The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-15

question Attorney Jones asked hl1IAs
Stephenson once remarked:
IT recall that you once said I
don't give a damn what the public
thinks
Stephenson did not say when this
was. Jones formerly was a public
service commissioner.
AssaiIs Prison Officials
The life terner flew into violent
denunciation of Indiana State
Prison officials and prison regula-
tions, declaring they were made for
the officials convenience" during
the cross-examination. ~
The defense startled the crow
when Jones asked If Stephenson had
not smuggled 81 500 to Chicago gun
men with instructions that they as
saSinate Governor Jackson.
Stephenson replied with an ex~
plosive No.
Aside from taking part in the
planning of the alleged scheme,
Stephenson's most direct participa-
ton, according to his testimony,
was visit to James w. Noel, at
torney for McCray.
He testified he urged Noel to
carry the offer to McCray and Noei
told him to come back at 2 that
afternoon. Noel at that time told
him McCray refused.
Stephenson remarked that he felt
rather badly, because he felt he had
attempted to trade on McCray's
misfortuneS."
Tells of Yacht Trip
The defense asked a long string
of questions designed to show that
Stephenson was on his yacht in
southern waters at the time he had
testified he was here plotting to bribe
McCray.
Stephenson readily admitted the
yacht trip and with evident enjoy
ment recalled there was plenty of
liquor aboard, but refused to admit
that he got back to Indianapolis the
night of Dec. 8, the day McCray
wrecked the alleged plot by naming
William H. Remy prosecutor.
Again the defense tried to show
that Stephenson was in the DeShler
Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, about this
time. Stephenson took the con-
versation away from the defense at
torney and related that he was at
the hotel, having stopped off on his
way from Washington to st. Louis.
He said he had been playing poker
all night on the train and had to
have some rest. He added that he
remembered the incident well. be-
cause he and three representatives
OF Hiram w. Evans, imperial wizard,
got into battle which wrecked the
hotel room.
They were taken to police head
quarters, but not held, he said.
Defense Objects Seldom
The defense let Stephenson tell
his story with far fewer interrupt
tions than it attempted when he
was on the stand Monday.
Once, after Defense Attorney
Clyde E. Jones had objected to q
State question, Governor jackson
leaned forward and tapped Jones on
the shoulder. They held a whis-
pered consultation. Then Jones
dramatically said.
"The Governor has asked me to
withdraw all objections and let the
witness tell all he knows"
Once the tactics of ATTEMPTING to
ridicule the prosecution, which Jones
and other defense attorneys used
during the questioning of prospec-
tive jurors, cropped out again.
Special Prosecutor Emsley w.
johnson had asked Stephenson:
WAS anything said about any one
having sympathy for the old MANI"
(referring to McCray).
Joke, Jones Says
Jones leaped up with an objec-
ton and in an aside, clearly audi
Bile to the jury, added: This "a
carrying joke too far"
The former grand dragon of the
Ku-Klux Klan, now life prisoner
at Michigan City. was brought here
Monday by prison guards. The de-
Tense blocked his testimony Mon