The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-26
MILES BUSTED
FROM POST AT
REFORMATORY
Resignation Is Demanded
by Trustees in Farley
With Leslie.
FARM HEAD SUCCESSOR
Action Long Planned by
Governor Follows Suit
on Prison Death
BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY

Thirty-one years of state inStitu-
tioal service will terminate for A. F
Miles Oct. /, when he has been or
dered to leave his position as SUI
perintendent of the Indiana state
reformatory.
The request for his resignation
was voted by trustees of the insti-
tuition at meeting with Governor
Harry G. Leslie Friday afternoon.
The custer represents final &C
complishment of one of the early
detectives of the Leslie administra-
ton.
Miles will be succeeded by Ralph
Howard, now superintendent of the
Indiana state farm, who in turn is
to be succeeded by Clifford w.
Craig, chief clerk at the Indiana
state prison.
Leslie "After" Him
Miles is a Democrat. He had been
with the reformatory since May 2,
1904. Previously he had four years
service at the Evansville state hos
pital. He began his career as a
guard at the reformatory at Jeffer-
sonville and has been with the Pen
dleton institution since it was
erected.
Miles became superintendent of
the institution upon the death of
G. A. H. Shideler in 1928. Previously
he had been assistant Superintend-
ent for number of years.
Leslie has been after him ever
since he became Governor. At one
time he planned to bring the late
E. j. Fogarty back to Indiana from
Chicago to take Miles place. Fo-
garty had been one time warden
at the Indiana state prison.
Caucus Lasts 2 Hours
All trustees at the institution were
removed by the Governor with the
Miles custer in mind.
Final accomplishment was engi-
neered by DR.. H. o. Bruggeman, Fl.
Wayne, trustee. He was in the CITY
comforting with the Governor and
Howard, while other trustees were
meeting at the reformatory.
Gaylord Morton, Leslie'S secre-
tary, in charge of penal affairs,
called Pendleton by phone and said
the Governor wanted the trustees
to meet with him. The meeting
lasted two hours before trustees
were reported unanimous on the
custer move.
Tell of Criticism
A statement was then issued ex-
planning the action:
The action was brought about by
a continued criticism of the man
agement of the Indiana reformatory
and lack of whole-hearted CO.
operation and confidence between
the superintendent and the board"
1t outlined Towards qualifica-
lions, which include twenty-eight
years of state institutional work at
the boys school, prison and state
farm. He has been superintendent
at the farm for the last ten years.
Charities Board Shifted
Most recent Criticism" of Miles
was made in $4,000 damage suit
filed at Anderson by Attorney Clar-
ence N. Dugan, who was fired by
Miles as a teacher at the reforma-
tory in 1928 for INSTRUMENTATION.
Miles action at that time was Sus-
tanned by the state board of char
tiles. The suit is based on the death
of a prisoner from alleged brutal
beating by a guard.
The charities board membership
was shifted by the Governor recent
ly and one of the comments at the
time was that the old members
found nothing wrong with Miles
conduct of the institution.
During his service as superinten-
dent, Miles has built a reputation
for being fortnight with news
paper men and giving honest an
swers to embarrassing questions, an
unusual thing in Hoosier public life.