The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-11
STORY OF PLOT
TO FRAME TWO
EDITORS TOLD
William NJ. Rogers Tells
How He Refused to
Sign Affidavit.

A story of plot to frame" Boyd
Gurley, editor of The Indianapolis
Times and Thomas H. Adams, editor
Of the Vincennes Commercial, was
unfolded before jury in Criminal
Court today when Earl Klinck, for
mer aid to D. c. Stephenson, went
on trial eS the central figure in the
scheme.
Hearing of testimony began after
Special Judge Thomas Garvin over
ruled a defense motion for change
of venue.
From William M. Rogers, 1913 w.
Washington St., erstwhile Klan
organizer, the jury heard a recital
Of efforts Klinck made to have him
make a sworn reputation Of his
testimony before the Reed sena-
torial committee at st. Louis
Rogers had told the committee at
st. Louis that he had seen Sen
ator James E. Watson's card of
Identification in the inner council of
the Ku-Klux Klan.
JULIUS oA5 AAAAi6 hAAludNAg
Klinck's plan, as Rogers related
it, was to have Rogers swear to an
affidavit that he, Rogers, had been
paid by Gurley and Adams to thus
testify and frame Watson"
Uninterrupted by questioning, Rog-
ers denied having signed the affi-
davit Klinck gave him and related
that when called before the Fed
eral grand jury he was confronted
with an affidavit corresponding to
the one he refused to sign, and
bearing a forged signature, William
w. Rogers" whereas his name is
William M. Rogers"
Klinck is charged with false use
of a notary seal on a forged affi-
davit
Immunity Promised
"I met Klinck in the State House
just before the close of the 1927
Legislature" Rogers testified.
''Klinck said he represented Arthur
Gilliom, attorney general.
HE said that unless I repudiated
my testimony before the Reed COM
mittee, Gilliom would bring a grand
jury somewhere in Indiana, not in
Marion County, to frame an indict-
ment against me for perjury; and
that I and Tom Adams and Boyd
Gurley also would be framed for
conspiracy to frame Jim Watson.
"Klinck said that Gilliom would
grant me immunity if I repudiated
my testimony. 1 told him that at
st. Louis I had been a Federal Wit
ness, and I thought that if I were
to be handled for telling the truth
it would be by the Federal Govern
ment.
"Klinck, however, said that Gil
liom was all-powerful and had the
support of Clyde Walb dormer Re
publican State chairman), and
Senator Watson. Klinck said that
I had better come to see him at
the Edwards Hotel and talk it over.
Saw Sanders and Butler
The witness said he then con-
suited with someone and went to
see Klinck at the Edwards Hotel.
When he arrived there, he said, Al
Sanders, Evansville, a disbarred at
torneS and a fugitive from justice,
and Fred Butler, former secretary
to D. G. Stephenson, were there.
Rogers then related how he re-
fused to sign the affidavit Klinck
submitted to him, but was con-
fronted in the Federal grand jury
later with an affidavit bearing an
alleged forged signature with the
middle initial "W." instead of his
correct initial, IN"
Prosecutor william H. Remy
made the opening statement Of the
case to the jury, reading and elab-
Grating upon the indictment. His
unfolding of the case followed
closely that of the Rogers testi-
mony.
"Of course, Klinck did not rep
resent Gilliom,' Remy pointed out
in telling of Klinck's conversation
with Rogers.
Delay Plea Is Refused
A new effort to delay the trial
was prevented at the opening of
court when Judge Garvin said he
would not grant a postponement
pending return of George L. Wink
Ter, Federal dry administrator, from
the republican national conven-
ton.
Defense Attorney Howard B
Phillips informed the court that the
defense wanted to call Winkler,
who, he said would testify that he
heard Rogers and Miss Frieda
Miller, notary, talking about the
alleged forged affidavit.
Prosecutor Remy said that he had
talked to Winkler a few days age
and Winkler had told him he never
had heard any discussion of the
affidavit Phillips admitted he had
never talked to Winkler himself
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