The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-11
BALDWIN HITS
BACK IN WAR
WITH MEL.LETT
Resigned Mayors Daughter
Discharged as Controller
at Anderson.
BIZ Times SDeciGl

By tmes Special
ANDERSON, Ind, April 11.-Tak-
ing an aggressive stand against an
attempt to GUST him, Mayor Harry
R. Baldwin today struck back with
the discharge of Mrs. Margaret Mel
let Cole as city controller.
Mrs. Cole is the daughter OF Jesse
H. Mellett, who overnight, en-
broiled this city in another political
battle when he sought to regain his
former post as mayor. Baldwin,
who has been mayor since Jan. 3,
refused to relinquish the office de-
spite Mellett's filing discharge Writs
against Baldwin.
Baldwin, a former newspaper
man, announced appointment of
James j. Netterville, chairman of
the city works board, as successor
to Mrs. Cole. The mayor said the
discharge of Mrs. Cole is the first
blow in his campaign to defeat Mel
let's attempt to regain the mayor
| atty post.
Successor Is discharged"
Mellett did not appear at the city
hall today after his reputation
Monday night Of his resignation
that was accepted in January by
the city council. Following presen-
tation of the resignation, Baldwin
was elevated to mayor, naming Mrs.
Cole in the place he vacated
Accompanied by his brother.
Lloyd Mellett;. William Marine, city
councilman; Charles Neill, former
police chief, and P B. O'Neill, an
attorney, Mellett appeared at the
city hall in wheel chair and
claimed his former Office.
You hereby are notified" he told
the city council, that I have this
day discharged Harry R. Baldwin
as controller of the city of Ander-
son, and have directed that he
cease to act further as mayor or in
any capacity. In future proceedings
please govern yourself accordingly"
Baldwin Will Fight
Baldwin was not in his office when
Mellett so unexpectedly appeared.
When notified of the action, he said:
Il shall not relinquish the Office
of mayor without a fight. Every
legal means at my disposal will be
used,
Mellett's attorney made the first
legal move, however, when he filed
suit in Madison circuit court asking
an injunction to enjoin Baldwin
from filling the Office of mayor.
Mellett issued a statement ex-
planning his appointment of Bald
win as controller, and outlining the
steps taken by Baldwin in assuming
the mayors Office.
Suit Filed by MelTett
He charged Baldwin with betrav-
ing confidence, and declared that
his own health was recovered suf-
ficiently to permit his taking charge
of city affairs again.
Then he filed suit to remove Bald
win.
Mellett promised to reinstate John
Rock, former chairman of the board
OF works, who was discharged by
Baldwin. Mellett also said he would
appoint NELL as police chief, replac-
ing Joseph Carney.
Baldwin blamed the whole thing
on discharged city employees.
The action is the work of dis
charged employees seeking revenge, -
he said. Il don't think Mellett had
much to do with it. Before the
office was declared vacant by the
city council in January, a statement
was made by physicians that Mellett
would not recover from his illness
and would be incapable of holding
Office
Two Year Controversy
Observers predicted that a long
series of legal entanglements would
result from Melletts action.
1t started another chapter in the
two-year controversy over admins
tration of city affairs.
After Mellett became i'll in Octo-
Der, 1881, he appointed Baldwin as
city attorney and ousted Ira Davis.
Baldwin and Davis were involved
in a long legal dispute over the
appointment.
AT about the same time an in
dictment charging Mellett with con-
spiracy to violate the prohibition
laws was dismissed without preju-
dice in federal court at indianapolis
because of his illness. The charge
can be relied.