The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-13
'Entrapped by Postal Men
Under Orders to Get Me-
He Asserts.
ATTORNEYS GUARD HIM
Keep His Mouth Shut Said
Lawyers Purpose: Hint
Guilty Plea Advised.
BY BEN STERN
Times staff Correspondent

Framed by jim Wat
son and entrapped by postof-
fee inspectors working under
orders to get me-" is the de-
tense which Harry E. Row.
bottom, former First district
congressman, expects to put
up when he goes on trial in
federal court here Tuesday
on charges Of selling postof-
flee appointments.
Guarded closer than was the car
of Russia in the heydey of his pow
er and glory, RoWbottom is inaces-
sible to everyone and his attorneys
spirit him from spot to spot in the
district to keep him from talking.
keep his mouth shut appears to
be the purpose of these same attor-
neys, Philip G. Gould, Evansville.
and Raymond Springer, cogs in the
Watson organization.
1t is regarded an open secret that
both Springer and Gould would like
to return their retainers and get out
of the case because they are afraid
that if Rowbottom is permitted to
talk while on the stand he will ruin
the entire First district C. o. P. or
ganization.
"Out to Get Me-" He Says
Both, it is declared, have advised
Rowbottom to plead guilty to the
nine counts in the indictment and
thus receive a light sentence from
Federal Judge Charles E. Wood
ward, Chicago, who will hear the
case as a result of Federal Judge
Robert G.. Baltzell discualifying
himself.
But Rowbottom is adanlant in
his desire to stand trial and so
have an opportunity to make his
charges that Watson leaders in this
district, angry because of the man
ner in which he eXerted absolute
control, through his Ku-Klux Khan
connection, had this case made
against him.
Confiding in one of his closest
Rowbottom said: They
(Watson, Benjamin Huffman, Re-
publican First district chairman,
and others here, were sore because
I wouldn't appoint their friends to
postofflce jobs and wanted to get
me as disciplinary measure
against any others who might be
proof of the Pudding"
"Proof of the pudding" he tells
lies in the fact that the $3.50
which the government charges was
paid him by Walter G. Aver for the
of Gresham Aver of
ROckport as a rural mail carrier was
drawn from the Citizens State
bank of Dale, of which Albert ].
Wedeking, highway commission
is the head.
That such an amount was drawn
from Weddings bank and paid to
was confirmed today by
the government.
Wedeking has been the close as
sociate Of the Watson leaders in
his district and Rowbottom charges
he was cognizant of what the gov
eminent was attempting to put
over.
This money and other funds we're
paid him as campaign contribu-
ions, Rowbottom will say.
Khan Link to Be Stressed
If permitted to talk on the stand
he will describe, it is said, the close
(which existed here be-
tween Khan leaders and Watson's
He will charge that
It was determined to get him out
Of the way because he would not
DOW his head and acquiesce to Wat
sons orders.
Springer and Gould are trying
their utmost to keep incommuni-
cado. Both are in an uncomforta-
ole position. Springer is Sixth dis
5rict Republican chairman and is
seeking the G. o. P. nomination for
Encouragement and expects Wat
son organization support. Gould is
Vanderburg county c. o. P. chair
nan.
Rowbottom expects to use the
tWenty-seven Witnesses
% substantiate his charges of ZEN
rapment." He has called but ten
witnesses for his defense.
Both Are From District
The former congressman's reason
for selecting Springer as his attor-
ney lies in the fact that both Wat
on and George Jeffrey, district at
.orney, are from his district.
incidentally, Jeffrey declared to-
lay that he did not ask the attor-
ney-general for aid and does not
Know why Nugent Dodds, assistant
Encouragement in charge of Grim
nal prosecutions, is being sent hera
70 try the case.
l viii be in charge Of the prose-
,ution unless Dodds asks that he be
given control when he arrives to-
night" Jeffrey said.
RoWbottom is charged IN eight
counts with accepting payment for
The appointments. Each OF these
counts carries maximum penalty
If $4,000 and two years imprison-
nent.
The ninth count charges conspir-
acy and the penalty Is 5000 ana
.wo years.
II Judge Woodward would cara
o assess the maximum penalty he
'ould fine Rowbottom $4,000 and
entence him to eighteen years inn
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