The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-21
full INQUIRY
IS ORDERED IN
ARMORY DEALS
New Board viii Go Into
Activities Charged to
Old Commission.
LESLIE SAYS HE'LL ACT
GIoSSbrenner Is Shown to
Have Had Prominent
Part in Leases.

Full investigation of the activities
Of the old Indiana national guard
armory board and the holding COM
p9nies with which it contracted to
construct twenty-five armories and
an airport will be made by the new
armory board, Governor Harry G.
Leslie announced today.
Records of the leases made with
the holding companies for the ar
mGrieS reveal that Alfred F. Gloss
brenner, Republican candidate for
mayor, figured in the deals for
tWenty-three armories and the Mar,;
Hill airport, costing the state a7total
of $1,934,08364.
These records have been compiled
into report by the state board of
accounts under the measure author
lied by the 1929 legislature, passed
only after Lloyd ClaycombS, Marion
county representative and known
Coffin adherent,S attempted by con-
slant delay to block its passage.
GIossbrenner on %
The accounts board report, which
as yet has not been handed the
Governor, is expected to show that
although the personnel of the hold
ing companies changed ON the VAR
ious leases, GloSsbrenner was a
member of holding companies for
tWenty-three armorieS.
He does not figure in the holding
company for the indianapolis or
Lafayette arnories.
The armory situation, which stats
Senator Thurman Gottschalk OF
Berne charged was in the hands of
CLOSED corporation" was subjected
to the bitterest criticism of the seS-
sion.
An immediate investigation was
demanded in the senate and after
much study and bitter fights on the
floor, the measure was passed
authorizing the board of accounts
to investigate
Showed on Shelf
It reached the lower house for ac-
ton two weeks before adjournment
of the session and was sent to the
committee headed by Clayconb, Jul
dietary B, where it lay for more
than a week because, it was charged,
the chairman refused to call it for
consideration.
Finally, under pressure from the
senate and members of the COM
mittee, Claycome reported the bill
out, but attacked it on the floor.
However, it was passed.
Since then the accounts board
has completed it's investigation OF
the records and is waiting for Leslie
to receive the report.
Leslie announced Tuesday the Ap-
pointment of new board, composed
of former Governor Emmett F.
Branch of Martinsville, Meade YES
tai of Noblesville, DR.. A, G. Arnett
of Lafayette and Frank Shellhouse
and State Senator Robert Moor,
head of indianapolis.
Il shall ask the new armory board
to go carefully and thoroughly into
the matter" Leslie said. Competent
architects and engineers may be en-
ployed to check the construction
against the specifications, to find
any possible errors. When the board
reports back, I shall determine upon
action"
Was Closed Corporation
Under the plan introduced by
Adiutant General William H.
Kershner. who left office the first
of September and with the consent
and approval of former Governor
Ed Jackson, the armory board en-
tered into leases with holding COM
panies for construction Of the
armories.
Payments for the property were
made over a period ranging from
fourteen to twenty-five years.
Tax exempt bonds for construc-
ton of all armories we're issued by
the Peoples State bank of Indian
apolis, headed by Felix McWhirter,
and the work was done by the Os-
from Realty Company, controlled
by Henry Ostron, brother-in-law
of McWhirter.
Jackson was close adhererent
of George v. Coffin, Republican city
chairman, and the majority Of APP
pcintments to the various boards
were made by him. The same con-
nection Is said to have existed with
Kershner, who was in charge of
negotiations with holding compa-
IL