The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-02
LAWYER FACES
MARION CLUB
FRAUD CHARGE
w. r. WaddeI Accused of
SwindIing Stockholders
of DefunCt Body.
HEARING BEFORE JUDGE
Misrepresentation Alleged in
Collection of Assets;
Promises TO Pay.

w. r. waddell. attorney, 314
Board Of Trade building, was ac-
cused Of a scheme to Swindle stock
holders of the Marion Club, defunct
Republican organization, at a hear
ing before Superior Judge Byron K.
Elliott today.
Waddell, Deputy Prosecutor
George Eggleston and John L.
Niblack, former deputy prosecutor,
declared, has been telling stock
holders of the club that as little as
81 was their share of the defunct or
2anization's assets and offering to
scilect the money for 80 per cent
fee.
He then would collect the $47.50
due each stockholder and turn over
to She stockholders only half of
the Lesser amount he had misrep-
resented as due, it was charged.
Widows Victims, Is Charge
The prosecutors declared that rec
ords show Waddell has collected
S2,100 for stockholders from County
Clerk George o. Hutsell and that
a man named j. j. Jones, for whom
Waddell acted as attorney, has COL
lected $500.
Widows and relatives Of dead club
stockholders we're among the VIC
TINS OF the schemes, it was charged.
Jones, Niblack said, would file q
petition to be named administrator
of the estates of dead stockholders.
Under the Indiana law anyone may
be appointed administrator of
estates upon application within
twenty days of the death of the
parties. Appointed administrator,
Jones, represented by Waddell,
would collect the $47.50 due each
Of the estates.
= NaddelI promised to make resti-
tuition when brought before Judge
Elliott today on bench warrant.
I'm willing to pay" he stated.
Willing? You have to payl' de-
clared the judge.
This is one of the worst frauds
I've seen around here and the per-
son guilty is going to be punished. F"
Jury Investigating
Niblack, who retired as deputy
prosecutor Jan. l, but who had in
Vestigated the charges against Wad-
dell before leaving office, said 100
estates for which Jones had acted as
administrator are being investigated.
Jones would file as administrator in
cases where the size of the estate or
the shape of the assets made it url-
necessary for relatives to have an
administrator appointed.
The grand jury is investigating
the sWindle scheme, Niblack stated
He asked Judge Elliott if he might
cite Waddell for contempt of his
court. but Judge Elliott instructed
Waddell be given two weeks to
make restitution. If he does not
do so in that time the contempt
charge may be filed. Elliott said,
Waddell made payments to two
women he is said to have defrauded
this morning.
Pays Women
AfAA ,. AACANAA H. ANCtOtAs NANtNtN Va
the late Charles Preston, declared
Waddell had told her he could coll
lect 81 for her and offered to dc
so and give her $3.50. Waddell col
lected the $4750 due her and had
paid her nothing. she said. Waddell
who said he had not given her any
thing because he had not ''Seen her
since" wrote her a check for S47.50,
'sIf that check isn't good, let me
know" said the judge.
Waddell also gave Miss Florence
Warrington, 271 Randolph street, q
check for $3.50. He was alleged to
have told he had collected $50 fol
her and to have given her half, SIS
The court asked Waddell about
the case of F. Lorenz Gemmer. 201C
North Meridian street, admins
tr3tor for the estate of his father
whom Waddell is alleged to have
lid he had SIS coming. Waddell. il
as alleged, collected the S47.50 due
emmer and paid him nothing.