denied a pardon in 1926, stephenson started talking to the "indianapolis times", giving the names of officials who had accepted bribes and payments from the klan. the "times" investigated the klan in the state. the state finally indicted several high-ranking officials, including governor ed jackson and the head of the republican party in marion county. other local officials resigned when facing charges. the "times" investigation revealed widespread political corruption, which helped destroy the klan in indiana and nationwide. by february 1928, indiana klan rosters had dropped to just 4,000, from a peak of more than 250,000 members in 1925.