Indiana daily times. [volume], April 24, 1920, Home Edition, Page 4, Image 4

About Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922

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4
Ihiirtatra paihj (Times
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
Daily Except Sunday, 25-29 South Meridian Street.
Telephones—Main 3500, New 28-351
MEMBER OF AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS.
Advertising Offices—Chicago, New \ork, Lot-ion, Detroit, G. Logan Payne Cos.
—“THIS IS THE YEAR”—
MERCY, Mr. Forrest, are you going- to take away our ability to go
out into”the country and broil a steak over a wood fire, too?
AS WE RECALL IT, the city of Indianapolis declared not so very
long ago that the street car property was only worth about nine million
dollars. How it do grow!
SENATOR JOHNSON may be packed by nine millionaires, but his
managers never offered $2.50 apiece as rewards for testimonials.
WHY. WORRY about a plurality? It means nothing in Indiana and
Wood will not get it anyhow.
WALTER PRITCHARD is just as good a witness as he is a judge and
the bench never suffered by his occupancy.
THE APPEARANCE of William P. Evans, Mayor Jewett’s candidate
for the republican nomination for prosecuting attorney, in the Rollinßon
case was, we presume, wholly due to his loyalty to Prosecutor Adams.
Jewett and Parsons
People of Indianapolis who have been wondering for a long time what
interests Mayor Charles W. Jewett had that prevented him from paying
more attention to the affairs of the city that elected him mayor will get
some enlightenment out of the testimony in the city court in the case of
state vs. Rollinson.
For it was here disclosed that Mayor Jewett has been exercising an
extraordinary interest in the affairs of one Harry Parsons, a man who con
fessed receiving stolen automobile* when arrested and has since been
making desperate efforts to defend himself against a grand Jury indict
ment charging a felony.
The testimony shows that Mayor Jewett went so far as to call the
mans attorney before him and demand that he give up part of his fee on
the grounds that it was exorbitant.
The testimony shows that the mayor is qtioted as having promised
his help to Parsons in getting him out of a confessed trouble. In getting
back his money, in “getting’' the attorney who took the money.
We said above that we regarded this as remarkable interest.
In the judgment of many It is more interest than the mayor has e\er
been known to display in the administration of the affairs of Indianapolis.
It is also remarkable in that it should be the affairs of a man who
confessed a felony that attract the attention of the mayor. Especially is
this true when it is recalled that in theory at least the mayor is the head
of the police department which was, and still is. earnestly endeavoring to
convict Parsons as a part of its crusade against automobile stealing here
in Indianapolis.
A strange spectacle is this we have before us!
Mayor Jewett is charged with the enforcement of the law in Indian
apolis, and is in control of the police department.
In his official opacity he is presumed to be lending every effort to
the crusade of the police against automobile thefts.
In his private capacity we find him making vigorous effort to bring
about the release of a man charged with receiving stolen automobiles by
members of the police force which ig under his control.
Jewett, the mayor, is for the prosecution.
Jewett, the lawyer, is for the defense.
Jewett, the head of the administration, finds time to look after a man
" accused of a felony, but is too busy to remember his campaign promise of
“businecs hours” in the city hall.
Perhaps there is a reason for Mayor Jewett's espousal of the cause of
Harry Parsons.
Perhaps he believes Harry has been unjustly accused and Is In un
safe hands in the criminal court.
Dut if such is his belief, why does he not take to task the members
of his police force who are still Insisting that Harry Parsons’ confession
was not a false one-' #
How in the world can Mayor Jewett accept his pay voucher from the
taxpayers of Indianapolis for such conduct as this?
Collins and Parsons
We are ‘wondering now what Judge James A. Collins of the criminal
court of Marion county will do about the testimony offered in the city
court in the case of state vs. Rollinson.
Bessie Myers, a young lady whose testimony was so straightforward
that no effort was made to shake it by the state, declared under oath that.
Harry Parsons, the state’s complaining witness, told her:
1. That he had direct word from Judge Collins that his lawyer, Rol
linson, could not do him any good in criminal court and he should get an
other lawyer. y
-2. That Mayor Jewett told him, to get another lawyer and “between
Judge Collins and I” it would be “fixed up’’ to get Parsons out of a charge
of receiving stolen goods.
