Imperial Valley press., 1935-03-18
INDICT CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN
FOR SELLING WEST POINT PLACE
John H. Hoeppel OF Twelfth District And Son Ac-
cused In Federal Court Action
At National Capital

indicted on two charges, conspiracy
to sell the appointment and the
actual sale.
witnesses told the jury that
Hoeppel had arranged to have his
son appointed to West Point by the
other congressman. When his son
failed the examination for entrance,
Ives was substituted as first alter
nate. In exchange for this, the
jurors we're told Hoeppel and his
son received promissory note for
81 600.
Among the witnesses who appear
ed before the special investigating
body were Isaac T. Blade, HoeZ
pel's former secretary. representa-
tives of the adjutant generals Off
ice, justice department agents and
Ives.
Hoeppel declined to comment on
the indictment.
81 don't know thing about it, Z"
he said.
The district attorneys office said
Hoeppel wuold be allowed to come
in and surrender on the indictment
at his convenience. The son, it was
said, would be allowed a "reason-
able' time to answer the charge.
Hoeppel was understood to have
engaged Gen. Samuel T. Ansell,
fiery antagonist of Sen. Huey P.
Long. as his counsel.
Later Hoeppel issued the follow
ing statement.
"Some days ago I was advised
by the district attorney that a COM
plant had been filed against me on
the grounds that I had endeavored
to sell West Point appointment.
appeared before the district at
torney and furnished him with my
files and a statement to the effect
that at no time had I negotiated
with anyone .tosell.a West Point ap-
pointment Nor had I ever at any
time authorized anyone to enter
into such negotiations for me. I
requested of the district attorney
that I be permitted to appear be-
fore the grand jury in order to
present the facts. I was not per-
mitted to appear.
GAS you advised me today that
I have been indicted I am giving
you these facts with the following
statement:
81 did not directly or indirectly
negotiate to sell any West Point ap-
pointment and I deny the charge
against me in its entirety.'
Hoeppel explained that he had
traded an appointment with for
mer Rep. John H. Burke of Cali
fornia to obtain the appointment
for James w. Ives, of Baltimore,
Burke at that time having a vacan-
cy in his district. This practice is
unusual.
Hoeppel reported that about two
weeks ago one of the capitol char
women told him she had seen all
the lights in his office burning
about 4 a. m.
The incident was reported to
Building Superintendent Brown.
Brown investigated but was unable
to verify the charwoman IS story.
Hoeppel limited that he feared some
evidence may have been plant
ed In his office. .-
LOS ANGELES, March 18. W.R)-
Congressman John H. Hoeppel
Dem), of Arcadia, indicted today
by a federal grand jury in Wash
ington on a charge of selling West
Point appointment, was reelected
to congress last November by mar
row margin over Frederick F. Hou-
ser, publisher.
1t is his second term. He was first
elected in 1882, also defeating Hou-
ser at that time. He previously was
postmaster of Arcadia.
In both campaigns, Hoeppel ran
on a platform advocating repeal of
prohibition and ayment of the SOL
dier bonus.
In congress, Hoeppel has been a
defender of the Townsend old age
pension plan.