The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-31

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Back in the early pioneer
days when Indiana was in the
making, four young people
were inseparable in what leis-
ure hours were theirs in the
task of helping to create a
civilization from a wilderness.
They belonged to the day Of
the pioneer. when courage and
Christianity, work and hope guided
the lives of those who were 10 build
q State.
Fathers Were Friends
One of those four was the father
OF Warren McCray. The other youth
was the father of Fred Robinson.
The othertwo we're ythe mothers OF
these men, who later were to figure
In the dramatic episode OF Indiana
history.
The father of McCray was the
best man at the wedding celebration
of the father and mother Of Robin
son. The families held a relation
ship that is rare in these days of
modern life, when common ties and
common problems remain unshared.
When Fred Robinson was a boy,
his hero was Warren McCray, the
son of the closest friends Of his
parents. He was taught to follow
his example. He made of him his
idol.
It was natural that McCrey should
rely upon Robinson when he became
ambitious, for Robinson had delved
into county and city politics at
Charlottesville and had held State
positions under Goodrich.
Relationship Understood
The Damon and Pythias relation
ship was known at the Statehouse.
1t was known to George Coffin and
Ed Jackson as they met on Dec. 8,
1928, and saw the prosecutorship of
this county going to the hands Of
Rerny, whom they did not control.
They knew the value of that job
TO the practical politician. They
knew it when they summoned the
source of their finances and de-
manded that $4,000 be furnished on
That day for the purpose of gaining
this job from McCray.
That was the reason they sent for
Robinson. They told him what they
wanted and what they would do.
They impressed him with the dire
position of McCray and the certainty
of his conviction unless he was
saved. No one knew better than
Robinson just how desperate was the
position of McCray. Robinson knew
that he was without funds and that
the wealth which he once enjoyed
had gone.
Knew Evidence Certain
He knew, as McCray did not
Know, that the evidence of law vio-
Jations was conclusive, for McCray
never admitted to himself that he
had done any wrong
It is not too much to say that
had it been possible for Robinson
to have taken the blame and the
sentence he would have gladly Of
fered himself as sacrifice for his
friend. Such was the measure of
their friendship.
That Robinson saw only the
liberty Of his friend and nothing OF
the reverse Of the picture can well
be understood. There were few
things that he would not have done
to aid the idol Of his boyhood.
Hoped to Save Friend
So 1t was that, under the pressure
of Coffin and Jackson and that
financial backer, Robinson went
across the halls to the governors Of
fice with the hope that this might
save him.
He told McCray what he had been
sent to offer. He told him that the
$4,000 would be available that day
and that Coffin would see that no
jury would convict him. He then
was under indictment.
With Robinson, the answer was
given In sadness, not in the flash
of anger which later was the reply
TO jackson.
The idol Of the boy remained with
Robinson when he left that ofhce
The hero still was hero. For Me-