3. Then Jewett and Collins would go after Rollinson and get back
a SI,OOO fee and then “get” Rollinson.
This testimony was corroborated in part by three other witnesses who
all declared they had heard Parsons say he had direct word from Collins
that his attorney could “do him no good.”
Here, we take it, is a matter that is worthy of Investigation by the
criminal court or some other court of at least equal jurisdiction. This
is not a matter that can be attributed to politics or prejudice. It is a mat
ter of sworn statements, made in a court then presided over by a judge
who has been honored with a place on the higher court bench in Indiana.
It would seem that the testimony of four witnesses is sufficient to
establish that Harry Parson did involve Judge Collins in a statement
which is susceptible of a wholly undesirable interpretation.
It can hardly be said that Parsons is a citizen who is not. entitled
to credence, for Judge Walter Pritchard testified in the same hearing that
a number of people had come to him and told him Parsons was a man
of high standing and “it would be a crime to find him guilty."
For that matter, the state of Indiana accented him as a man of suf
ficient credibility to justify the prosecution of an attorney of good stand
ing on a charge which he alone made.
Therefore, if the testimony of four witnesses is worthy of belief, a
statement has been made by a man entitled to credence, which statement
raises a reasonable suspicion that the judge of the criminal court has un
dertaken to tell a defendant which of the attorneys practicing at the bar
he must not employ if he expects his attorney to “do him any good.”
And, if we are to consider the statement Miss Myers says Parsons
made'to her, then the court must be regarded as going so far as to agree
with the mayor not only in prejudging a case but also in depriving an at
torney of a fee which he contends he has earned and which he has’ re
ceived.
We can not believe that v Judge James A. Collins, who has been twice
honored by election to the criminal bench of this county, will permit such
testimony as was offered in the city court yesterday to be passed over with
out further investigation.
We can not believe that he could possibly reconcile his own sense
of the dignity of the court over which he presides with neglect of any
procedure that would tend to show the falsity of the statements that have
been attributed to Parsons.
It can hardly be denied that the fact has been established that Par
sons did make the statement attributed to him by three witnesses. There
is no reason to deny that the fact has been established that he made the
statement attributed to him by Miss Myers.
The state of Indiana did not attempt to impeach her testimony. It
did not even cross-examine her with a view to shaking her story. Her
statements were not challenged by any witness nor were they challenged
by the court. In the absence of any other testimony they must stand
as unrefuted.
And on the assumption that Miss Myers told the truth, which is cer
'afnly most reasonable, *
la or la not Kerry Parsons ut contempt of tha criminal courts
The Young Lady
Across the Way
* < .—
The young lady across the way says
necessity Is the mother of iuvetiilon, and
since the wood pulp supply became so
limited she sees they're experimenting
with straw ballots.
COLLINS AND
JEWETT LINKED
(Continued From f*se One.)
heard Prisons tell KolHnson that he “had
word from Collins that Rollinson could
do him no good In criminal court.”
He corroborated other parts of Rollin
son’s testimony.
Clint Johnsou, another stock buyer,
eorrobsted Rollinson* statements con
cerning the same conversations and he
too swore that Parsons told Rollinson he
had direct word from Collins that Rol
linson could do him no good in crimi
nal court nnd he should get another
lawyer.
Then Miss Myers and Judge Pritchard
finished the case with their exposures of
the Collins Jewett story nnd of the “in
fluences” that bad been brought to bear
in the clt.v court.
Testimony ns to the good character
and credibility of Rollinson was ad
tnitted from Riley Adams of the Security
Trust Company, former Mayor Charles A.
Uookwalter, Thomas A. Dailey and
Frank C. Ayres.
At the conclusion of the tertitnony
Judge Cox discharged Rollinson with
out hearing any arguments.
The defense was represented by Epb'
Inman and J? J. Rocbford.
William P. Evans, organisation can
didate for the republican nomination for
prosecuting attorney, assisted Ralph
Hpaan In the presentation of what little
case the state was able to offer.
