Evening star., 1928-12-11
BY GLEN LANE.

one by the people, the otner by q news
paper, were followed by considerable
Improvement in conditions in Chicago.
While the mayor was still punch
drunk from the April primary in which
the citizens overwhelmed his SAL ,00o, 900
bond issue, Judge Hugo Friend Of the
Circuit Court handed down q decision
holding that the mayor, two Of his
aides and a number of real estate
experts" must return $1,732,279. with
interest, to the city treasury. The In
terest added in later decision brought
the judgment to s2,245,6oe.
The suit was brought during Thomp-
sons administration years ago by the
Chicago Tribune, suing as taxpayer to
recover ''exorbitant" sums which had
been paid experts" for valuing prop
erty condemned In connection with a
street-widening program
Held liable in the suit with Thonp-
son were Michael j. Faherty, president
of the board of local Improvements;
County Treasurer George r. Harding,
a former Thompson cabinet member,
and the experts.
Experts EOrceu 70 Ray.
In addition to the sums on which
fudge Friend had given Judgment, the
Tribune had forced one expert to re-
pay the city $10e,631 and another
$30,28l as a result Of the suit.
Judge Friend held that q conspiracy
had existed with "a twofold purpose of
financing the political activities of the
Thompson organization and the private
benefit OF members of the conspiracy"
The Tribune had started suit during
the second Thompson administration,
had fought 1t through the courts
through the weary processes OF years
and had finally won out. Thompson
and the others now posted S2,500,000
appeal bond and took the case to the
Illinois Supreme Court.
The mayor issued statement say
ing that the suit was poor thanks for
his efforts In behalf Of Chicago, and
few weeks later left the city. For the
woods Of Wisconsin, whence came re-
ports that he was recovering from q
nervous breakdown.
Charles G. Fitzmorris, city controller
and target for a mysterious pine
apple" q few months before, resigned
his once not long after the Tribune
suit. Commissioner Of Public Works
Richard w. Wolfe, taking heed Of the
trend of the times, asked the Associa-
ton Of Commerce to send In account
ants to audit his books. The city's
officials were treading warily.
Police Commissioner Michael Hughes,
whom Thompson few months before
had termed "the worlds best thief
catcher" now resigned. Hughes, a
kinsman Of States Attorney Groves,
according to all reports, did not want
to leave ONCE but the orders came
from the north woods and Hughes,
as he lay on a sick bed;S signed typed
resignation. written in the corporation
coupsel's once
Siege Was Reinstated.
William r. Russell, a deputy COM
missioner with good record, was made
police commissioner He made no
his desire to do the right thing by re-
instating Siege in the Police Depart%
ment and making him q deputy COM
missioner In charge Of the detective
division. Where jury Investigators had
met with little cooperation or even
downright hostility, under the new po-
lice regime, Loesch secured ample and
eflcient detaik Of police to carry out
the orders Of the special juries.
John j. Sullivan, newly elected chief
Justice of the criminal court, granted
the petition for q September jury, and
n the inquiry, which had Jagged dur
ing August's sultry weeks, again
speeded up as the police threw their
shoulders TO the wheel
AS the Ellef trial lleared, the defense
lawyers went before. Judge O'Connor
and asked him to quash the indict-
nients, again eontending that the in
dictments were invalid because the law
does not permit two grand juries to
sit simultaneously IN a county. Judge
O'Connor ruled as Judge Comerford had
ruled and the validity Of the turies was
upheld. *
When September II. the trial date,
came, the defense demanded change
of venue for the two Ellers, asserting
Judge O'Connor was biased. Judge
O'Connor granted the venue change,
mandatory under the law, but before
a similar motion could be made for the
II henchmen he summoned venire
and the task Of selecting jury began.
4 jury could not be agreed upon until
october 10.
Jury Indicts De Priest.
The September Jury had concerned
itself almost solely with the activities
Of the Crowe-T Thompson "black belt"
leaders In the jury's final action,
Daniel M. jackson, a member OF Gov
ernor Small's State Commerce Com
mission, and Oscar De Priest, an as
sistant commerce commissioner (since
Rlected to CongTesS), were indicted
The case against De Priest has not yet
been brought to trial.
Indicted with them were a police
lieutenant and eight members OF the
second and third ward racket" syndi-
Gates. The IL were accused of solicit
ing funds for the America First" cam
paign from vice, booze and gambling
racketeers, guaranteeing protection"
In exchange.
The Defense Legal Syndicate-the
same lawyers defending the Ellers-
seized the indictments as an oppor-
tunity to take shortcut for Supreme
Court decision. Charles Farrell, third
ward political leader Of no particular
importance, was one of the men in
dicted. He surrendered, made no ef-
fort and went to the county jail. The
defense lawyers dashed to the State
capital, Springfield, and petitioned the
Supreme Court for writ of habeaS
corpus in behalf of Farrell, charging he
was being held wrongfully because the
special juries were illegal.
For the third lime they contended
that the special juries were invalid,
using the same argument that two grand
juries cannot sit simultaneously in a
county. The Supreme Court took juris-
diction, briefs were filed, and the matter
taken under advisement for decision
sometime within the next few months.
New Jury Indicts Thirty-one.
An October jury was sworn in, and
an fha 9th nf tha rn0pth haOaY hao ring
evidence. 1t returned 81 indictments.
Assistant States Attorney Louis v.
Keeler, Bernard j. Mcdonnell, an at
torney for the Small controlled West
Parks Board and a scattering of minor
politicians, precinct election officials
and political hangers-on were the men
named. Keeler was accused of aiding