The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-20

Ugh records of the State Proba-
not taken the competitive ex-
lie is not on the commissions
certified list. For the last
two months, Mr.. Baker has
been paid as a Criminal Court
Investigator.
Search of the law reveals no pro-
vision for appointment by the Grim
inal Court of a Criminal Court in
vestigator to be paid out of Grim
inal Court funds.
The study of Mr. Bakers alleged
status as a minor court attache al
fords an interesting insight into the
operations of the Marion County
Criminal Court.
In 1890. when Judge Frank P.
Baker first was elected to the bench
in Criminal Court, he sought a
place for Joel A. Baker. He dis
covered there was no legal provision
for a Criminal Court investigator.
Named Probation Officer
He attempted to gain appoint
ment of Joel A. Baker on Jan. 1.
1881, as deputy prosecutor, it was
learned today. He was unsuccess-
full.
The Criminal Court does have the
authority to appoint probation off,
GERS, so Joel A. Baker became a pro-
baton officer, drawing an annual
salary of $1,000 the first two years
and $1700 annually the last two.
The state Legislature in 1898.
however, passed a probation law
and appointed a probation commits
sion.
The law provides, in brief, that
persons aspiring to become proba-
ton officers take examinations. The
status of officers who we're then
holding jobs was not disturbed dur
ing the life of their appointments.
but persons reappointed were re-
CURED to take examinations and
gain the certified list of the State
Probation Commission.
81. A. B." Neglected Formally
The minor court attache known
variously as probation officer,
Criminal Court investigator and
u. A. b." neglected this formality
of taking the examination and gain
ing the commission eligible list as
required by the laws of 1893.
Judge Frank P Baker was re-
elected and was faced, Jan. l, 1885,
with the problem Of appointing a
probation officer who had passed
the examination required by law.
Records of Criminal Court reveal
that Judge Frank P. Baker did,
however, reappoint Joel A. Baker, as
probation officer on Jan. l, 1895.
Judge Baker today refused to offer
any explanation of his reappOint-
ment of Joel A. Baker as probation
officer without observing the state
law.
WOOIling in Judges Office
The State Probation Commission
has ruled that all reappointments
of probation officers must be made
from lists Of persons found eligible
and qualified after the examina-
tons required by law.
Il will answer no questions SUBJ
mitted by - (obscene
matter deleted) Judge Baker said in
the presence of Kenneth K. Wolling
who was in the judges private Of
flee.
Now Joel A. Baker is Criminal
Court investigator. At least his
salary warrants say so.
Here's why his salary warrants
for May and June say so:
Joel A. Baker had been on what
might be called a leave of absence"
from Criminal Court during Janu-
airy, February and March of this
year, when the Legislature was in
session. County Auditors records
do not reveal that he received any
pay check during those months.
Transfer Affected by Ordinance
On March II, Judge Frank P.
Baker, by letter to the County
Council and through the County
Auditor, Charles A. Grossart. re-
quested the County Court transfer
$500 from the Criminal Court pro-
baton funds to a Criminal Court
investigator fund" The council eff
fected the transfer April 10 by or
dinance.
Joel A. Baker, who was seen fire.
quently in the Statehouse corridors
during the sessions of the Legisla-
ture. went back to work in April and
on May l received a check for
SALTS as a Criminal Court inves-
tigator.
His first salary warrant, approved
April 20, 1885. was signed by Clyde
c. Karrer, as judge pro tenn Mr..
Karrer is an attorney and frequent-
ly has acted as criminal judge pro
tenn.
Joel A. Baker received a like
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