ROLLINSON REFUTES
ADAMS’ STATEMENT
Charles W. Rollinson, attorney, who
was cleared of a charge of accept log
money under lalso pretenses from Harry
Parsons, who is under indictment charged
with receiving stolen automobiles, dis
agrees with Claris Adams, prosecutor, as
to whether or not The Times misquoted
him in a recent statement onceming ihe
Parsons case.
Adams declared in criminal court yes
terday that Knllinsou had marie a state
men to the effect that The Times had
misquoted him.
Rollinson, yesterday. In the presence of
Eph Inman and J. J. Rochford, said
that The Time* had not “misquoted” him.
He said that It was not true that lie
had ever said he exerted any Influence
on the members of the Marion county
grand jury and he denied so doing.
The Times never quoted him as so say
ing and the only statement that was
made for publication by Rollinson to The
Times Is as follows:
“Harry Persons and his brother,
% Renton Parsons, were arrested,
charged with receiving stolen goods
In connection with the alleg'd op
erations of a gang of atitomoollr
thieves.
“They pnid rne SI,OOO ns my fee for
defending them.
“That i, they paid me SSOO each, .
for acting as their attorney
“I got Benton Parsons out of his
trouble by going Into the grand Jury
room and conducting his trial in
there.
"Benton Parsons was never indicted
by the grand jury.
“I was unable to keep the grand
jury from Indicting Harry Parsons
for receiving stolen goods, but they
returned a faulty Indictment against
him.
"Later another indictment was re
turned against Harry Parsons
Ralph Jones, the deputy prosecu
tor, was in the grand lory room at
the time I questioned the witnesses.
“I tried the case of Benton Par
sons in the grand Jury room and got
him free; that surely was worth
SSOO, and Benton Parsons bad no kick
on the amount paid.
"After Harry Parsons was Indicted
he called me up by telephone nnd
demanded the return of the SSOO he
had paid: and when I told him that
I did not do business that way he
filed the outrageous false charges
against me.
“It’a a frameup, that’s all.”
James D. Wilson's
Funeral Monday
Fum ral services for James D. Wilson.
54, traveling salesman, who died In Dal
las. Tex., yesterday of pneumonia, will
bq held at the home of his mother, Mrs.
Elizabeth S. Wilson, 2510 Broadway, at :
2 p. m. Monday.
His mother, four brothers, R. H. Wil- !
son, H. 11. Wilson and W. W. Wilson of
Indianapolis ond E. G. Wilson of Louis
ville, Ky., und two sisters, Mrs. D. Ne
beker of Clinton, Ind., and Mrs. F. J.
B"ckmnn of Indianapolis survive.
BRINGING UP FATHER.
WELL - DID YOU j 1 DiO -AM iT'b THE CRAOOOfe-
CALL OH MR. J UNHAPPY MAN HE l-> ■ I HOPE THEY ] WRETCHED- - AND THEY
BRObH -THE ( OJRC,LA*b cot ,ts h.- dos t take the S ALL M n^; T „ WA V cv • J Sr R pL OUTOF 9 , TOOK. THE
PAINTED? a PICTURE he lb L- Z- Y
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INDIANA DAILY TIMES, SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1920.
TAX BOARD C. & E.
FIGURES UPHELD!
Federal Court Officer Finds j
No Discrimination.
A valuation of the Chicago A Erie
railroad property, fixed at $22,947,315,
made by the state board of tax commis
sioners, was upheld In a report on a suit:
by Walker D. Hines, railroad adminls- i
Irntor, and the railroad company against}
Fred .C Sims nnd members of the state j
board made by Charles W. Martlndale,
master in chancery of tile federal court.
The railroad company asked in its
suit for an injunction to prevent the
collection of taxes on the property in
excess of v9.000.c00.
Mr. Martindale’s report declares that
the assessment made by the lax board
was made in good faith and in accord
ance with Ihe statute.
It also maintains that the valuation
does not vary from the assessment so
great as to indicate unlawful, discrimi
natory or unjust action of the board.
In compiling the report Mr. Martin
dale considered much evidence submitted
in a hearing on the -case and also the
provisions of the tax law.
