Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 28 October 1926 — Page 1

THE POST-DEMOCRAT

VOLUME 6—NUMBER 40.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1920,

Price 5 Cents a Copy—$2.00 a Year

BOB GRAVES BACK AT

OLD STAND

County Commissioners and Judge Dearth Responsible for Infirmary

The hideous story in last week’s issue of the Post-Democrat, in regard to art inmate of the county infirmary being eaten alive by maggots, has aroused the people of Delaware county to a. pitch of indescribable horror and indignation. The question is being asked on. all sides, “can this be true?” If any individual in Delaware county doubts it he should inquire of Undertaker Charles Moorehead of Albany, who handled the case. Mr. Moorehead is an honorable man, who regards his own profession highly, and can be relied upon

to supply the verification if neces-

sary.

The Post-Democrat interviewed Mr. Moorehead before publishing the story last week. He frankly stated that the condition was exactly as had been represented by others who witnessed the horror. In horror, dismay and disgust the citizens of Delaware county are openly demanding that something be done about it. The county commissioners and Judge Dearth, the only officials who can do anything, are silent, of all citizens of the county. Why do County Commissioners Truitt, Jackson and McCreery per-

Holding Body For Debt

Rev. J. E. Johnson, colored preacher and undertaker, announced Monday that on Friday, the 30th, he would*bury the body of Mrs. Yergie Jackson, after holding the cadaver for debt, in his garage, for nearly fifty days. This ca.se, unparalleled in the history of the undertaking business in the United States, was. treated by. local daily newspapers as an ordinary news item, no censure whatever, being directed against the undertaker. Judge Dearth, who called the colored undertaker into court last Saturday, for questioning, apparently failed to grasp the enormity of the situation, since, if the local dailies quoted him correctly, he “advised” Brother Johnson that the remains should be consigned to earth as soon as possible. It was also brought out by the daily newspapers that Judge Dearth, a few days ago, named the undertaker as administrator of the estate of the dead woman, whose body had been lying in Johnson’s garage for weeks before the appointment was made by the judge. Jbhnson bluntly told Judge Dearth, Saturday, that he had refused to bur' the body because he had not been paid for doing so, and if any rebuke came from Lne pencil, the daily press of the city was silent about it. In a rather querulous manner Johnson told Judge Dearth that he could easily get a thousand dollars for the ■ body, and seemed to take credit upon himself for not selling the cadaver to some medical school. Seventy years ago live negroes were sold on the auc- . tion block for as low as two hundred dollars apiece, but this is probably the first instance of record where a colored man ever conceived the notion of selling a defunct member of his own race,'and at a price higher than the average quotation for slaves in antebellum days. The hope is expressed on all sides that Brother John- _ son received his moriey, for, if the right of burial is to be denied unless the undertaker is paid in front, who knows what the keeper of the pearly gates might think if the souls of the departed fail to exhibit a receipt in full from the undertaker? It seems to us that if there is one debt in the whole world that society owes to those who go down into the valley of the shadow of death and pass into the endless night, it is that the pitful clay once animate with life shall fill its destiny and return to its original dust. This theory is shattered by an undertaker who seems to hold to the belief that bodies are mere merchandise; that if his bill is not paid in advance he may foreclose what might be termed a chattel mortgage on the senseless clay and sell it to a medical school to satisfy the mortgage. 1 Speaking of the case Monday, the Press says: “Since Mrs. Jackson’s death, 43 days ago, the body has been kept in perfect condition.” Nobody seems to have questioned that the purely mechanical process of embalming had been properly looked after, but the moral sense of the community should be shocked beyond measure at the thought of a human being denied burial and held a month and a half for debt. Of course a body, properly embalmed, can be held for a long time without burial. Packing houses keep the bodies of hogs and cattle on ice for many months. It is not a question in this instance of how the thing was done, but why it was done. We don’t know whether the undertaker committed a criminal offense. It may be that his extraordinary performance was merely a breach of ethics and forgetfulness of moral and religious standards. Undertaker Johnson is the preacher who became terribly wrought up against the Ku Klux Klan when that organization blossomed out in Muncie in 1922, and then, unlike most of his race, voted and worked on election day for Clarence Dearth and the rest of the republican klux candidates. Johnson claimed to be against the klux candidates up until the day of election, and when he was caught on election day working for Ku Kluxers he is quoted as saying that the good Lord and his angels came to him the night before and told him to stick with the good old republican party. We have always had grave doubts concerning that alleged visit from on High. It was a very dark night, that night before election in 1922 and Brother Johnson, who wears spectacles for defective vision, had probably laid his specs aside for the night. If he had taken the trouble to adjust his glasses he might have observed that what he thought was the wings of angels gently fanning him to wakefulness was a forked tail slapping his dusky map, and what he mistook for a .halo was a set of horns. At any rate, the results justify such a conclusion, for tbfe good Lord certaffily had'hothing to do with the success Of Harry HdffmatiU r and thh election 'Of Clarence Dearth, Van Ogle, Andy Jackson and John Truitt.

