The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-03
JUDGE CHOSEN
FOR TRIAL Of
ROWBOTTOM
BaItzeIl Asks Permission TO
DiSquaIify Self, and Chi
Cagoan Is Named.
HEARING OPENS APRIL IA
EX-COngreSSman Charged
With PoStmaSterShip
'PeddIinq.'

appointment OF Federal Judge
Charles E. Woodward of Chicago.
as special judge in the trial of
Harry E. Rowbottom of Evansville.
former First district cong. ssman.
charged with sale" of postmaster
ships, was announced today by
Samuel Alschuler. senior Judge of
the Seventh United States circuit
court at Chicago.
The trial will start in Evansville
April IA.
The appointment was made after
Federal Judge Robert c. Baltzell
requested that he be permitted to
diSqualify himself, in a letter to
Judge Alschuler. March Is
Asks to Be Disqualified
The defendant Rowbottom is a
former representative from the First
congressional district, of which I
was resident and voter for the
last twenty years and up until the
last two or three elections" said
Judge Baltzell. Owing to the fact
that Mr. Rowbottom formerly was
a representative from my home dis
trlct, l feel that I am disqualified
and should not try the case" the
latter sets out.
Judge Baltzell also pointed out
that George Cramer, who is to be
tried at the same session on a Iouor
charge, is a resident of the Judges
home town of Princeton and that
his brother, G. o. Baltzen, is to be
his (Cramer's) attorney. In that
case the judge also asked to be dis
qualified.
An angle not mentioned in the
letter, but we'll known to those
familiar with Republican political
actlVitles in the First district is the
fact that Rowbottom long has been
bitter enemy of Judge Baltzell
Fought His Appointment
In 1924, just after his first NOM
nation for congress. Rowbottom
sought to seize control of the First
district organization, to bring pres
sure against appointment of Bait
zeu to the federal bench to suc-
ceed Judge A. B. Anderson, who was
appointed to the circuit court
Inen developed a bitter factiona1
Ight In the First district q q p
hoWpottom, supported by First dis
trlcC Klansnen, attempted to obtain
the election of Herbert Males. later
o!Scredlted mayor of Evansville as
district chairman, in opposition tn
Ine incumbent, Stuart Fisher of
Princeton, who was supporting Bait
zell Tor the nomination
Rowbottom declared his avou,ed
purpose was to bring about the an
polntment of James A. Collins Of
Indianapolis, then criminal Judge.
BaltzeII Is Victor
Inc victory was Fishers and the
Flrst district organization SUPPORT
eo Baltzell for the appointment
IL also is known that Rowbottom
Is prone to blame the federal in
VeStlgatlon of his alleged sales of
PoStnaSterships upon Senator James
L. Watson, who supported the an
Of Ba1tzell.
To remove all color of noli+ios
from the trial, Judge Baltzell dis
qualified himself.
RoWbottom pleaded not griItz, n
the nine counts in the Indictment
when arraigned here Feb % He
IS charged specifically with taxing
Sl'75O for aid in obtaining two post
masterships and one rural mail car
r1er appointment.
Charged With Taking Money
The first two counts alllere thai
last November Rowbottom agreed
TO take $3.50 from Walter G. Aver
Tor aid in securing a rural mail
carrier appointment for Gresham
Aver OF Rockport. The third and
fourth counts charge he took S8Oo
from S. Grant johnson through
Otto A. Weilbrenner, Mt. Vernon
postmaster, for the postmastership
at Dale.
Inc sixth, seventh and ninth
counts accuse Rowbottom of ac-
,eptmg $500 from Mckinley Aver
Tor the postmastership at Chrisney
The eighth count charges that he
;onsplred with William DAWSON.
Fred J. Fisher, Weilbrenner and
other persons, names unknown
20 take from Ayers and johnson
money property and other things
d value in exchange for aid in OBJ
aiming postal appointments.
RoWbottom was elected to con
5resS, with Khan support. In 1924
LQ06 1909 and No. lnf.-A--r -. 49,