgotten the incidents OF
the grand jury when lawyers who we're intent on
keeping him silent found obstacles to interviews
with him and when witnesses disappeared suddenly
tof+o +o1Ii To uh0 is acknowledged to
have dictated the nominations of all except one of
the present State officials.
The people have not forgotten the result of that
grand jury investigation when it reported to the court
that its lack of indictments and its exoneration of all
State officials the only verdict possible under
the conditions which existed in the grand jury"
One Of those conditions the employment Of
two special attorneys who were paid from the gov
ernor's contingent funds.
The people of this State have no sympathy with
Stephenson The majority probably believe that he
is exactly where he belongs.
But they also recognize the fact that every man
is entitled to all his remedies of law and that one Of
these is an appeal and that in prosecuting that ap-
peal he should not be hampered by any one who
might have an interest in defeating his rights.
The people expect him to be treated exactly as
every other prisoner is treated They begin to Won
der when special rules adopted with an appar-
ent purpose of creating special conditions for him.
either against him to give him special privileges
The best support that Stephenson has is in the
State officials who bent upon acting in man
ner which would induce people to believe his charges
Just why the State should send three lawyers to
the northern boundary of the State to prevent this
man from talking privately to attorney is
question the people can not answer. Perhaps the
officials can.