The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-08
Linus Meredith Must Face the
Jury to Answer the Charge
Of Criminal Negligence as a
County Official.
SCENE OF THE TRIAL
WILL BE ELKS' CLUB
Offending Servant of Public Is
Alleged to Have Allowed the
Prisoner to Escape-His
Trousers Too Noisy.

Before Judge H. c. Fox and a jury
of twelve prominent men, Sheriff
Linus Meredith will be formally tried
in the Elks club rooms on Thursday
evening, November II. The charge
which has been placed against the
prisoner is criminal negligence, for al
lowing Frank Townsend. the desper-
ate young criminal. to make his
escape several weeks ago, and OF
wearing stripped trousers of the noisy
variety, it being rumored in keen So
ciety that they don't belong.
1t is a grave charge for which the
sheriff of Wayne county will be made
to answer, and the evidence against
him is very damaging. About six
weeks ago Frank Townsend was sent
enced to from one to fourteen years
in the penitentiary for burglary. With
tears in his eyes young Townsend
asked that he be permitted to bid his
aged grandmother goodbye before TAX
en- to prison. This pitiful appeal on
the part of the youthful criminal
touched the heart of Sheriff Meredith
and the request was granted. The
home of the boys grandmother on
North Seventh street, was visited and
while there Townsend pleaded SO
earnestly for the handouts to be re-
moved from his wrists. SO he might
embrace his grandmother once more.
that again the stony heart of the sher-
iff was touched and completely melt
ed. The bracelets were removed.
Likewise the presence of young Town
send.
Warned by Trousers.
With the exclamation, goodbye, I'm
going now" and before the excited
the door was slammed in his face;
there was a wild dash for freedom and
Townsend was on his way. Meredith
was soon in hot pursuit but the fact
that he wore those loud stripped
trousers proved to be his downfall
Their uproar spurred the fugitive on
Two days later Townsend finally re
turned and voluntarily gave himself
up and he declared that the reason
he had not been captured was because
he could hear Meredith coming fol
blocks and that as long as the sheriff
kept wearing his noisy trousers he
knew he was perfectly safe.
The trousers, which will be shown
to the jury, will be the most incrim
mating piece of evidence against Mer
edith and will be used with damaging
of hxy% ho ich hoC .
strong case. The outcome of the
trial will be watched with interest
Present indications point to a convic
tion.
Makeup Of the Court.
Wilfred Jessup and Byram Robin:
will conduct the prosecution while
Meredith will be defended by William
Kelley and Ray X. Shiveley. The
Hon. H. c. Fox will preside as Judge
The jury will be composed of the fol
lowing: Elgar Hibberd, Col. Robie
Henry Gennett, Frank Land, s. E
| Swayne, Samuel Gaar, Rudolph G
Leeds. John F. Thompson, John Y
Poundstone. William Quigg, Franl
Taylor and Harry Jay. A. w. Rec.
will be the court baliff
The witnesses for the prosecution
| will be Albert Morel, Demas Coe, Har
ry Land, John Palmer, Elmer Egge
meyer. John c. Bayer, Lewis E. Tiff
o. ". Porter, Clarence Jessup, Waite
McWhinney and Fred Carr. For thu
defense: Nimrod Johnson, Franz
Braffett, Charles Commons, wallac,
Simmons, Arthur Burr, Benz Price
Sam Dunlap, William Seeker, Dudle.
Elmer and L. P. Meredith.