The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-20
JAIL RELEASE
FRAUD Barred:
CLERK RESIGNS
Commitment Is Altered in
Woman'S Case to Free
Her From Prison.
JUDGE LAUNCHES PROBE
Deputy Pyle Made Change
on Paper Under Pressure,
Officials Believe.

OIllOldIo DCIICVSs
Alleged Irregularities in handling
of Jail commitments in the munich
pal court clerks office today re-
suited in the resignation of Pascal
Pyle, deputy clerk, on demand of
Glenn Ralston, county clerk.
Meanwhile, investigation of the
situation was expected to be started
by county prosecuting officials, in
an attempt to learn who brought
pressure on Pyle to alter a COM
ointment in the case OF Mrs. Rose
Stevens, formerly of 1926 Central
avenue.
Mrs Stevens was sentenced to
sixty days in the state woman's
prison and later freed at Pyle's di-
rection, after serving eleven days.
She was convicted on blind tiger
count.
Pyle, refusing to tell who had
seen him about the case. resigned
Immediately, when Ralston pre-
scented a written demand for his
withdrawal
Judge Learns Woman Is Free
Mrs. Stevens was sentenced bv
Municipal Judge William H. Sheaf-
fer May 10 after a raid on her
apartment. Sheaffer learned Satur-
Day that the woman was free, hav-
ang been permitted to leave the
county Jail May 81, when Pyle
Eigned a commitment paper marked
Fdays suspended"
Pyle made no statement when
he turned over his resignation to
Ralston, after Ralston and Sheaf-
fer conferred today.
Meanwhile, police we're seeking
TO arrest Mrs. Stevens, who moved
from the Central avenue address
shortly after her release from Jail.
Prosecutor Herbert E. Wilson
said he would confer with Ralston
and probably begin an investiga-
ton. Sheaffer said he had not de-
cided whether to cite Pyle for con-
tempt of court. Wilson'S investiga-
ton, it was pointed out, could CEN
ter on the allegation of altering
public records.
Other Cases Involved
1t also was learned that Sheaffer
will open an investigation into dis
poSal of two court cases and the
standings OF three bonds in criminal
municipal courts.
That the books show no records
of court action on two cases, one in
October 1881, and the other last
November, was revealed today by
Sheaffer, after he received a reports
of state accounts board examiners
The bond cases involve three $500
bonds and one for $50, three of
which we're supplied by professional
bondsmen. The court records are
incomplete, failing to show whether
Ahe bonds were forfeited or remain
valid
Ralstons demand for Pyles resig-
nation read:
Due to seeming irregularities
SRnd misunderstanding which have
developed from your service, I re-
tHHGGllhlly yOu1 1CoAE
effective Immediately"
Pyle's written reply was; "I re-
sign as deputy clerk, effective this
date"
Names Successor Soon
Ralston said he. probably would
name a successor late today or
Tuesday
The raid on Mrs. Stevens home
was made May by federal agents
and police. Two other persons were
arrested with Mrs. Stevens, but the
federal vagrancy charges were dis
missed against the trio.
The following day, however, Mrs.
Stevens was convicted on a blind
Cigher count, fined and sentenced.
Records at the county Jail reveal
that the original commitment in
the case showed only the fine sus-
pended by the court. Mrs. Stevens
was in Jail from May 10 to 81, pend
ing removal to the woman's prison
Persons in the building today
said they had no information
where Mrs. Stevens and the other
couple moved after her release.
For several weeks, two-way
checking system has been in opera
ton in the clerks Office. on Sheaf-
fer's orders. 1t was understood that
similar trouble, which occurred
previously, resulted in Sheaffer as
signing an attache to check each of
the commitments to learn that
those sentenced actually were serv-
ing time.
Pyle Takes Rap
AT the jail it was said that Mrs
Stevens was not taken to the Won
ans prison, due to the new rule that
deputies wait three persons SEN
fenced to the institution before
making the trip. This rule was in
voked as an economy move, Jail Of
ficials stated.
Pyle when first questioned, said
he would not make a statement
until he had conferred with Sheaf-
fer. He said he could not under
stand" why SheaHer had not come
TO him with the complaint.
II was later that Pyle said he
would mot jam up" any one else in
the affair, when he was asked who
had directed him to sign the papers,
automatically releasing the woman.
1T looks like little political
scandal" Pyle told The Times. u
didn't say that the papers we're
made out under pressure as was