mit this horrible expose to remain unanswered. What did Judge Dearth mean by discharging the county board of charities and corrections affer that body had attempted, unavailingly, to enter the county infirmary to make an investigation. One of the main objects of the visit of the board to the infirmary, when they were denied admission by Superintendent Shroyer, was to investigate the so-called syphilitic ward, jusily named by one of the unfortunate inmates, as “the chamber of horrors.“ Before the board.could make a second attempt to vis.t the infirmary Judge Dearth discharged them and named a board that would listen 'to Billy Williams. Williams was in the infirmary when the board called, lie was Seen by the members sneaking out of a side door. He jumped in his car and drove furiously in the direction of Muncie. Judge Dearth is a creature of the machine. Did Billy give him his or-

ders?

If the judge is such a great humanitarian and so strong for the good name of the institutions of the county of which he .is the titular head why does he not call for a grand jury investigation? It can be shown that at least three of the unfortunate inmates of the infirmary were actually eaten alive by worms and that the patients of the “syphilitic ward” receive practically no attention from nufses or physicians. The people of Delaware county are taxed to care for the poor and unfortunate who are compelled to seek asylum in the county home. The Indiana year book shows that the cost of upkeep, per capita, in the Delaware county infirmary is higher than any other county in the state of Indiana. An investigation would show that funds have been squandered in almost countless thousands at the infirmary. Favorites have been given contracts, supplies have been carried away and politicians have filled their gasoline tanks from the infirmary supply. Superintendent Shroyer is now keeping six horses of his own in the infirmary stables at the expense of the county. His wife draws a salary for work that is done by , the inmates. The old men and woariffe tfifiTimiry ‘are.-ah'-voted: like cattle by the machine by the absent voter method, although two thirds of them are able to go to thq polls and vote personally. You, Mr. and Mrs. Voter, may have misfortune some day and through no fault of your own, , be compelled to spend your last days at the county infirmary. None in Delaware county is so opulent that ill fortune may not some day send him to the county house. The responsibility of conditions at the infirmary are firmly fixed. Judge Dearth names the board of charities and corrections and the county commissioners hire the superintendent and havd direct con(Continued to Page Four)

