The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-22
Graft Probe and Time

Graft Probe and lime
Will time that traditional healer Of sorrows
bring balm and relief to those officials who nave
been implicated in the various political probes!
The lawh with good reason, contains statute OF
limitations under which crime OF the degree WHICH
has been suggested in these probes can be prose-
ruted after two years.
The law of course, presumed that there would
be digent prosecution of all crimes at all times ana
never intended that this statute would be used 10
shield the guilty. 1t intended to protect against
malice and hate on the part OF prosecutors OF
individuals.
This city held primary in May 1925.
When May, 1927 is reached, any violation of the
law on the part of those who participated in that
primary will be beyond the reach Of punishment
That NAV or may not be Of importance to
nfacials but It is at least interesting in view OF the
investigation of a. charge by one member OF the
present grand jury that he had been approached
for the purpose of influencing his vote against any
indictment of one official of this city, no matter what
the evidence.
The law also provides that when any grand
Jury is in session. and grand juries are continuously
In session in this county, direct informatons may
be filed by the prosecutor.
That makes the history of the political probe
Of Importance.
For that probe has been costly and Is filled
with incidents which the people ought not to forget
When the first charges Of political corruption
came from the cell of D. G. Stephenson, the grand
Jury took notice after some weeks OF delay during
which no newspaper man was allowed to see Stepnen-
%on but others did gain access.
That grand jury had a staff of legal advisers paid
$1,000 from the contingent fund of the governor
During it's inquiry witnesses went into hiding
The search for the socalled Stephenson documents
went to empty safety deposit boxes. The closest
friends of the former political czar who ruled in
1924 and 1925, and an important political factor
in this city acted as men might act who had some
thing to conceal
More than two hundred witnesses were examined
and at the close OF the inquiry the grand jury itself
declared that it had discovered evidence which
should demand further inquiry and three of the four
legal advisers of the jury said that evidence had
been presented on which indictments should have
been returned.
The jury itself invited suspicion Of its own in
tegrity when it declared that the report it returned
was the only one possible under the conditions that
prevailed in the grand jury.
Then came the present grand jury which was
specifically charged to investigate routine cases be-
fore punging into the political probe which it's
predecessor had advised. 1t weeks before it
called for that great bulk of evidence which had
been Immediately impounded by Judge Collins when
the jury failed to return indictments
Now comes the sensational charge Of one juror
that he had been offered bride, and demand by
the prosecutor, that the grand jury be dismissed.
Judge Collins has not dismissed the grand
jury. 1t is still in session The prosecutor, even
if he wished, could file informations on any evil
dence that may be in the hands of the court.
May approaches. 1t is lovely month. 1t
brings hope and spring time Men are mellow,
usually under it's influence.
1t is the second May since the city held
primary of unusual Incidents And when it comes,
that kind statute of limitations will exert itself and
grant the immunity which time brings.
Can it be that there men in official position
who have their eyes the calendar and the
Criminal Court hoping that the present grand jury
will remain in session?
OF course the judge of the Criminal Court has
In hand simple way to allay any fears Of such stu
alton if he chooses to exercise his power that he
used years ago and recognize the fact that
time flies and that time is rather important.