The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-24
STEVE BALkS
AT REPLIES IN
G|LLIOM QUIZ
Maintains Silence When He
Is Questioned About
Madge 0berhoItzer.
DEMANDS HIS ATTORNEY
Objects to GriIIing When
Counsel Fails to Make
Appearance.
BY CHARLES C. STONE,
Timex STAFF Cnrresnondent

Times staff Correspondent
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind, July "a.
ID. G. Stephenson stubborinly re-
fused to answer questions in a de-
position asked by Attorney General
Arthur L. Gilliom today, because
he was net represented by counsel.
He further protested questioning
when it took the line of his ac-
quaintance with NIadge Oberholtzer,
for whose death he was sent to IN
diana State Prison. for life.
Did you know Madge Oberholtz-
er?" Gilliom asked.
Il decline to answer" Stephenson
retorted.
= When the attorney general re-
ferred to the girls dying statement
Stephenson declared: An effort to
besinirch the name of dead woman
has no place in prisoners effort
to confer with attorneys in private" F"
Sticks to His Stand
Gilliom proceeded with reading OF
the statement while Stephenson pre-
served stole silence. At the close
the former Klan dragon reiterated
that the statement had no place in
the hearing.
Stephenson talked more freely
when the questioning turned to his
Interpretation of the purpose of the
deposition.
He expressed satisfaction with
Warden Days attitude in permit
ting him to confer with his at
torneys in conferences which re-
suited in motion of his attorneys
Monday for dismissal of the man
date suit in Circuit Court at La
Porte, demanding that private in
terviews with his lawyers be per-
mitted.
Stephenson, in prison garb
and complete master of himself,
was ushered into the presence of
Cilliom, Warden DAILY, John Moor
man, prison board member, and
newspaper men at 1925 a. m.
Demands His Attorney
Where's my attorney?" he asked
as he stood up to be sworn. Il
don't want to stand Spanish in
QUESTION"
Your attorneys were notified and
acknowledged receipt of notice y
Gilliom replied.
Stephenson read passages from
law books handed him by Gilliom
bearing on the procedure.
When Stephenson fatty declined
to answer Gillioms questions half
an hour after his entry, Gilliom
read Stephensons statement that
his conviction of murder was by a
court without jurisdiction and that
threats had been made to prevent
his testifying in his own behalf.
Stephenson pleaded that any
question he might answer might
jeopardize his rights. He declared
his only aim was to obtain writ
of corum nobis, and that he was
net interested in what he termed
an alleged appeal" >"
Wants to Appear in Court
"I am very eager to lay the facts
before a court" he said, but not
through the newspapers"
Gilliom pointed out that courts
are open to the public and that he
saw no objection to answering ques-
tions in a hearing of this kind.
= 1.-The courts compel answers to
questions on allegation of fact"
Gilliom told Stephenson, who as
serted he did not see the complaint
in the La Porte mandamuS suit un-
til after it was filed.
But you are bound by acts of
counsel" Gilliom contended. Ste
phenson, however, held such was not
the case and that he could correct
documents of his attorneys without
embarrassing them.
Stephenson referred to his trial for
murder at Noblesville as "a bur-
lesque on Justice"
Stephenson found fault with the
prison records, produced by Gilliom,
purporting to show that twenty at
torneys had visited Stephenson in
his cell.
Robert Moore, who represented
Stephenson in the nandamus suit
at La Porte, was the most frequent
aller, according to the records, with
forty-six visits to his credit.
Twenty Visits by Hill
Lloyd o. Hill, of Indianapolis, was
second with twenty visits. Hill and
Paul Newman, also of Indianapolis,
are his only regular attorneys,
Stephenson said.
"Not that often" was Stepheea-
sons comment as lawyers visits
were recounted, but Gilliom in
sisted prison records proved the
prisoner had not been prevented
from seeing attorneys as provided
by prison rules.
The questioning then was directed
toward a thorough understanding
as to what visits and wha privacy
Stephenson was to expect in the
future,