The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-20
The Stephenson Decision

Three judges of the supreme court have decided
that the conviction of D. c. Stephenson was fair and
justified
Two judges, and it might be suggested that they
carry preponderance of other factors than numbers,
declare that he should have new trial
The dissent becomes more important than the
affirmation except, Of course to Stephenson, who
finds in it an end to any hope of liberty and life
time Of servitude behind bars.
The dissenting judges Clarence w. Martin
and Walter E. Treanor Their regulations jursts,
students of and courageous Interpreters of the law
well established 1t is not 1attery to assert that
they have the confidence of the legal profession and
of citizens generally.
The long delay in deciding this case invited criti
cism of the high court. 1t did much to destroy
confidence in that court. 1t brought to the street
the suspicion that there something lacking in the
administration of justice in this state.
That was true because Stephenson occupied an
unusual place in the history of this state.
There was a time when very large numbers of citi-
followed blndly his preachments OF hate, when
he had builded an organization OF prejudice into
throne of power when he had transformed that power
into patronage and when the great and mighty
fawned upon him for favors.
1t is within the record that he nominated govern
ors and law makers that senators listened to his
aQVlce on LndI legislatures y4S4uCu w
commands and that he named congressman and
mayors who signed away their powers on dotted lines
in return for his political support.
The exposure of his political activities and rea-
tionships sent many men into the hiding of shame
and others into their natural obscurity from which
they had come.
But the people also remember that there came
time when the men who had been puppets OF Ste
phenson during his Of power greatly inter-
ested preventing his exposure of their friendnness
and we're very eager to keep him behind prison bars
that the records of the past might be forgotten.
When a grand jury in this county attempted to
dig up the facts of the corruption of which Stephen
son was part official power applied to silence
the prisoner in his cell.
For that reason the delay from election to election
of any decision became. to the popular mind some
what significant.
For the people remembered that Stephenson had
ouarreled with his fellow wizards COLLINS and had
charged that the powerful national organization in
which he once thrived and grew rich, feared an ex-
posllre of their criminal activities in many states.
For that reason it is unfortunate that any decision
concerning Stephenson comes with divided vote
and especially with division in which the minority
occupies so large place in public confidence, from
Judges whom the people believe to be above partisan
control or prejudice. whose political background had
no part in the of Stephensonism
divided opinion still leaves the question one OF
debate and argument in which the man who once
boasted that he "the lew in Indiana" will be
discussed again and again. painted as political
sacrifice to the men he made villain whose crime
was infamous beyond description.
Unquestionaby, there will be such unfortunate
discussions and arguments as to the merits of the
conflicting opinions of judges, arguments which do
not make for confidence in the exactness of law as
science or in the exactness of judges in applying laws
And to the casual observer, the long delay in this
particular case will not be attributed to Incidence
of Judges The decision has been finally made. But
there is still question mark about other things than
the cuiIt of Stephenson,