Evening star., 1928-12-10
BY GLEN LANE.

CHICAGO, December i0-The mur-
der of Octavius c. Granady, climaxing
a day of violence and thtevery at the
April 10 primary. spurred group Of
civic leaders TO a smashing attack on the
alliance between crime and politics
Granady. a negro lawyer, was the
opponent of City Collector Morris Eller,
a Thompson wheelhorse, for the COM
mitteeman's post in the bloody twen-
tieth" ward. An hour after the polls
closed he was chased through the
streets of the ward by gang OF gun
men. run to earth and shot In cold
blood.
The savagery of the killing, grand
finale to q day of terrorism ana thlev-
ery. brought together the city's lead
ers among them Carl r. Latham, pres
ident of the Chicago Bar Association,
and Frank j. Loesch, president OF tne
Chicago Crime Commission, They de-
cided to ask for a special grand jury
with q special prosecutor TO mauIfe
into election crimes. ,,,
2. Miller May o to petition for special
ssked ss be because of the law that States
ATTORNEY Robert E. Grove had put
through the LEGISLATURE forbidding spe-
cial prosecutors, to have Attorney Gen.
eraI oscar Carlstrom appointed to di'
rect the investigation, the actual IN.
curry to be placed in the hands OF an
upright Chicago lawyer.
Coup Attempt Is Failure.
when plans for an inquiry had first
been voiced, Grove came out OF the
retirenent that followed his defeat Of
the polls and announced he would
start a regular grand jury mvestga-
tion, AS his own faction was the tar
pet for nearly all the charges OF polls
Violence and theft, his announcement
was greeted with suspicion.
Grove, however, went petore JUDGE
Miller to fight the bar petition, assert
ing he had an inquiry under way Tlme
was granted him to file formal answer
to Lathanl's scorching charges that he
was biased, UNIT and unworthy to con-
duct the inquiry. Five days later, with
the case still pending before Judge
Miller. Grove went before CHIEF Justice
William v, Brothers, q man allied with
his own faction, and asked the CHIEF
Justice to take jurisdiction, quoting Q
rule of the criminal court that such
petitions must be presented arst to the
chief Justice for action or assignment
to an associate judge.
II Grove had planned coup, ne
failed, for although Chief Justice
Brothers took jurisdiction, he granted
the petition for a special grand jury
and summoned the attorney general TO
take charge. Carlstron, who had sacri-
feed guhernatorial ambitions and had
ioined the heht on the Small-Crowe-
Thompson machine, appointed Loesch,
head Of the crime commission, TO con-
Duct the inquiry.
Loesch Led Crime Fight.
Loesch. born 10 years ago in Buffalo,
N. Y, had come to Chicago as lad.
had worked his way Through law school
Der Of the bar and equally Outstanding
in the fight for decent city.
Yellowing clips in newspaper nles re.
veal MIN In the van OF the citizens
fight against the Yerkes-Allen bills to
prevent the city's streets being tossed
by q corrupt legislature to the street
car interests.
thieves and thugs in q special grand
jury inquiry. similar to the one he Is
prosecuting today. He has served on
dent of the Bar Association, has been
active In al movements designed to
keep the hoodlurf world in check,
As head OF the Crime Commission,
he had joined In the fight ON Grove at
primary time, When called on to head
the grand jury inquiry, he had his
hands full Of another case. AS the
Crime Commission head, he had accused
three criminal court judges, one Of
~ <aH& &fa~ EAG .N%
the bloody twentieth" ward, Of pal
tering with criminals" and demanded
that they get OF the criminal branch.
He based his charges on statistics
showing the number Of cases In which
defendants had been allowed to plead
to O tIaisdemeanor rather than the
felony for which they were indicted. A
court of six judges Of the Circuit and
Superior Court heard the charges
against their colleagues. They deliber-
ated many days. reported the findings
in hurry-up session to the entire Cir
cult and superior bench, and the judges
exonerated their colleagues. and blamed
States Attorney Grove for the prac-
tice.
Lcesch's attack had q good effect
on the Criminal Court procedure,
Judges now think twice before allowing
the waving of a felony charge.
Public Raises Probe Fund.
Loesch,s age, 70 years, in view Of his
rugged, forceful personality, was held
an asset rather than otherwise. Lead
ers pointed out that younger man
might be led into unwise moves, seek.
ing to make political capital out of
the inquiry. Loesch's age precluded
that.
Finished with his attack on felony
waving, Loesch jumped into his task
Funds were needed and the Board Of
Cook County Commissioners was asked
for $4,000. Ten commissioners were
willing 70 appropriate, but five men, pur
of them Crowe- Thompson henchnep,
the fifth a Democrat from a Grove.
Thompson stronghold. refused. Twelve
votes were necessary for the appropria-
ton under the law.
Loesch and his civic allies countered
with an appeal for public subscriptions
The newspapers backed the plea and
the Chicago Daily News gave further
aid with a $4,000 subscription. The
fund hit $l54, 900 within few weeks
The special prosecutor gathered
stan OF aides and corps Of investiga-
tors. The first grand jury was I'M
paneled June 4.
On June Is, the first indictments were
returned. Among the 10 men accused
were State Senator James B. Leon
ardo, an Eller lieutenant. and Martin
klasS, nephew Of Boss" Eller and sec
retary TO the boss son, Judge Eller
Accused with them on charges ranging
from ballot thieveries to kidnapping and
assault to murder were eight others.
Ousted Detective Heads Quiz.
On June a. Peter Pacelli, cousin
Of State legislator and an erstwhile
member of the States attorneys police
detail, was indicted with 1S others,
charged with poll violence, kidnapping,
slUgging and assault to kill. A few
days later three policemen who had in
criminated themselves at the primary
were indicted.