The Indianapolis times., 1930-07-03

"Due TO the shortness Of
time ana the limited facilities
of this grand jury, we have
been unable to fix properly
the responsibility on persons
who are responsible for glar-
ing instances and examples OF
wee AMI corruption in the
May 6 primary" the report
reads.
Earl R. Cox, prominent Demo-
cratic attorney, acted as special
prosecutor over the jury, snice Jud-
son l.. Stark, prosecutor, was re-
moved at the start through a re-
quest of the jury.
Use of fictitious names, padding
Of ballots, importing of 'floaters,"
ballot mutilation and vote stealing
were charged to precinct officials in
the ll1Y's report.
Results Most Astounding"
Results of our investigation in
some instances proved most as
founding to this body" the report
reads. "In one instance it was
learned that 270 human beings en-
tered a polling place in eleven and
and half hours on primary day.
When the ballots were tabulated
there appeared 45S ballots as having
been cast, thus clearly indicating
l5O votes we're cast illegally.
only four precincts have been
investigated by this jury, and many
matters and facts established"
The jury indicated that other
revolving circumstances" are indi-
Gated most strongly in the Fifth,
Sixth, Tenth, Thirteenth and Fiji
teenth wards and certain precincts
in Wayne township.
Completely of votes cast for GER
tain officials presents a situation
almost impossible of unravoling,
indicating. to this body that an un-
due interest was manifested" the :
jury found.
County Council Raped
In one precinct, it reported, a
candidate was declared the winner
in certain race when as mat
ter of fact his opponent was the
victor by twelve votes"
'In certain nat within stones
throw of the courthouse" the re-
port states, votes were tabulated
as having been cast from that resi-
dence when not more than one
fifth of the number voting had ever
lived there"
Names and addresses of persons
appear upon poll books, despite the
fact that many had moved away
before the election. Some were gone
for weeks before the primary was
held" jurors asserted.
Poll book of the detention home
"a county institution bears names
of persons who never lived there"
it was found.
Further evidence that forty-four
fictitious names appeared on the
poll book of the Third precinct OF
the Seventh ward was obtained, ju-
rors reported.
Elections Made a Farce
This body has been unable prop
erly to investigate the numerous
other complaints from responsible
citizens" the report stated, "be-
cause of the attitude of the county
council in denying $1,000 by which
to finance the investigation.
THE present county council is
only a further illustration of the
evils that have fastened themselves
upon this community through po-
litical organization that seems more
powerful than either statutes or
citizens.
"It is needless to say that the
unwarranted attitude Of the council
has prevented this body from max
ing as complete and thorough in
vestigation as the facts and circum-
stances warranted and justified.
Unless citizens are aroused 20
the dangers now existing, which
have made elections a farce-and
the exercise Of vote franchise q
joke-orderly government in our
larger communities will pass from
the control of the citizens to that
of the political boss the report