Details of the operation of tax mens
ures in Indiana since 1891 are set out
in th? report.
The case was referred to Mr. Martin - 1
dale for hearing by Judge A. B. Ander
son of federal court.
SCHOOLS PLAN
‘AMERICAN ’ DAY
Plans for an Americanization program
in ail city schools are now being pre- i
pared for April 30. in keeping with Amer
icanlzattou day on May 1, according to E.
F. Graff, superintendent of schools.
Mr. Graff today issued a statement to
/■I supervisors, teachers nnd principals,
in which he outlined the program for the
day’e activities.
Included in the program will boa
study of an address made by Lucius R.
Swift before tile State Historical assorts
tlcn in 1918, and a resolution prepared
by Frederick E. Matson, president of the
Rotary club, nnd passed by the club at
a district conference In Ft. Wayne, lad.,
on Oct. It.
The principles and ideals of America
with the impressive points In American
history, are Included In th<* day * pro
gram.
ATLANTIC CITY
TO DRAW MANY
Many Indianapolis business men will
attend the annual meeting of the fliam
iter of CommercH of the t’nlied States
at Atlantic City next week.
Charles F. Coffin, president of the In
dlauapolls Chamber of Commerce, left
this afternoon for Atlantic City.
He will attend a meeting of the na
tional 1 ouncillora of the national cham
ber. which is held in advance of the an
nual meeting, to Ul> - U he aixt is a dele
gate.
Other delegate* from Indianapolis to
the annual meeting are L. C. Huesmnnn,
Arthur U. Baxter, Henry F. Campbell.
Arthur K. Helskell, C. J. Lynn. Felix M.
McWblrter, Merle Sidener. Elmer W.
Stout. L. M. Wainwrlght. B. A. Worth
ington, Frederic M. Ayrca. Horace 11.
Fletcher. Frank E. Gatin, J. I. Holcomb,
Sol S. Kiser, Charles B. Sommers. A L.
Taggart. John R Welch, Evans Woollen
and Samuel E. Rauh.
Luke W. Duffey, chairman of the good
roads committee of the local chamber,
will discus* motor transportation before
the national chamber.
Candidates Favor
State Memorial
Among tbq candidates who hare
pledged their assistance to tbe American
Legion in the move for a state war me
morial are Warren T. McCray of Kent
land, candidate for the republican nomi
nation for goveruor; James K. K!*k,
John Isenbargcr and Mason J. Nlblack,
on the democratic ticket for governor,
and some for other state office*.
J. W. Fesler, republican candidate for
tbe nomination for governor ha* ex
pressed approval of the erection of a
memorial building In addresses he baa
been making over the elate.
Asks $260,000 Loan
to Pay Teachers
A petition for authority to float a loan
of $260,000 with which to grant teachers
of Indianapolis additional pay for the
last year of S2OO authorized by the school
board was today presented to the state
tax board by George t . Hitt, business
director of the city school*.
Crack Safe 3 Times
With Total Haul $36
*For the third time In three weeks
burglars ripped the safe of the Michigan
Lumber Company, 938 East St. Clair;
street, early today.
Tbe first time burglars got $lO, the 1
second time $lO and today $6.
Man, 59, Sentenced
on Assault Charge
William Donahue, 59, was sentenced In
criminal court to serve two to fourteen
years in the state prison today on a
charge of feloniously assaulting his 8-
year-old granddaughter. Doctors testified
he failed in his object, thus saving him
from life sentence.
Does Anyone Know
Mrs. Jessie Green?
An effort to locate Mrs. Jessie C. Green, |
formerly of 1649 Lexington nvenue, moth- 1
er of Roy Fred Green, who died In' the
navy Oct. 22, 1918, Is being made by N. j
E. Elliott, a Cnlted .States treasury j
resentntlvc.
Mr. Elliott may be reached at Main |
6524.
PROF, BROOKS TO LECTLRE. j
Prof. Alfred M. Brooks of Indiana !
university, curator of prints for the i
Indianapolis Art association, will give j
a talk at tbe Herron Art Institute to
morrow afternoon at 3:30.