v

Standpatter Balks

The following communication was handed personally to the PostDemocrat by a Muncie standpat republican. If we would tell you who he is it is doubtful whether you would believe it. Here it is, just as he wrote it: To the voters of Delaware county: Are you satisfied with the management’of city affairs by the firm of Hoffman, Hampton & Cranor, and of the county’s affairs by Hoff- j man, Jackson, Truitt & Co.? This is not George Dale talking; it is a republican of long standing, and a stand pat one at that. It seems to me that it is time to call a halt and put in three of four democrats. You have been told enough about the commissioners; if only half is true, and 1 believe the greater part, if not all, is true, to vote for Mann and Acker, the democratic nominees. Well, let’s see about the sheriff. A regularly chosen grand jury found, it is said, fourteen counts against McAuley and he was impeached. The judge and both the special and regular prosecutor said to the special judge, “We recommend the charges be dismissed.” If the sheriff was guilty BEFORE the judge went on his vacation, and the judge told dozens of his friends that he was guilty, then he was guilty AFTER the judge’s vacation ended. Did the grand jury that im- ( peached ever recommend a dismissal of the indictment? I’ll tell you who recommended the dismissal. It was the coun'y chairman of our grand old party, the good name of which has been prostituted by the chairman. Why two thirds of Mr. Stump’s audience were republicans. He made a very courteous speech and seemed to please his hearers, yet I hope his influence did not reach deep enough to defeat Senator Watson in the county. Let me admonish the voters to go to the polls and don’t be afraid to scratch. We must quit, playing with fire. “Well,” says one, “if you area republican why did yon not go to a republican pahhr with this?” It is because they would not publish an article of this kind asking the people to do thd thing best for all the people. May God in his infinite mercy save you, and me from the doom of crooked politicians. A STAND PAT REPUBLICAN.

The Last Warning! Lie Post-Democrat again serves notice on those

who are now conspiring to steal the election that they

Wi ! i proceed at their peri!,

There is e vidence on every hand that unscrupulous men and v, omen, hired by the Harry Hoffman organization, are setting the stage to vote repeaters and corrupt the election by the misuse of absent voters’

ballots.

1 Ifm registration lists of certain precincts arc chklered with ihc names of people who do not exist* Investigation has shown that fictitious people have been registered from vacant lots and that others are registered from the homes of eprscns who have no knowledge of those whose names appear. The democrats have taken an accurate poll and the precinct committeemen in many precincts find their registration lists scores of names which do not appear on the ] oil books. ^ A large clerical force is making an accurate check so that it will be possible to detect every attempt at fradulent votm j, either by absent voters’ ballot or by hired corruptionists who may attempt to assume the fictitious name on the registration lists. it the-decavSfii atokii'hj usis frdaraient conspiracy, it will prove to be an expensive victory for those who profit temporarily by it. Joe Davis will be prosecutor after the first of January and he pledges himself to prosecute every man and woman who has had any part in corrupting the election. United States senators and congressmen are to be elected next Tuesday, consequently election frauds will be prosecuted not only by the state, but by the federal government. For the first time in years a prosecutor will be in office who is openly and avowedly an enemy of the Billy Williams organization. The republican machine cannot assure law breakers that they can go as far as they like and that they will be repaid after the election by official protection. The gang has fallen back now to the pitiful assurance that Kluxer Jim Watson is to be reelected United States senator and that that will save them from federal prosecution. Jim Watson is going to be defeated by one hundred thousand votes, and even if elected Watson would have enough to do to square his past performances to keep him from going to the front for Muncie law breakers: AH the Post-Democrat asks is a fair count of noses next Tuesday. Nobody will complain, no matter who is elected, if a fair election is held. But that we demand, and it is the demand of every law abiding citizen of Delaware county. A lawless crov/d is in the saddle in Muncie and Delaware county. The people are up in revolt and demand their explusion from public office. The truck deal, the gravel steal and the contractors’ trust are proofs of the extent to which the gang will go. With the reins of power slipping from their fing-

Colored Favorite of the Billy Williams Machine Who Went to Prison for Running Over White Woman With Automobile Allowed to Open Up Again—John Cox Was Forced to Move Out to Make a Place for Bob—Pete. Barlow Backs the Colored Man. Republicans are notoriously ungrateful. So are city administrations. If you oon’t believe it, ask John Con. The Hampton administration has traded John off for Bob Graves, colored bootlegger and gambler, who came back from Michigan City prison where he had served over a jvear for running over a white woman with his automobile, while drunk, disfiguring her for life.

Bob is back at his old stand on South Walnut street, the place once notorious as a gambling joint and blind tiger, flourishing under the protection of the republican machine, of which Bob was, and still is, just as important a cog as his friend Harry Hoffman, chairI man of the republican county central committee. Cox Was Set In. When the old wooden shack was partially destroyed by fire, the {owner repaired the damage and John Cox, whose long police record tualified him to succeed the former eenant, Bob Graves, rented the repaired shack and opened a restau-

rant.

