Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1905 — BLOOMINGTON GRAFT [ARTICLE]

BLOOMINGTON GRAFT

Mayor and Two Lawyers Accused of Conduct That Is Sinful and Vain. WHITECAPS MAY BE A FACTOR Good Citizens Asking What the Outlaws Will Do— Young Man Shot in Bed. Bloomington. Ind., March 31. J. E. Henley, an attorney of this city, appointed by Judge Wilson, of the Monroe circuit court, to prepare charges against and prosecute in impeachment proceedings an action to disbar certain public officials and attorneys, has filed impeachment proceedings on behalf of the state of Indiana against Robert G. Miller, prosecuting attorney. To DUbar and Impeach. Hefllso filed disbarment proceedings against Miller and will bring proceedings to impeach Claude G. Malott, mayor of Bloomington, and also an action to disbar Arthur M. Hadley, an attorney of this city. These proceedings are the outcome of affidavits made by J. M. K. Thresher and David Guy that they had settled a criminal case by the payment of money. Been “Talk” for Years. For years there has been talk of “fixing things" in Bloomington; that there was a junta of men who could do things in the courts if there was any money behind it. The talk became general that there was a plan of addition, division and silence in Monroe county that was cheaper than trying certain cases in court, hut no one was able to expose it; at least, no one did expose it. What Will Indiana Do?. A question that the citizens of Bioomington are asking is: “What will the whitecaps do in this matterV” The people of Indiana have heard a great deal about the whitecaps of Monroe county. Tile original whitecap organization was formed many years ago. when the unsettled condition of the ceuntry made it almost impossible to secure protection by law. The original whitecaps were men who punished evil-doers —regulars—the same kind of who formed vigilance committees in the early days of California. That Is Why They Prosper. That kind of an organization gave way to a band of men sworn to commit crime instead of preventing it, and now it is a semi-political organization, as well as an organization that commits outrages against the law. It is strong in the counties of Brown, Jackson. Owen. Morgan and in this county (Monroe) the organization has at least 500 members. There never has been a genuine whitecap punished in Monroe county. Many men known to be members of the organization have been arrested, but all juries have set them free. What the whitecaps may do in the matter is to prevent the investigation having any real fruit. BUICIDE OR ASSASSINATION? Man Found Doad In Bed with n Revolver Bullet Through Hls Heart nnd Revolver Near. Greenfield, Ind.. March 31. The body of September Smithey, a farm laborer, employed on the farm owned by Mrs. Rose Kittley, two miles east of Cumberland, was found dead in bed. A bullet had passed through the heart, and nearby lay the revolver. While the general indications point to suicide there is suspicion of foul play Mrs. Kittley was awakened by the sound of the revolver shot, followed almost immediately by the sound oT a slamming door. She ran to the room occupied by Smithey. and found him gasping in death. He died without speaking. Smithey was of a peaceable disposition save when dissipating, when, it is said, he was ugly and quarrelsome. He bad i some trouble with rival suitors, a froung woman at Cumberland being I'he object of attraction, and be is said A<b have told a friend several days ago IgTat if he did not leava Cumberland j would be killed.