Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1918 — LAKE COUNTY POLL TRIAL [ARTICLE]

LAKE COUNTY POLL TRIAL

Special Venire of Thirty Men Drawn for Possible Jury Service A sepcial venire of thirty men has been drawn for possible jury service at the trial of the Lake county poll fraud conspiracy case against seven republicans, which is set to begin before a jury in the United States district court on February 26. L. Ert Slack, federal district attorney for Indiana, who will be in Charge of the prosecution, has begun preparations for the trial, which is expected to last a week. The defendants include Roswell O. Johnson, former mayor of Gary; William A. Forbis, chief of police at Gary during the Johnson administration; Clarence M. Renolett, and Howard .Hay, both connected with the Republican city committee- of Gary in the last campaign; James Black of Lowell and George 0. Schaaf of Whiting, Lake county commissioners at the time of the last election, and Matthew J. Brown of Crown Point, county treasurer. The indictment alleges a violation of Section 19 of the federal penal code by the alleged interference with voters in their preference of candidates.