The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-14
MAYOR BATTLE
PERILS PAY OF
CITY WORKERS
No Salaries on Saturday Is
Prospect Faced by
Anderson Employees.
SUIT FILED BY MELLETT
Custer Is Demanded for
Baldwin; Resignation
Called Frameup.
BY CHARLES f. CARLL
Times City Editor


ANDERSON, Ind. April 14.-While
this city's political leaders staged a
pitched battle for three major jobs
of the administration, the situation
today brought alarm to scores of
city employees, VINO feared the fight
would mean absence of pay en-
velopes Saturday.
The question of pay for employees
of Anderson is overshadoWing the
court suits and the charges that are
being hurled
Mayor Harry r. Baldwin today
still holds his office on the second
floor of the city hall. From his
home, several blocks distant. Jesse
H. Mellett, former mayor, who is i'll,
continues his drive to regain the
post which. he charges, was taken
from him by fraud.
No Pay for Mellett
With alarm increasing over the
pay situation, Baldwin announced
that the pay roll will be made up
as it has been since he was elevated
to the mayoralty by the council
Jan. 3.
This, however, would not provide
pay for Mellett; his daughter, Mrs
Margaret Cole. city controller who
Baldwin says is out of office, and
John Rock, president of the works
board, on Melletts order.
In that case, it was learned
representative of Mellett have
promised that Hell will pop" Satur-
day morning when pay warrants are
to be honored
1T seems a shame that innocent
people may have to suffer, "PhilliT
O'Neill, attorney for Mellett, said
Il hope they don't. I'd hate to see
ANYTHING like this deprive the work
ing men of their pay. The battle
is between Mellett and Baldwin, not
the others.
Board to Have Two Heads
me SlIlldIlOIl IIlcI llctS JOllC0 iANA
since Monday, when Mellett "ousted
Baldwin and laid claim to the job
stirred again today with appoint
ment of a member of the works
board by Baldwin.
Edward Rauch. Democrat, anc
owner of the Anderson News Com
pany. was named to the works boart
post. He is expected to be elected
president as a Baldwin man.
In addition to the works boaro
setup, Mrs. Cole retains her post If
the controllers office, while j. j
Netterville, Baldwins appointee. has
provided a $4,000 bond and will be
held accountable. by Baldwin, fol-
the office administration.
Melletts challenge to Baldwin hi
the high point Thursday afternoon
with filing of a quo warranto sui
in circuit court demanding imme'
date custer of Baldwin. The suit
charges that Baldwin, on Jan. 3
prepared the Mellett resignation
that was signed by Mrs Cole.
threat is OndTScu
Mrs. Cole, ONeill charges, wa
forced to sign her fathers name
after she had been warned that un'
less she acted within ten minutes
the council would u2seat her father
in a declaration of vacancy.
The suit alleges the resignation o.
Mellett was presented to the coun-
Gil without his knowledge or con-
sent and that he had no intention
of reSigning.
1t also alleges that Baldwin knew
Mellett had no intention of re-
signing and that Mellett had moi
authorized any action of this kind
The complaint further charged
Baldwin with "appropriating the
salary and Office of mayor" and thai
Baldwin still pretends to bt
mayor
Mrs. Cole admits signing he
fathers name to the resignation.
Target in Suit
The fact that she signed the nam
and that the council vacated the of
flee on the resignation, rather thar
in a mandatory declaration, will b
the target for Mellett's attorneys il
the court suit.
Mellett has appeared at the cit
hall daily since he filed his CLAIM
for Office A wheel chair in whicl
he sits stands day and night in tn
controllers Office.
At home, Mellett is surrounded b
his family including his first wife
Mary Mellett. He sits in an arr
chair by the window until time t
go to the city hall.
Mellett asserts that he did nc
know he had been succeeded a
mayor until April 5. His famil
says every effort was made to kee
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