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10 November 1950 — 1 May 1954
The indictments: On 10 November 1950 a grand jury indicted Democratic Mayor Henry E. Branning, Police Chief Lester Eisenhut, Councilman Charles Boyer, Traffic Captain Gregor Klug, City Utilities purchasing agent Harold Battenberg and coal company president A. Eugene Martin — fifty-two indictments in all, the key eighteen charging conspiracy to commit grand larceny of $195,461 in the city's coal purchases.
The political fall: The scandal ended Branning's career before any court did: he was beaten in the May 1951 Democratic primary by Paul "Mike" Burns, and the Republicans persuaded the 72-year-old Harry W. Baals to come out of retirement and run once more. Baals beat Burns by 262 votes.
The disposition: The case never reached a verdict. On 1 May 1954 the major indictment was ruled improperly issued, and the prosecution collapsed. Eight days later, on 9 May 1954, Baals died in office, in his fourth term, and Robert Meyers succeeded him. The scandal that rearranged the city's politics therefore stands in the record as an accusation the courts never tested — printed here at exactly that size.
Sources:
- News-Sentinel, "Coal scandal ended mayor's career" (egen.fortwayne.com) — the indictments, the named defendants, the sums and the 1954 ruling.
- The mayoral record, Government — Baals's return, the 262-vote margin, and his death in office eight days after the collapse.