Indiana Corruption

In Indiana, last week, a jury in the Marion County Criminal Court said, with marked lack of hesitancy: "Guilty. Thirty days in Marion County jail. $1,000 fine. Disenfranchisement until Nov. 2, 1929."

Mayor John L. Duvall of Indianapolis, convicted and thus sentenced, said: "I have nothing to say."

Prosecuting Attorney William H. Remy said: "As long as I am in office this fight against political corruption is going to continue. . . . This case will not be the end."

Mayor Duvall's defense counsel, who mean to appeal his conviction through the Indiana Supreme Court, said: "John Duvall isn't the first Indianapolis man made to stand and defend himself solely because he was unfortunate enough to run and be elected to office." The charges against unfortunate John Duvall had included his acceptance of $14,500 from one William H. Armitage, gambler, saloonist and politician, in return for the privilege of naming three city officials. This privilege Mr. Duvall was said to have revoked later when he found it conflicted with similar privileges he had promised Ku Klux Klanners for certain considerations.

Mr. Armitage and friends were Roman Catholics. Mayor Duvall's defenders have accused Mr. Armitage's brother, James Duvall, a state witness, of perjury inspired by rancor against Klannish Mayor Duvall. Mayor Duvall's prosecutors ascribe the ill success of his corrupt practices to the fact that he was "trying to play both ends against the middle."

Indiana's next corruption trial comes next fortnight, featuring Governor Ed. Jackson and friends, indicted last fortnight on charges of trying to bribe Governor Jackson's predecessor, onetime Governor Warren T. McCray. Mr. McCray lately finished a prison term for a financial felony and will be present to testify (TIME, Sept. 19). Pending appeal of his case, Mayor Duvall, still in office, appointed as City Controller Mrs. John L. Duvall. He reasoned that, if he is deprived of his position, or even if he resigns, his wife will succeed the mayor of Indianapolis.