The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-15
BY JAMES p. KIRBY
NEA Service Writer

CHICAGO, Sept. 15.-"Big Bill"
Thompson, three times mayor of
Chicago, super patriot who was
elected on his pledge ito keep
America safe for Americans"
founder of the America First
Foundation" and who prided him
self as big Bill, the Builder" is
now in Seclusion somewhere in the
Wisconsin woods.
Meanwhile special grand jury
is investigating the political ac-
tivitieS of his ally, Robert E. Grove,
States attorney for eight years and
: one of his strongest henchmen.
Already, two of the strongest of
the political allies of Thompson
and Crowe-Morris Eller, leader of
the bloody Twentieth waEd, and his
son, Judge Emmanuel Eller of the
Criminal Court-are among sixty
indicted by the special jury on
charges of conspiracy.
From his seclusion Thompson to-
day contemplateS the destruction
of his political machine and the
imminent indictment of powerful
friends and associates who for
years maintained absolute control
on Chicago and who permitted the
racketeer and the gangster and the
beer barons to operate without dis
turbance.
Officials Resign
Charles FitzrnorriS, once secre-
fary to the mayor, then chief of
police, and finally controller. has
resigned.
DR.. William H. Reid, Thompson's
city smoke commissioner and close
personal and political friend, has
resigned.
Michael Hughes, Thompson'S
chief Of police, adviser and coun-
cillor and long powerful in Chicago
politics, has resigned.
States Attorney Grove was re-
pudiated by more than 100000
votes in the April primary in his
attempt at denomination after
eight years in Office. He Is the
man held responsible by Chicagoans
for the decentralization Of business
and public affairs through his fail
ure to prosecute racketeers, gun
men and gangsters.
A Judgment of more than ST.
225,000 held by the courts to be
collectable, has been returned
against Thompson and certain of
his political associates for the re-
turn of city funds, disSipated by
the Thompson spoils system.
Thompson Sick Man
Thompson, according to informed
persons at the city hall, Is a sick
man. Strangely missing from the
front pages of Chicago newspapers
are the invective, the proclama-
tons and picturesque comment OF
the thrice-ele mayor.
Stranger still, in the minds Of
ChicagoanS, are some OF his more
recent official acts. These include
the appointment of Captain Will
liam Russell, long known as
policeman of honesty and integrity
and never popular with the
Thompson machine, Az commits
sioner of police; the appointment
of Captain John Siege, fired from
the police force on g. technicality
after twenty-six years, as chief OF
detectives and the ace in the hole
of the special grand jury investiga-
ton. 1t is admitted these resulted
from strong pressure brought to
bear on the mayor by reform or
CARNATIONS.
Police Force PrObed
In one industry alone, the candy
jobbing industry, Sixty-two indi-
vidualS are under conspiracy 1ndict-
mentS in the State courts. Forty
five of these are also under similar
indictments in Federal court and
are now awaiting trial under bonds
Of $4,000.
Already a special grand jury has
begun to comb the police depart
11ent to sift the part played by
some of its officers In the affairs
of primary day. 1t Is Investigate
ing, too, the part played by GER
tain notorious gangsters, racket
GERS and gunner, known to have
been heavy contributors to cam
paign funds.
The once-powerfuI Thompson
Grove political machine which con-
tributed to the approbrium Chicago
has borne among the great cities
of the world is passing.
Next: The Rackteer invasion Of
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