Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1911 — Judge Hanley Orders Acquittal In The Gary Roit Cases. [ARTICLE]

Judge Hanley Orders Acquittal In The Gary Roit Cases.

The cases of state vs. Mike Yokqnovich, Petro Boadish and Paul Budnic, charged with attempting to murder Sheriff Thomas Grant of Lake county the election riots at ? Gary, last November, closed at Valparaiso Tuesday afternoon with the acquittal of the three defendants. Following arguments by * the attorneys for both sides, which commenced Monday night, continued through Tuesday morning and occupied the opening hour Tuesday afternoon, Special Judge Hanley, of this city, said the state had failed to prove any case against Yokonovitch and Boadish and instructed the jury to bring in a verdict of acquittal. The evidence showed neither man was armed at the time of the riot. Budnic had testified that his revolver was loaded and the arguments as to whether he should be held under the charge in which he was named with Yokonovitch and Boadish were started but the state suggested that Budnic also be given his freedom, and the judge discharged him. The state gave the customary notice of appeal. The opinion now prevails among the legal fraternity that the outcome of this trial means that the case Against Mayor Knotts and practically the entire police force of Gary, scheduled for this term of the Porter circuit court, will never come to trial. Knotts and co-defendants are changed with conspiring with Yokonovitch, Boadish and Budnic to murder Grant, intimidate voters into remaining away from the polls, plundering ballot boxes and Illegally naming non-residents as police officers. The case against Capt. Mulcahey and Officers White and Price, charged with rioting on election day, was called late Tuesday afternoon.