The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-22
PURCHASES OF
LAND BY CITY
is DELVED into
Hoffman Is Accused OF
Asking Appraiser to
Raise Figures.

While a subcommittee Of four
members Of the city council investi-
gates charges Of loose purchases o.
automobile, the council probe com
mittee was TO devote this afternoon's
hearing 10 evidence in questioned
sand and gravel land purchases by
the city.
Charles w. JeWett, former mayor,
who has alternated in the roles OF
witness and prosecutor, was to be
present again this afternoon.
An opportunity was to be given
Joel e Baker, city purchasing agent.
against whom the CHARGES OF pur-
chase OF too many automobiles was
made, to read his answer to the ar
cusations made in the JeWett brleI
Insists on Defense
Baker insisted on reading his an
swer Thursday afternoon, but as
hour was late he was promised an
opportunity TODAY.
Row G. Shaneherger and l.. n.
Trotter, members Of the board OF
works, with Oren S. Hack, present
corporation council, when the reso-
luton for the purchaoe OF flood pre-
vention land was introduced, nave
beer subpenaed to appear today.
Testimony Of q. B. Hunt opened
the Thursday hearing. The real
estate dealer declared that $4,000,
the figure first set, probably repre-
sented the real value of the D-lllng
g. Co. land acquired for Food pre-
vention, and that he had mot
changed his mind as to the real
value since then"
He said that David Coulter, an
other appraiser asked him Ito in
crease the valuation so that the city
could effect a compromise at
100000 without litigation"
Increased Appraisal
Coulter had testified that he liked
his appraisal at the request OF John
w. Hoffman, then corporation
counsel.
Jewett declared that the court
entry of the settlement of the Gran
lite Sand and Gravel Company
showed that three of the c.tyS wit
nesses had been used to increase the
price SCI, 600 t. more than 100000
when the fact was that they had not
testified.
eff you had read my brief, you
would have seen that" declared
Merle Walker, attorney for the land
owners.
81 went by the court entry which
you wrote and which evidently was
intended to give the impression that
the city's own witnesses had testi-
fled to the high value Of the land,
Jewett answered.
Hack was criticised by Jewett for
becoming an attorney for Diiling &
Co. in the land deal Immediately
after resigning from the board OF
works.
Hack Had Information
att is true that Mr.. Hack did no.
participate in the hearings befor
the board of works, but, as men,
Der slit ng on the beard, he was
recipient of Information viii
could have been used in the appeal,
Jewett said.
do you mean to say that VIVA
Hack did was unethical?" queried
walker.
81 am not the Judge of Mr.. Hacks
ethics or morals" was the rejoinder.
James Noel, special counsel for
the prohers, then asked: ut is not
true that a judge can not, after
leaving the bench, accept employ
ment in any case in which he has
participated? Is that not the pro-
fesSional rule?"
EYES," was Jewett's answer.
Members of the council probe
committee, Herman Lieber, Earl
Buchanan and Edward Harris,
showed that the council had ma
chinery with which to detect errors
in purchases. and that Sterling r
Holt, city controller, discovered the
purchase of the La Sale car fer Po-
lice Chief Claude M. Worley on split
acquisitions.
Sark, one of the English Chan
49, II