The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-14
JURY SELECTED
IN ROWBOTTOM
JOB SALE TRIAL
Defendant Shows Strain as
He Comes Into Court
for Ordeal.
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entered and sat down in the first
row.
Rowbottom was visibly tired. The
strain Of hiding from both friends
and acquaintance during the three
months since his indictment was
returned at indianapolis, and the
attendant worry had laid their
marks upon him. To this was
added the fact that he has been
defeated for reelection in Novem-
Der.
Ready to Fight
At the defense table were Philip
G. Gould, vanderburgh county Re-
publican chairman, and on the
other was Raymond Springer, Sixth
district G. o. P. chieftain.
Defense of Rowbottona, 1t was
runored, was distasteful to both,
and each would have withdrawn
from the case if it would not have
been prejudicial to the defendant.
Rowbotton's friends say he is
prepared, if permitted, to &C
cuse Senator James E. Watson, his
adherents in the First district. and
postof1ce inspectors. of deliberate
ly entrapping and framing him"
With Jeffrey are his two assist
ants, Alex Cavins and Telford
Orbison. Dodds, unsolicited by
Jeffrey, had been assigned to the
case by the attorney-gen
Bills in Evidence
In fact, Jeffrey knew nothing but
hearsay gossip about the case being
built against Rowbottom until press
dispatches in January declared that
the postoffice department had or
dered dismissal of four postmasters
and rural mail carrier appointed
by Rowbottorn, because they had
paid for their jobs"
In a folder on the table in front
of jeffrey is the most damaging
evidence the government hasa
500 bill bearing the serial number
A101194255A-one of seven similar
bills-two $40 bills, and one $40 bill,
which the government charges was
paid RoWbottom last November by
Williamb G. Aver for securing the
appointment of Gresham Aver of
Rockport as a rural mail carrier.
Out of Wedeking's Bank
These bills, their numbers care
fully noted, were obtained by Aver
from the Citizens State bank of
Dale, the head of which is Albert j.
Wedeking, chairman of the state
highway commission and Watson
adherent.
Wedeking has been subpenaed as
witness, but may not be called to
the stand, Jeffrey declared.
The evidence, according to the
government, is expected to show
that Benjamin F. Huffman of
Rockport, First district G. o. P.
chairman, and strong Watson adj
herent, who for a long time had
been in receipt of information that
RoWbottonl was selling appoint
mentS, arranged with the elder
Aver to obtain the money from
Weddings bank, where the serial
numbers would be copied, and pay
the $3.50 to Rowbottom.
Faces Nine Counts
Postoffice inspectors then took
the trail and from there obtained
information concerning the sale of
other postmasterships, the govern
ment charges in an Indictment con-
tanning nine counts, eight of which
are specific and the ninth. alleging
conspiracy.
The first eight counts carry max
imum penalties Of $4,000 fine and
two years imprisonment each. The
ninth, charging conspiracy, carries
a maximum penalty of $1,000 fine
and two years imprisonment.
The governments twenty seven
witnesses are expected to finish pre-
senting their testimony either to-
night or early Wednesday and the
defense hopes to conclude by
Wednesday night.
Using the governments witnesses,
Rowbottom hopes to show that a
deliberate attempt to entrap him
was made by the postoffice inspec-
tors sent here, he alleges, at the
insistence of Watson, who was an
cry with the congressman for his
insurgency.
The various amounts totaling
$1,750, which the government
charges were paid for appointments,
really were contributions to his
campaign fund, Rowbottom will
aver.
He hopes to be able to tell of the
Khan connections of the various G.
o. P. leaders in the district and re-
veal some startling truths" which
will react against them.
Knowing that this is Rowbottoms
plan. attempts have been made to
have him come into court and plead
guilty, and until Monday night
pressure to do this was being
brought to bear upon him.