The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-16


and eight other persons.
/ Mr.. Blish was struck at
least five times in the face
and body by Cancilla after the
former deputy had made an
obscene remark about Times
reporters.
The blows felled The Times re-
porter, and Cancilla and Baker left
the Courthouse through the west
exit before deputies from Sheriff
Otto Rays Courthouse Office could
interfere.
Mr.. Blish was en- route to the
county clerks office to check on a
pending lawsuit in one of the Mu-
nicipal Courts when Cancilla and
Baker approached.
Il never knew Times reporter
who wouldn't ---,
(obscene matter deleted" Cancilla
said.
Baker Adds His Piece
Joel A. Baker made q remark
which the reporter did not UNDER
stand.
What was that?" the reporter
asked Baker.
Cancilla thereupon showered
blows upon Mr. Blish's face and
arms, which he had raised in SELF
defense.
After Baker and CanciIla had left
the Courthouse. Mr. Blish asked wit
nesses for their names and ad.
dresses.
The only persons who would
supply their names and addresses
were Mr.. and Mrs Harry E. Hoover,
40 NJ Wallace-st, and Mrs. Leona
Faust, 1902 N. Alabama-St.
Hits With CIenched Fist
CanciLa in addition TO striking
Mr.. Blish with clenched fist, slapped
the reporter several times before
walking away.
Mr.. Blish could not say whether
Cancilla struck him while he lay on
the Courthouse floor.
L was standing with friend in
the first floor corridor" Mrs. Faust
said, and Cancilla was walking
east and The Times reporter was
walking west. They met and Cam
ella just hit The Times reporter.
They fought for a minute and sew
cral men we're standing around but
none of them did anything.
"Cancills knocked The Times re-
porter down twice. and some men
came out of an Office and told them
to stop fighting"
Attacker Once Convicted
Cancilla Is the former deputy Of
Prosecutor Herbert M. Spencer. Cam
ella was convicted of a felony in
Buffalo, N. Y, and denied the con-
vlction under oath on his 1885 ap-
plication for an Indiana drivers
license.
The case now is under consider
alton by the Marion County Grand
Jury. Prosecutor Spencer obtained
yesterday from Buffalo a certified
copy of court records showing Can
elias conviction.
Mr.. BliSh has for the last several
weeks been assigned to the Court
house and has spent much time re-
porting the activities of Criminal
Judge Frank P. Bakers court.
Mr.. Blish returned to The Times
office and reported the assault. He
was bruised on the right cheek bone
and nose.
Following the distribution of a
four-page pamphlet called The
Dart" last Friday night, The Times
established that arrangements for
its distribution had been made by
Cancilla and Joel A. Baker. The
pamphlet, which repeated obscene
differences made from the Criminal
Court bench by Judge Baker, was
distributed from the Indiana Demo-
cratic Club, 319 N. Pennsylvania st.
Cancilla, Baker Roommates
The room in which arrangements
had been made for the distribution
Of the pamphlet are shared by Cam
ella and Joel A. Baker.
After his conviction in Buffalo,
Cancilla came to indianapolis and
several years ago was arrested on a
vagrancy charge after police found
the stolen badge of policeman in
his possession.
The indianapolis charges against
Cancilla we're dismissed, but in
Buffalo he received a suspended
sentence in Elmira Reformatory.
Today's assault upon Mr.. 'Blish
came after Talcott Powell, Times
editor and members Of the edito-
rial staff. had received telephoned
threats of harm unless The Times
discontinued publishing articles on
the administration of criminal JUS
tice in Marion County.
These telephone calls we're re-
sumed last Saturday afternoon and
Sunday. and a person who said he
was Joel A. Baker said he would
not be responsible for what hap
pened tonight"