The Indianapolis times., 1928-04-23
WALB-WEAvER
Jury PICKED
after TANGLE
Creation of New Federal
Court Brings Confusion
at Trial.
BANK FRAUD CHARGED
Special Judge LindIey Is
Speeding Case of Pair
at Ft. Wayne.
BY CHARLES E. CARLL.


FT. WAYNE, Ind, April 23.-Cre-
alton of the separate southern and
nothern Indiana Federal, Court dis
tricts, made effective Saturday by
President Coolidge's signature, to-
day threw the trial here of Clyde
A. Walb, former Republican State
chairman and Valentine d. WeaV-
er, into tangle.
Before the tangle was straight
ened, it was found necessary for
Special Judge Walter Lindley Of
Danville, Ill, to appoint District
Attorney Albert Ward of Indian
apolis, who had come here to prose-
cute the case, special district at
torney.
Ward would have been out of his
jurisdiction, as he is district attor-
ney of the southern district under
Judge Robert G. Baltzell at Indi=
annapolis.
For this trial he will serve as a
special district attorney for the new
northern district.
Charged With Bank Fraud
Walb and Weaver are charged
with violating national banking
laws il the failure of the First Ma
tional Bank of La Grange, Ind,
where they reside. Weaver formerly
was president and Walb vice presi-
dent of the bank.
After the tangle over whether the
new court bill was in effect was
Strengthened, questioning of tales
men proceeded so rapidly, under
the dynamic urging Of Judge Lind
ley, a short, snappy jurist, that
jury was sworn in at 1906 p. m.
The Jury includes James Hussel-
man, Waterloo, farmer; Gail Brad
ley, Huntington, druggist; Clark
Campbell, Auburn, farmer; John E.
Peterson, Decatur, clothier; William
Montgomery, Portland, farmer; T.
w. Knapp, Decatur, farmer; E. w.
Dodez, Ft. Wayne, manufacturer;
David Rapp, Huntington, bank
stockholder; Ezra Brand, Ashley,
farmer; A. D. Sudtlers, Lynn Grove,
real estate; Harry Wasmuth, An
drews, lumber dealer, and John
Willern, Hamilton, farmer.
Warns Against Favoritism
AS court opened, it was the
opinion of the officials that the bill
signed by President Coolidge Satur-
day carried a clause making it ef-
fective sixty days after signature,
but long distance telephone call
by Ward to the attoreny generals
office in washington disclosed that
it went into effect Immediately.
The court, on request of Defense
Attorney Elliott, told the talesmen
to disregard public opinion on their
possible acts in this case. Elliott
said he wanted this statement be-
fore the jurors because of the
number of bank failures in this
part of Indiana"
Before interrogating talesmen, the
court stated that although compen-
sation for jury service seemed in
adequate, it was public duty.
This court can not function with
out a conscientious, industrious and
honest jury. Friendship, lodge affil-
iations, politics, religion and spite
have no place in your deliberations"
Walb sat throughout the eXami-
nation of veniremen, studying them
closely. Weaver, who suffered two
strokes of paralysis Friday, kept
shifting his gaze from the court to
the jury box.
The courtroom was jammed with
prospective jurors, witnesses and
spectators. Members of the Amish
sect, with boards and their dark
costumes, sat stolidly watching pro-
ceedings.
The defunct institution was closed
by national banking officials after
Department of Justice agents un-
covered $4,000 of alleged forged
papers on the banks books.
False Entries Charged
The alleged discrepancies in the
banks account began to appear in
June. 1927, and although Walb
denied it, the general belief was
that he informed directors Of the
institution that he used some of the
money to finance his personal busi-
ness, the Walb Construction Com
pany.
Upon investigation by the De-
partment of Justice j. F. Utt, Fed
eral bank examiner, closed the in
stitution Oct. "a, 1927, and took
charge as temporary receiver after
a run on the bank.
The case was presented to the
Federal jury at indianapolis be-
ginning Dec. 81 and the indictment
was returned against Walb and
IHJeaver nec 21 1907 Roth ,oo,,