The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-12
FRIDAY. July Il. 1875.
FEARLESS JUSTICE"


EVIDENCE continues to accumulate con-
H corning the conduct Of Marion County
Criminal Court officials
The Times yesterday produced evidence
showing that Joel A. Baker. investigator and
probation officer" for Criminal Judge Frank
P. Baker. may have violated the law requiring
registration Of lobbyist in the Indiana State
Legislature
This follows the disclosure by The Times
that the legal status Of Joel A. Baker as in
vestigator and probation officer" is question:
able. In fact. it is so questionable, that the
Attorney-General's Office now is investigating.
Just what is Judge Frank P. Baker going
to do about these two cases?
Frank P. Baker. as a judge is sworn to
enforce and uphold the law.
In a full-page advertisement in The Times
on Thursday, Nov. l, 1884 it was stated:
Judge Baker has, with dignity ard dis
patch, rendered a service to our con munity
that we should recognize"
The advertisement was published in the be-
half Of Frank P. Baker only, and not for
group of candidates. 1t was a one-man adj
vertisement, 50 to speak. That same advertise
ment said:
He Judge Baker, has been fearless in
every discharge of his duty. Continuances in
criminal Cases have been allowed in only ex-
IRENE emergencies"
JUDGE BAKER, of course. is rendering a
service to the community" with dignity"
when he makes obscene differences from the
bench and of course he acts with dispatch"
in cases like those of Willie Mason and Foggy
Dean.
And Frank P. Baker. as judge, of course,
is being fearless" in refusing to answer those
nine questions about the Barker case, which,
by the way. was another episode handled with
dispatch"
Then on Monday Nov 5, 1884. in this news
paper was another full page advertisement
in behalf of Judge Frank P. Baker. The ad-
vertisement said Judge Baker was fearless"
and trustworthy" and that he has a record
Of splendid accomplishment.
He has stopped delay in trials" said the
advertisement He has given swift, sure
punishment for crime"
Judge Baker, of course, is showing his
"fearlessness" in directing Investigator" Joel
A. Baker to probe the per-meal charges which
may be made by Sheriff Otto Ray for a
prisoner sentenced in Criminal Court two
weeks ago and not removed to the reformatory
because two city police officers requested Sher-
if Ray to hold the prisoner in Jail so that
he could testify in another case.
The whole amount at stake in the per-
meal" case is $5O4 Judge Baker, The Times
has shown, has drawn as much as S15.36 for
an hours actual work on the bench.
IT seems strange that Judge Baker goes out
of his way to attack Sheriff Ray in view
of the conduct of his own court and court
attaches. Sheriff Ray works not two hours
a day. but from u to Is hours day and it
comes with poor grace for Judge Baker to be
showing his "fearleSsneSs' in this one instance.
Judge Baker can demonstrate his fearless
ness" and "trustworthineSs" to the people of
Marion County by Immediately answering
those nine questions in the Barker case and
by taking The only possible step and remov-
ing from the Criminal Court pay roll the name
OF Joel a. Baker who was reappointed in ap-
parent defiance Of the state laws.
No public official. judge or otherwise. is
entitled to special privilege when evidence is
presented regarding his conduct = evidence
which should be given to a grand jury.
If Frank p. Baker, as judge, intends TO
carry out his pledge of being fearless" and
Trustworthy" he should GUST Joel A Baker
Immediately.