Court Makes Homes Safer from Search

From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, December 1, 1925:  Marion County Criminal Court Judge James A. Collins ruled today that search warrants must be issued only on facts.  In his ruling, Judge Collins said an officer, in order to obtain a search warrant, must not merely state that the law is being violated, but must provide facts to the court from which the judge issuing the warrant may determine the existence of probable cause.  The opinion was given quashing an affidavit for a search warrant issued by Wayne Township Justice of the Peace Henry Spiher in the case of Ed Thomas who was charged with violating the prohibition law.  Judge Collins also held that a search warrant legally issued by a justice of the peace is effective in any part of the county not just confined to the justice’s own township.

“Court Makes Homes Safer from Search,” The Indianapolis Times, 1 December 1925, p. 1:7

Five Ideal Opening Day Crowds Exceeded Expectations

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, November 23, 1925:  Yesterday, a crowd of 15,000 descended upon Williams Creek Estates, a Washington Bank & Trust Co development, to see the five Indianapolis News ideal homes.  Interested visitors from throughout Indiana and neighboring states swarmed across the grounds and through the homes open for inspection.  The “homes of the future” constructed over the last several weeks by Ralph S. Brydon Co, are houses of Spanish, Italian, American Colonial, French, and English styles designed by architects Pierre & Wright include every possible modern convenience.  The five houses are built entirely of noncombustible materials with interior and exterior walls of cinder blocks, and facades of either stuccoed or brick.  The floors and stairs are reinforced concrete, and the roof is slate.   Nearly 100,000 visitors are expected to view the houses in the next ten days.

“Five Ideal Homes Opening Day Crowds Exceeded Expectations,” The Indianapolis News, 23 November 1925, p. 1:2

Stephenson Guilty, Aids Free

From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, November 15, 1925:  Late yesterday afternoon after deliberating five hours and 35 minutes a Hamilton County Circuit Court jury found former Indiana Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon D. C. Stephenson guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Madge Oberholtzer.  A handful of spectators, including Madge Oberholtzer’s only brother Marshall Oberholtzer, were in the courtroom during the reading of the verdict; Stephenson, pale but smiling, listened intently.  Shortly after the verdict was read, Stephenson made the following statement, “Surrender, hell, we’ve only begun to fight….This has not been a law suit, but has been an expression of envy, jealously and malice interwoven with a campaign of propaganda which was pursued with feverish intensity and was designed for no purpose except to wield an unsavory influence upon the public mind”   Two of Stephenson’s aides were acquitted.

“Stephenson Guilty; Aids Free,” The Indianapolis Star, 15 November 1925, p. 1:2