The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-20
SPENCER ORDERS AIDS TO HALT
DEFENSE OF CRIMINAL SUSPECTS
Prosecutors Action Follows
Times Revelations of
CanCiIIa Episode.
'OOUBLE-R0LE' Barred
Clyde Karrer Judge in Case
of Man He Defended in
Lower Court.

All members of his official
staff were ordered by Prose-
cutor Herbert NJ. Spencer to
discontinue acting as defense
counsel for persons accused of
offenses triable in Marion
County Criminal Court.
The order also prohibited deputy
prosecutors from appearing as de-
Tense counsel in Municipal Court
criminal cases.
Mr.. Spencer's action came after
disclosures by The indianapolis
Times that Peter Cancilla, men,
Der of his official staff, had repre-
sented persons accused Of offenseS
which other members Of his staff
prosecuted.
Mr.. Cancilla also is attorney OF
record for Ray Rairdon, 1893 Will
low-dr. accused in connection with
the theft of slot machines, whose
trial is pending in Criminal Court.
Baker Still Silent
Meanwhile The Times learned
that Clyde H. Karrer had acted as
Criminal Court judge pro tenn. at
the arraignment of man whom ne
1 had represented in Municipal
/ Court on burglary charges.
These disclosures came as Judge
! y,-.., n DoI-o,. ,oar,,,ittad another.
day to pass without answering nine
questions submitted to him by The
Times regarding the release of Lee
P. Barker, convicted bootlegger, on
an order initiated y. A. B"
Barker. whose 1886 Indiana dry
law conviction had been affirmed
in 1890, was released from the
County Jail Nov 26, 1884, a few
hours after $3.50 had been placed in
escrow with an indianapolis ply
siCian.
Held for rs Days
He had been held 26 days on a
contempt of court attachment is
sued out of Judge Bakers court.
The man whom Mr.. Karrer had
represented in Municipal Court is
Fred Wilkes, 800 E. Main-st, Broad
Ripple, accused in connection with
the theft Of slot machines last Au-
gust from the Silver King Novelty
Co, Gil N. Capitol-av.
Indianapolis detectives had ar
rested Wilkes, Chester Ballard, 6543
Carrollton-av, and Rairdon and
lodged charges against them in Mu-
nicipal Court. Wilkes and Ballard
were accused of burglary. Rairdon
was charged with vagrancy, pending
investigation of the slot machine
thefts.
According to Municipal Court rec
ords, Mr.. Karrer was attorney for
wilkes during the proceedings in
that court Rairdon then was rep
resented by Thomas McNulty.
Karrer on Bench Nov. 2.
The Municipal Court proceedings
were continued on several occasions.
The three defendants we're arrest
ed Oct. 80, 1884, on capias issued
out of Criminal Court following
their indictment by the Marion
County grand jury.
When the three defendants we're
arraigned Nov 2, Mr.. Karrer was
on the bench. court records show.
When Rairdon went on trial Judge
Baker was on the bench. the court
records show. Rairdon was repre-
sented in the trial by Mr. Cancilla.
Judge Baker postponed the Rair-
don trial after the prosecution said
it was unable to produce Oliver A.
williams, proprietor Of the Silver
King Novelty Co., reputed owner OF
the stolen slot machines. The case
still is pending.
Trial of wilkes and Ballard has
been set down for this week.
Challenge still Unanswered
Prosecutor Spencer also MAIN
tanned official silence regarding the
Barker case. It was Mr.. Spencer to
whom the physician. holding the
$3.50 n escrow, telephoned before
returning the money to Mrs. Lee P.
Barker.
At that time Mr.. Spencer said the
money represented contingent at
torney fees, payable to him, provided
he could convince Judge Baker the
convicted Barker brothers should go
free.
M. Spencer has not yet &C
cepted Mrs. Barker's challenge to
show by any record that he ever APP
peared anywhere as attorney for the
Barker brothers.
Irving A. Barker, father Of Dell
Barker. who recently told The Times
his son was at the Acton farm all
the time Criminal Court attaches
were searching" for him, Friday
suffered an apoplectic stroke and IS
in a serious condition.