The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-14
BLANK AUTO
TITLE THEFTS
ARE CHARGED
RhoadS Brands Exhibit as
Fraud in Car Ring
Case.
FILES WERE OPEN
Testimony Brought Out to
Show Traugott'S
Part.
FILES WERE OPEN

Blank certificates of title were
stolen, probably with the aid of an
inside confederate, from the auto
mobile license division of the sec
retary of states Office at the state
house and used in the interstate
traffic in stolen autos, for which
fifteen persons are on trial in fed
era1 court.
This was brought out by the gov
ernment today at the trial of the
fifteen, on conspiracy charges,
through testimony of Mark W.
RhoadS, head of the auto license
division.
Thirty-one government witnesses
testified this morning. About twenty
more government witnesses are to
be heard. 1t is not believed the
case will go to the jury before Fri
day night.
So far no evidence has been pre-
Sented definitely linking in the "hot"
car traffic the name of Robert F.
McNay and w. Lee Smith, former
klan leaders, and Mr.. and Mrs.
William M. Jones, Wolf Sussman
and William Laffey, other Indian
apolis residents on trial
Fifty employees of his Office and
state police have access to the room
where the blank certificates of title
are kept, Rhoads testified in re-
Sponse to direct questioning of
Judge Robert G. Baltzell.
Shown the Indiana certificate of
title made out to Jack Griffith, 2648
North Meridian avenue, for an In
dianapolis stolen car in which Ted
Baldwin, alleged to be one of the
leaders of the ring, was arrested in
Chicago, Rhoads said the certificate
OF title was on genuine form.
1t was not made out in his Office,
however, because titles are filled out
in his Office on typewriter with
an indelible ribbon, he said.
Police Pass Through Room
In response to Judge BaItzelIs
questions, Rhoads said the blank
titles are kept in the title fileroom
at the statehouse and that fifty
persons have access to the room.
Asked by the judge if the state
motor police have access to the
room he said he did not know, but
said the state policemen could pass
through the room.
Further evidence intended to link
Edward Traugott, who with Harry
Sussman, his partner in the West
Washington street clothing store
mysteriously wrecked by an explo-
sion Aug. 26, is one of the defend
ants, was introduced today by AL
bert S. Ward, United States district
attorney.
Testimony intending to involve
Mortimer and Jacob Wohfeld, local
furriers on trial, also was offered.
Witnesses told how a Cadillac
coupe was stolen from w. S. Hart
man of Chicago, March l, and re-
covered by Charles Bridges, state
policeman, at the home of Jacob
Wohlfeld, 2819 Washington boule-
ward, in July.
The car was sold to Mortimer
Wohlfeld, son of Jacob, by Charles
H. MedcaIf, who gave his address
as the Marott hotel, five days after
its theft, according to the testimony.
The government contends Medcalf
was Leo Baldwin, one of the alleged
conspiracy leaders.
Tells of Check
James E. Pierce, secretary of the
Railroadmen's Building and Savings
Association, testified that Mortimer
Wohlfeld drew $1,100 from his ac-
count with the association five days
after the theft date, and that Wohl-
field received check from the asso-
citation for that amount. The can
celled check was returned with the
Endorsements of Wohlfeld, Medcalf
and Edward Traugott, theevidence
showed.
Written on the face of the check
was the notation balance on
Cadillac coupe paid in full"
Charles E. Heron, manager of the
West Street branch of the Fletcher
Savings and Trust Company,
identified the check as one cashed at
his bank on the same day, March g..
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