The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-14
Donaldson Returns From
California, Claims
Innocence.
SAYS PROTESTS IGNORED
Mayor, II Officials Face
Indictments for Alleged
Fraud.
BY BEN STERN
Times staff Correspondent

Abraham L. Donaldson, indicted
with nineteen others in the alleged
million-dollar sewer graft, surren-
dered here this afternoon. He i'm
mediately issued a statement in
which he alleged that much defect
i've work on the sewer had been
accepted over the protest.
Donaldson was formerly member
of the state board Of accounts, and
at the time of the alleged attempt
fraud was serving as supervising
engineer of the sewer. Following
the exposure Donaldson disappeared,
but through the efforts of the Ev-
ansville Press and San Francisco
sun. both members Of the Scrlpps-
Howard organization, was located IN
California.
In his statement today, Donald
SON said he had warned the in
dicted city officials against allow
ing the 5000, 900 alleged to have been
given to the contractor before work
on the drain had been completed.
Donaldson is expected to make
sensational charges of further cor
ruption when he appears as a wit
ness for the state in pending trials.
Parallels Local Case
The same type of forces that made
the name of indianapolis synono-
nous with civic shame and corrup-
ton have def1led another city in the
state. the records of the Wander
burg county grand jury session just
closed reveal.
Where John L. Duvall, former
mayor of Indianapolis, allegedly
sold political appointments, Mayor
Herbert Males. of Evansville, stands
twice indicted for aiding alleged
corrupt contractors in defraudlng
the city of S217O99 April %, 1929, IN
connection with the construction OF
a million dollar sewer.
With Males are indicted seventeen
other citv officials-some in con-
nection with the sewer gratt-otherS
on charges of embezzling pubic
monev-others on charges Of pad
ding expense accounts and still
others on charges Of political cor
ruption.
The roster of those indicted in
cl1Ides the names of those VINO
swept into power on the crest OIL
the Ku-Klux Khan wave which IN
undated Indiana eight years ago.
Face Various Charges
Public officials indicted with
Males in connection with the sewer
deal are William T. Karges' presl-
dent of the board OF public WORKS
.Toseph Healey and William >. Baer-
itch. board of works MEMBERS
Abraham Lincoln Donaldson, super
,,ieino engineer on the million dol
lar sewer. August Pfatt1ln, city
engineer. A. P. Learned, consulting
civ engineer. and Henry Hardln,,
citv attorney and brother-in-laW OF
w lee Smith. one time Khan drag
IN who is now in the Federal penl-
Tertiary in connection with Vhe III
terstate hot car ring.
The officials are indicted on TWO
counts. Willful and corrupt mai
conduct in Office and conspiracy TO
commit felony. Indicted with tle
of7cials are also two prominent
evansville attorneys, Isidor hahn
and L. L. Roberts.
THE sewer deal is based on
claim for s217,O99 made by Pontar-
ELI for extra construction WORK pee
cause. he claimed, he encountered
ouicksand which was not SHOWN III
tbo borings made by the city en-
oi,,eer prior to the letting OF the
contract. ~.
po,,erts who also is charged with
having aided in the collection OF the
money. stands in peculiar hgh1 III
this case.
he was named a special prosecu-
tor for the grand jury OF the ian o.
1928 by Judge Charles BocK' OF Uile
Vanderburg circuit court.
The grand jury devoted two weeks
- on investigation of the con-
strrcfion of the sewer, but ad-
iourned without making a report
declaring that the time was TOO
short. tic
Roberts received SIS a day Tor ms
services. He later appeared III
court representing property owners
,,~otesting the high levy for the
to,1,er and won his cases and at the
ro,,e time acted for Pontarelh IN
coIIecting the additional money.
DiIatorv motions now are oelng
fled by those indicted.
udqe Book remains on the bench
u, onIy three of the cases. as a re-
s,,l+ of motions for change OF venue
filed Wednesday.
He Is naming Democratic attor-
news as alternate judges.
He will hear the trials OF ROBERTS
Kahn and Donaldson.
More Exposures Expected
The grand jury went INTO session
IN March and returned the indict-
ments on June l.