Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 308, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1910 — GARY MAYOR AND OTHER OFFICIALS UNDER ARREST. [ARTICLE]

GARY MAYOR AND OTHER OFFICIALS UNDER ARREST.

Felony Conspiracy and Other Charges Filed Against Mayor, Chief of Police and Others. Mayor T. E. Knotts, Police Chief J. D. Martin, Attorney E. N. White, a member of the Board of Public Safety, Attorney H. C. Price, and five policemen of Gary, were Tuesday afternoon Served with indictments returned last week by the Lake county grand jury at Crown Point. Others will be served later. The charges against them, with the bond which they gave for their appearance, are: Mayor T. E. Knotts, conspiracy to commit felony, bond $2,000. Chief of Police J. D. Martin, conspiracy to commit felony, two assault and battery charges, bond $6,000. Police Captain John Mulcahey, agitating a riot, assault and battery and unlawfully attempting to enter an election booth; bond $3,000. Police Sergeant Louis Jenkins, conspiracy to commit felony, bond $2,000. Attorney Emmet N.’ White, rioting and unlawfully attempting to enter an election booth, bond SI,OOO. Police Sergeant William Miller, conspiracy to commit felony, bond $2,000. Police Captain Gus Newman, conspiracy to commit felony, bond $2,000. Police Officer J. Kertsz, conspiracy to commit felony, bond $2,000. Attorney H. C. Price, for entering a polling booth on election day, bond SI,OOO. Street Commissioner P. C. Flnerty, conspiracy to commit felony, bond $2,000. There were ten other Indictments of officers and democratic workers. The indictments came out of a clear sky after it had been supposed that the grand jury session would end without sensation. The warrants were served in Gary by Deputy Sheriff George Blocki, and the bonds were signed in the mayor’s office by W. A. Cain, a street contractor. Mayor Knotts expressed no opinion of the action against him, but had his bond and went on attending the ins business affairs. Attorney White said: “I am sure the charges are unfounded, except on fixed evidence.” The indictments in each case have to do with the election in Gary, in which Sheriff Grant took a prominent part and arrested'a number of men for inciting to riot. Early in the session of the grand jury, indictments were returned against Charles (Dogface) Okonovich, Officer John Boasich and against John Carlson for the murder of C. S. Howard, an electrical superintendent, in a union quarrel. Mayor, Knotts did not know what the grand jury meant by “conspiracy to commit felony,” but supposed that charge covered a multitude of sins The charges against Chief of Police Martin of assault and battery are believed to have been made following reports of an assault on a negro and a foreigner who were said to have created trouble in the South Side foreign districts. Attorney White, who is secretary of the Board of Public Safety, made out affidavits during the election. He was special city judge until two months ago. Riotous scenes marked last sail’s election in Gary and there was unusual activity on the part of the police department with its 100 special officers and Sheriff Grant and his fifty deputies. During the afternoon the sheriff alleged his men were outnumbered and were swept away from the polls by the democratic cohorts of the mayor. When evening came the sheriff patrolled the South Side foreign districts and in automobiles took a number of offenders to Crown Point. The police department was charged with using its members and its auto patrol for corraling democratic voters and intimidating republican voters. The grand jury was called into session three weeks ago by Judge W. C. McMahan, of the Lake circuit court. Attorney F. L. Welshelmer, ofr Gary, was the principal prosecutor before the investigating body, and conducted the Gary probe. All the men have furnished bonds for their appearance. The indictments are made returnable February Bth.