The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-19
Murder Case History

grew panicky. They refused to let
newspaper men see Stephenson.
1t was during the campaign Of
the fall Of 1926 that the panic
among the Republican leaders
reached its height. United States
Senator James Reed was quizzing
some Of them and their linking with
the Ku-Klux Khan, and Stephen
soniSm" in the state was disclosed.
Panic at Height
Three Marion county grand juries
took up the matter of the Stephen
son brand of political corruption
The former grand dragon was
brought here from prison and ap-
peared both before the first grand
jury and in civil suit in superior
court. In each instance he refused
to testify.
1t was not until the third grand
jury was called that he turned the
famous 'black boxes" over to the in
vestigators. These disclosed his
close connection with those in high
political places. He used to keep a
careful record with names signed.
Prosecution was prevented for the
most part by the statute of limita-
lions becoming effective. The grand
jurors scored those who were tarred
with Stephensonism and deplored
the fact that they were unable to do
more, particularly in the instance
Of Ralph Updike, then member of
congress from this district.
Claims Double Crossing
The BLACK boxes" disgorged
contract between "Steve" and Up
dixie, giving the Khan dragon any
congressional patronage and stress
ing particularly the indianapolis
postmastership.
The last of the Stephensonism
juries disbanded in 1927. They had
been handled by William H. Remy,
then prosecutor of Marion county,
who also had prosecuted Stephenson
for murder.
Since 1927, Stephenson has made
various moves to secure his release.
Most Of these actions have been In
Porter circuit court. All failed.
He also has had a veritable cpl
demic of attorneys taking part in
the appealed case.
Stephenson's appeal was based on
the contention that the clerk Of the
Marion County Criminal Court
failed to sign the transcript in the
change Of venue to Hamilton Circuit
Court and that death of the girl
was suicide caused by drinking
poison.
Pleads Technically, Suicide.
Attorneys who have taken part in
perfecting the appeal are John H.
Kiplinger, Rushville; Tom Miller.
Muncie, and Lloyd o. Hill, Indian
apolis. Attorney General Arthur L.
Gilliom upheld the State in the
high court, assisted by Deputies
Dale F. Stansbury and the late Ed
ward J. Lennon.
Evidence upon which Stephenson
was convicted was that the erst-
while Khan dragon had sent for the
girl at her home, 1902 University
Ave-, taken her March IS, 1925, to
Hammond, Ind, after drinking and
forcing her to drink at Stephenson'S
Irvington home, assaulted her in
the private compartment of a Pull
man car en- route; refused her med
tcal aid after she took poison at
Hammond hotel and brought her all
the way back to Indianapolis in an
automobile, suffering intensely; left
her in the garage at his Irvington
home overnight and two days after
the trip had started mad Earl Klinck,
a "gorilla-like" lieutenant, bring her
home and put her in bed.
The State was successful in the
contention that the girl died from
bruises and decorations, including
bites, as well as from the poison
taken.
Boasts 81 Am the Law"
Klinck and another Stephenson
lieutenant, Earl Gentry, were also
tried for the murder, but found not
guilty. Stephenson was sentenced
to life imprisonment on being found
guilty of murder in the second de-
| oA~C' AAG AACNo C444SC OCC11 1U
State Prison. between trips to
various courts in Marion County
and elsewhere, on graft investiga-
tions and personal affairs.
1t was while on the tragic trip to
Hammond that ''Steve" is said to
have boosted, "I'm the law in In
DIANA" He had reached wealth and
political power through his leader
ship of the Ku-Klux Khan.
Stephenson's trial started at
Noblesville on Oct. II, 1925. and
continued for more than a month
Stephenson was found guilty Nov
IA, 1925.
Oral arguments in his appeal
we're held April 80. 1928.
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