The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-23
TO BE TRIED FOR MANsLAUGHTER.
Policeman Meek Placed Under $4,000 Bail to
Await Trial for Killing John Walsh.

Officer S. T. Meek, arrested night before last
for killing John Walsh, yesterday afternoon
appeared before Esquire Walpole for examina-
ton. The courtroom was crowded. Meek, in
keeping with his inclination to make a STOW of
himself, came on the scene with little apprecia-
ton of the gravity of the charge which he had to
answer. Just inside the room he met afriend, and
squaring himself after the style of pugilist made
a pretense of sparring With this little incident
to mark his entry, he passed in front Of the JUS
tees desk and asked, in an Indifferent manner,
but evidently with the purpose of drawing atten-
ton to himself. Where shall / sit JudgeF He
took the nearest chair, looked about the room,
winked at the prosecuting attorney and smiled
at friend, as if the whole affair was huge
joke.
After some delay, caused by consultation
among the lawyers interested, Mr.. John Duncan,
on behalf Of the prisoner, said that Mr. Charles g.
Offut. of Greenfield, who appeared for the prose-
cution had suggested that preliminary exam
nation at this time would take up great deal
of the courts time. In any event the prisoner
would go before the grand jury. Officer Meek
was anxious to have the fullest investigation
made by that body. Therefore. he was willing
to waive examination on the charge of man
slaughter He asked that the prisoner be ad-
mitted to reasonable bail, but did not think it
necessary to make it as large as is customary in
cases of this kind. All that was required was
to secure his appearance before the grand jury
and he did not believe any one could drive Meek
away.
Mr. Offut substantiated the correctness of
Mr.. Duncan's statement, and asked to have the
bail fixed at an ordinary and reasonable amount
He did not want it to be excessive, did he
wish to have farce made of it.
Esquire Walpole said he had not much infor-
nation relative to the case, and he did not know
much about fixing bail in matters of this kind
will So, 900 be too muchF he asked.
For the first time Meek gave serious thought
to what was taking place. His face flushed. and
his eyes told of an apprehensiye feeling, but he
resumed his nonchaance when Mr.. Duncan
requested that the amount be made So. 600
Finally, $4,000 bail was agreed upon. The
prosecution and Walsh's friends are satisfied
with the result. They think they have better
chance before the grand jury, and at the final
trial by asserting to waiver of preliminary
examination than they would otherwise have
had Prosecuting Attorney Harding says that
Immediately after the shooting the grand jury
could not take cognizance of the case: 1t was
necessary to wait reasonable time to learn the
result of the wound. No charge of manslaughter
could be preferred unless Walsh died, and that
dld not occur until several days after the final
adjournment of the grand jury. He was willing
to call the attention of that body to the case
when the proper time arrived, and when they
could procure an Indictment upon fact and not
upon a probability. He believes that Meek
ought to have been arrested and suspended from
duty when the shooting occurred, pending legal
examination. Superintendent Lang has sus
pended the accused officer until the termination
of the proceedings in final trial.
Samuel Perkins became the bondsman for
Meek.