TO THE CRITICS OF
THE GAS COMPANY
During the emergency caused by the widespread railroad
strikes which have been tying up the industry of the country
for over two weeks, a great many criticisms have been made
on the service rendered by the gas company. Some of these
have been malicious but most have been simply thoughtless.
The facts of the case have been made public from time to
time, but we desire now to summarize them:
1. Tie difficulty of the present time grows out of the coal strike in No
vember and December. At the beginning of the coal strike, this company was in a
strong position. It had coal stocks on hand sufficient for full operation for at least
45 days, and was able to assist the other public utilities which were then in dis
tress. We urged economy in the use of gas, but we maintained 100 per cent
service throughout that strike.
2. Not only had we provided reasonable stocks of coai; we had also been
exceedingly prudent in providing for the strike which we had foreseen. When the
coal strike began, in addition to stocks on hand, we had over 15,000 tons in trans
it. Furthermore, in addition to our regular contracts we had bought for shipment
in November and December large quantities of coal from non-union mines. In spite
of disturbed mining conditions and dispersion of railway cars, we had shipped to us
during November and December 102,000 tons of coal.
Yet our prudence and vigilance was futile. Most of this 117,000 tons of
coal was seized by the government and diverted to other places. We used 110,000
tons of coal during the two months, but bj r January Ist our stock had been reduced
to less than one-third of the amount we had on November Ist.
*3. The end of the coal strike did not cause us to relax our efforts to build
up our reserve stocks. We went into the market at once to buy coal to replenish
our stocks and supplement our contract shipments which were reduced by the in
creased car shortage. But here comes in the interesting consequence of govern
ment price regulations. Until after April Ist, we were not permitted to pay and
coal operators were not permitted to charge more than certain prescribed prices,
while there were no such restrictions on sales for export. Our contract mines con
tinued to ship at contract prices, but why should mines which had free coal sell to
us at prices ranging from $2.65 to $3.00 when French and Italian buyers were
offering $5.00 to $5.50? From early in December until the end of March there was
no coal for sale to domestic buyers unless they were prepared to buy the mines.
Our government would not permit us to pay a price sufficient to get the coal. Con
sequently, our 15 days’ supply of January Ist was reduced to 5 days’ supply on
April 10th, when the strike began here.
4. From being in a stronger position than any other public utility in the
state at the beginning of the coal strike, we were reduced to a weaker position than
any other at the beginning of the railroad strike. Ail ether public utilities in Indi
anapolis use Indiana coal. Indiana coal has not been plentiful, but it has been ob
tainable at government prices. Indiana coal is not wanted for export. France and
Italy are not competing for it. We cannot use Indiana coal except in very limited
quantities. We have used a little in this, as in previous emergencies, but with no
gain in gas production, but rather with losses. The reasons for this are related to
problems of chemical engineering which cannot be given here, but which will be
given to anybody who cares to ask for them. The gas supply of Indianapolis de
pends primarily on coal from mines on the C. & 0., N. & W. and L. & N. railroads
—two of which have been completely cut and the other badly crippled. The res
toration of normal gas service depends not only on the restoration of full railroad
service, but also on the resumption of mining operations.
5. When the present emergency arose, it was our hope that normal pres
sure could be maintained and that consumers would co-operate in reducing the use
of gas. On Monday, April 12th, an appeal for conservation was made by the chair
mam of the Public Service Commission, the Mayor of Indianapolis, the president of
the Chamber of Commerce and the general manager of the Gas Company. There
was no general response, but, on the other hand, the consumption of gas on the
following day arose about 50 per cent above normal winter demand. We were then
confronted with two alternatives: (1) to let people take all the gas they wamted as
long as it lasted, and then shut down; (2) to control the consumption by regulat
ing the pressure. The former would have been much to the-. advantage of the
company because the present method of operation is exceedingly expensive. The
latter would save the community from unparalleled suffering, because without gas
the population would starve, We chose the latter alternative. Many homes and
industries have been seriously inconvenienced by the character of gas service main
tained since April 13th. For this we have the greatest regret, but in view of the
conditions as outlined above we have no apologies to offer.
CITIZENS GAS COMPANY
ZOWIE! WHAT A BRUTE JIGGS CAN BE.