John bought the fixtures of Pete Barlow, who runs a gambling house m rooms in the six hundred block. South Walnut street, vacated by Reba Fenwick, after Judge Dear.h virtuously ordered her to move out and move on. Cox is a democrat, active in politics in the twenty second, or Industry precinct, but in the last city campaign he joined the Cliff Cf-an-or bolt and worked for Hampton. His work on election day consisted principally in distributing free election booze from his garage near the voting place. In recognition of his valiant services for Hampton, John demanded m appointment as official bootleg--ttT.^bfft 'v* as rifirt- tn ■ wfitt mit.Ttfire' stink of the election had blown iway. Cranor received his reward

immediately by an appointment as minority member of the board of

works.

Moved to the Country. John grew tired of waiting and opened a joint on Burlington pike, outside of the city limits. The place was raided and put out of business. He thqn opened a free for all on a farm near the river north of the city. Police and sheriffs’ officers put him out of business, and John began to think he was not wanted in the country so he eventually located himself, a few weeks ago, in the old Bob Graves dump. Then the owner ordered him to vacate and early this week tha building and lot was purchased by Clarence Benadum, who rented it to Bob Graves. Pete Barlow ordered Cox to deliver the fixtures to

Graves.

Pete now has an absolute monopoly of the gambling and bootlegging industries in Muncie. Elsewhere in this issue appears a communication, bearing on the subject, by investigators who have been probing into the connection of the illustrious Pete with the city administration. Having cornered the white trade, it is assumed that in staking Bob Graves to the South Walnut street location, he seeks a monopoly of the colored trade. There is at present a rather large group of colored fkibtleggers operating nutepenu(Continued to Page Four)

(Continued to Page Four)

A Funny Joke

Abquj: the biggest joke of the present political campaign was an editorial appearing in the Star, Wednesday morning. In a lengthy appeal the Star begged all republican candidates for county office to take part in the Vestal parade which junketed through Delaware county Thursday. Doesn’t it appear strange that the local candidates of the party«vhose cause is espoused by the Star should have to be coaxed and threatened to insure their being seen in public with their candidate for congress? Does the odor of Vestal’s appointment of Billy Williams as postmaster of the city of Muncie, still cling to the eighth district representative to the extent that republican candidates for county office refuse to be seen in his company? Republicans have strong stomachs but it was too much for real republicans to be seen tagging along after Harry Hoffman, Niny Sample, John Truitt and Andy Jackson. The personnel of the paraders was a test of who’s who. The independent republican voters of the county had announced in advance that candidates attending Vestal’s party should be automatically classified as Billy Williams’ henchmen. 1 The Star told what nice men the various candidates are. It spoke of them one by one, enumerating their virtues and accomplishments, but when it came to Truitt and Jackson, it hedged miserably by merely saying, “their record speaks for them.” Gods and little fishes, it does! It is indelibly written in mountains of gravel. It fairly shrieks aloud from the county infirmary, where worms devour living dependents. And the Star finally wound up with George Hawkins, candidate for trustee of Centre township and member of the administration paving trust. As to Brother Hawkins, the Star fell back entirely on hearsay evidence. “His friends speak well of him,” quoth the Star. Joe Davis, republican candidate for prosecutor was personally solicited by J. D. Mjltenberger and Jim Fitch to carry a torch in the parade. Joe flatly refused and was promptly read out of the party, and given to understand that the “organization” would oppose him two years hence. Joe got along fairly well in the primary last spring lyithout the help of the machine, so the threat has not paused him any sleepless nights. Miltenberger managed the affair. He had to since his pon holds a job as secretary to Vestal. The machine soaked Milt when he aspired to be speaker of the house several years ago, but that was before his son was placed on the public payroll. The parade was composed exclusively of candidates who take orders from the machine and a bunch of office jiolders and petty appointees holding jobs through the favor of the boss. Those who trailed along did so because they were ordered to. Nobody went because they wanted to. The parade was a joke and the farmers, who were supposed to be impressed by the sight of greatness,,simply stood by and grinned.