Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1920 — LINK McCRAY WITH ELEVATOR SCANDAL [ARTICLE]

LINK McCRAY WITH ELEVATOR SCANDAL

Republican Nominee Connected W'ith House That Holds Gambling Debt Against Raub Grain Company. Fowler, Aug. 12. —Publication here by the Benton Review of add! tonal facts relative to the disappearance of Lee W. Kelley, manager of the Raub Grain company elevator, who left a shortage of approximately $70,000, and the linking of the name of Warren T. McCray, Republican candidate for governor, with the scandal has jarred the western section of Indiana as no other incident has done. It was brought out in an article in the Indianapolis News shortly after Kelley’s disappearance on June 26, that he had left what are alleged to be gambling debts of $39,000 due the Sawyer Grain company of Chicago and $6,000» due the McCardle Black company of Indianapolis. According to the • Benton Review William Simmons is president of the Sawyer Grain company and Mr. McCray is vice-president. Information from Lafayette is to the effect that Simmons is a next door neighbor of McCray and the latter is said to be the moving spirit of the concern which deals on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Officials of the Raub company, acting on the advice of their attorney, E. G. Hall, of this city, have refused to pay the Sawyer company and the McCardle Black company on the grounds that the Indebtedness incurred by Kelley with these firms are “glambling debts.” The only recourse for the companies, according to Mr. Hall, is for them to. bring suit, and it is not believed here that they will do so because of the unpleasant relationship it might place Mr. McCray in. It was brought out in the investigation that Kelley contracted the debts with the two companies while speculating in grain margins, although he was specifically prohibited from dealing with bucket shops by a provision inserted in the by-laws. When the expose first came the Raub company had on hand a great deal of grain, which could not be moved because of lack of transportation. According to reports the McCardle Black company obtained an agreement with the elevator managers to ship them the grain, providing they could obtain cars. John W. McCardle, a Goodrich appointee on the Indiana public service commission, about that time is said to have made a trip to Washington to invoke federal assistance in getting cars In Indiana. The cars came, but Mr. Hall advised the company not to transfer the grain to the Indianapolis company. Mr. McCardle, Sr., is the father of C. A. McCardle of the McCardle Black company.