Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-20
Probers Seek
Hodge Link 10
Racket Figures

|. NUNNVbIyOVS
SPRINGFIELD. III, July 20
(P).-Investigators tracing some
100000 in missing Illinois State
funds will seek to establish
whether there was any link be-
tween resigned State Auditor
Orville E. Hodge and reputed
Southern Illinois racketS figures.
States Attorney George p.
Coutrakon made the disclosure
yesterday after the st. Louis
Post-Dispatch said it learned
Mr. Hodge had business connec-
tons with Frank (Buster) Wort
man, reputed East st. Louis (Ill.)
rackets boss.
In a copyrighted story. the
Post-Dispatch also said Hodge
had business dealings with Elmer
Dutch) Bowling, an associate
of Workman. and Thomas Berry,
former Belleville (Ill.) slot ma
chine operator.
The newspaper said the infor-
nation had been gathered by
Federal agents.
Will Subpoena Trio
Mr.. Coutrakon said he would
subpoena Workman, Bowling and
Berry after he has finished with
the Hodge phase Of the investi-
cation Ito see If any State money
went to those fellows"
Meanwhile, Hodges right
hand man, Edward A. Epping
has been labeled only "a mes
Senger boy" in the financial
scandal.
This Characterization was made
yesterday by Mr.. Epping's at
torney, Hugh Dobbs. between
two sessions with States At
torney George P. Coutrakon Of
Sangamon County (Springfield)
Mr.. Epping himself refused to
speak with newsmen, but stood
silently at Mr.. Dobb's side while
the attorney answered questions.
Mr.. Dobbs said Mr.. Epping
carried packages and envelopes
between Mr.. Hodge and the
Southmoor Bank e. Trust Co.,
Of Chicago. The president Of
the bank, Edward A. Hintz, re-
signed last week.
Silent on Details
Mr.. Coutrakon did not detail
the nature of his questioning
during an hour and a half and
then 2-hour session, but told
newsmen that "Epping didn't
say anything that convicted him,
III tell you that"
Mr.. Coutrakon's questioning
was a preliminary to a grand
jury hearing set for Monday, for
which Mr. Epping has been sub
poenaed. Mr.. Epping's appear
ance at Mr.. Coutrakon's Office
was described as voluntary.
The grand jury investigation
Is but one of numerous in
quiries into the missing State
funds.
The State suffered the loss
through cashing of warrants
which are more or less the same
thing as checks. Investigators
reported that some of these
checkS-which came out of the
State auditors Office - we're
cashed by persons who were not
listed as payees and some were
Endorsed on typewriters instead
of in customary handwriting or
check stamps.
Senate Action Asked
Mr.. Hodge. the dapper, usu-
ally smiling politician who
looked like a sure bet for, big
things in Republican circles I'M
til his political star disintegrat-
ed, is slated for questioning by
Mr.. Coutrakon today. Since the
scandal was uncovered, he re-
signed as auditor, was yanked
off the Republican ticket for the
November election and was re-
moved as a delegate to the
G. o. P. National Convention
in San Francisco.
In the United States Senate,
Senator Douglas. Democrat Of
Illinois. requested action by Sen
ator Fulbright, chairman of the
Senate Banking Committee. SEN
ator Fulbright ordered two in
vestigators--a Democrat and a
Republican-to make prelim-
mary investigation in Chicago.
Senator Douglas said a congress
sional investigation may be jus
titled because checks in the case
we're cashed by banks whose de-
posts are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corp.
In the House, Representative
O'Hara. Democrat of Illinois.
introduced a resolution calling
for appointment of a House
committee to find out whether
any Federal agencies were used
in banking transactions involved
in the scandal.
Reimbursement Sought
Steps also were initiated to
make sure the State doesn't lose
a cent. The States chief law
officer, Attorney General Latham
Castle, said he instructed State
Treasurer Warren Wright to de-
mand reimbursement from the
Federal Reserve Bank of Chi
cago, the last indorser Of war
rants totaling $107,922. Mr..
Castle said the persons named
in the warrants have asserted
they we're issued fraudulently in
their names.
Questions about warrants and
Hodge Office records were raised
by newsmen following both of
Mr.. Epping's conferences with
Mr.. Coutrakon.
Mr.. Epping was not on the
State payroll but owns part OF