The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-22
COUNCILMAN
PACT aired IN
MOORE TRIAL
Bartholomew Agreement to
Take KIux Orders Is
Displayed.
CASE SOON TO JURY
Defendant to Take Stand;
DorSett Faces Court
on April 9.
CASE SOON TO JURY

VII HNl ~ ~
Contract whereby Councilman
Otis E. Bartholomew agreed to take
mis- orders only from the KuKluX
Klan while in Office was read today
before a Criminal Court jury trying
Councilman Boynton j. Moore for
bribery.
The bargain, called corrupt by
Prosecutor William H. Remy, en-
tered the record only to show the
credibility of Bartholomew as wit
ness, and should not be construed as
as evidence against Moore, Special
Judge Paul G. Davis instructed the
jury.
The contract provided, among
other things, that Bartholomew
would agree to the appointment OF
B5 per cent of municipal officers, as
Klansmen and Klanswomen, that
the posts of police and fire chief
would be filled by Klansmen, and
that he would accept the Klan'S die
tates to the exclusion of all others.
Actual Contract Shown
Intimations of such contracts be-
tween councilmen and the Klan,
entered into before their election,
had crept into the trial several
times during its weeks progress.
Today was the first time the
actual contract was shown. Bar
tholomeW identified his own sigma
ture on it, but added:
Il didn't take it to be that,
meaning a contract, when ques-
toned by Remy.
Moore is to go on the stand late
this afternoon as one of the last
defense witnesses. The defense eX-
pected to close its case before the
end of the day, leaving only rebut-
tai testimony and arguments for
Friday, the case going to the jury
by Saturday.
Trial of Councilman Walter r.
Dorset, set originally for today,
was set for April 9 by agreement OF
attorneys and Special Judge Harry
Yockey. Prosecutor Remy objected
to the delay, saying he is ready to
proceed as soon as the Moore trial
ends.
Moore to Be Quizzed
Prosecutor Remy and Special AS
sistant Emsley w. Johnson are eX-
pected to ask Moore about a con-
tract he is said to have had with
the Klan, similar to that of Barthol-
cmew, on cross oss-examination.
Defense Attorneys Ira M. Holmes
and Henry H. Winkler today con-
tinued their efforts to show Moore
was out Of the city on Aug. %, 1927,
the night the State alleges Moore
accepted 500 from John j. Collins,
then city purchasing agent, to in
fluence his vote on impeachment
proceedings pending in city council
against Mayor John L. Duvall
Witnesses today were Councilmen
Dorsett and Bartholomew, Mrs. Dor
sett, Martin Frankfort, realty deal
err who also is facing similar in
dictment; Herbert Fletcher, police
officer; William Barrett, Indian
apolis Street Railway Company en-
ploye; County Assessor James Elder,
and Councilman Austin H. Todd,
also indicted.
Bartholomew denied on cross-eX-
animation that he, in company with
Moore and DorSett, solicited and ac-
cepted $4,000 campaign money from
George Rahke, alleged gambling op-
orator.
Remy Draws Fire
The drab testimony was enllVened
when Remy was cross-examining
Dorsett about Moore's visits to Dor
sett's barber shop. Remy was try
ing to draw stories of alleged meet
ings of councilmen in rear room
of the shop.
I'm fact" Remy asked, "I'll ask
you if Moore didn't come much
more than regular customer;
coming often to give other people a
trimming?"
Holmes was on his feet in mo-
ment and moved the court, as ne
has done often during the trial, to
take the case from the hands of
the Jury and dismiss the defendant,
He was overruled,
Denies Hearing of Split
Dorsett denied having heard any
thing of the 10 per cent split of the
recent $85,000 fire equipment con-
tract which Councilman o, Ray AL
bertson testified a group Of coun-
cilmen was to receive. Moore gave
him $500 as his share of the split,
Albertson testified.
Dorsett said that he and Moore
and Dorsett and Ray Seibert, then
municipal garage superintendent,
and their wives started on a motor
trip to Nicagara Falls the morning
Of Aug. %. Moore is alleged to have
been given the 500 bribe on the
former Mayor Duvall impeachment
proceedings that night.
He denied he had told former De-
tective Chief Claude F. johnson
that they started on the trip Aug. %.
The party spent the night of Aug.
% in a tourist camp near Spring.
field, Ohio. but he was unable to
give its name They did not regis
ter there, he said.