The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-10
GARY TRAGEDY
ST|RS WRATH
OF v. c. 7. u.
State Senator Refuses to
Conduct Probe Into
Girls Death.
ANSWERS DRY'S LETTER
Declares Prohibition Is Not
on Trial; UphoIds
County Officials.

bf JnttCn HffSS
GARY, Ind, Dec. 1G.-State Sena-
or Oliver G. Holmes, chairman OF
Governor Harry M. Leslie's law en-
forcement commission, declined to-
day the request for a state investi-
cation into the death of Arlene
braves. 18.
He notified Mrs. Elizabeth Stan
ley, state president of the w. C. T.
o., that he diu not believe there
was any need for the commission
10 act.
The prosecuting attorney, prose-
cutor-elect and police have acted
promptly and efficiently" he said.
Prohibition is not on trial in this
case"
Backed by Gary Dry
Mrs. Charles A. Swisher, presi-
dent of the Lake County w. c. t.
u. concurTed with Holmes opinion
Local authorities have done ev-
crything possible to see that JUS
tice is done" she said
Statements that the death of
Miss braves after a Saturday night
drinking party was result Of pro-
hibition drew a challenge from the
temperance groups.
Five sons of Gary families have
been indicted on charges of murder
as a result of Arlene's death.
From national headquarters in
Evanston. the w. c. T. U. aimed its
fire at "spineless" officials in Gary.
The statement included a letter
from Mrs. Elizabeth T. Stanley of
Liberty, Ind, president of the state
organization and was addressed to
Holmes.
Flags "Spineless Officials"
L call your attention" the letter
said Ito press reports and state
ments made by certain lawyers who
condone the crime against Miss
braves and seek to place the re-
sponSibility on prohibition rather
than on the bootlegger and spineless
officials who wink at lax enforce
ment."
Mrs. Stanley referred to state
ments of attorneys for the five
youths who we're indicted under a
state law which provides the death
penalty for mon found guilty of
fatal attacks on women.
Don't blc,n9 the boys, blame pro-
hibition. Parties similar to the one
attended b. Miss braves are not
unusual under present circum-
stances, said the defense lawyers.
viii Take 1t to Ogden
The w. C. r. u. announced it
would place the facts of the case"
before Governor Leslie's committee.
Referring to "laxity of law enforce
ment." the statement said
THE Christian women of Indiana
have stood for this outrage long
enough. and we appeal to Senator
Holmes to place the facts before the
law enforcement agencies in Gary
and if they do not act take it over
their heads to Acknowledgement
James NJ. Ogden.
1--WE ask you to see that law abid-
ing citizens get the protection guar
anteed by our state enforcement
code and that the bootleggers who
furnished the liquor get full justice.
Youths in Controversy
Too long we have suffered in 81
Ience." Mrs. Stanley wrote, land /
ind myself writing to you today in
regard to the crime which blotted
out the life OF a young woman and
wrecked the homes of four or five
boys who are behind prison bars"
Since week ago last Sunday
when Paul Barton, Virgil Kirkland,
David Thompson, Leon Stanford
and Henry Shirk drove to a doc
tors office with the body of Miss
braves. not knowing she was dead,
parents of high school pupils and
Young persons have become in
volved In a controversy over wheth-
or such revels as resulted in her
death were the rule or the excep-
lion among the younger set.