The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-03
F. Burns, w. Casey and G.
Codrington Gave Earnest
Weber Whiskey and Lad
Expired in Short Time
MANSLAUGHTER MAY
BE CHARGE ENTERED
Boy Who Died, with Two
Companions, Was Driving
and Gave Three Men Lift
Will Analyze Whiskey.

Three hours after he had drank
some liquor, supposedly whiskey, Civ
en- him by three strangers, who asked
to ride in the buggy which he was
driving, Earnest Weber, son of MIR.
and Mrs. George Weber, SIG North
G street, died yesterday afternoon
shortly after o'clock. The three
strangers are now confined in the city
Jail and it is likely that charges of
manslaughter will be placed against
them by the authorities. They gave
the names of Frank Burns, 30 Will
liam Casey. IS: and Charles Codring-
ton, 40. All admit that they gave
Weber and his two companions, who
were with him, whiskey.
Young Weber, with Lacel Hale, aged
sixteen and Elzie Ribkee, aged seven
teen, were employed by Charles Zut-
termeister, 724 North Tenth street, to
drive to pasture on the Boston pike
to secure two horses, which he had
there. The boys left the city yester-
day shortly after noon, it is said, and
| when they passed south of the C. &
0. railroad tracks on the Boston pike
three men asked them if they could
ride. The youths readily acquiesced
and Codrington sat in the front seat
with the boys and Burns and Casey
rode in the rear of the vehicle.
Had Three Bottles.
They had gone but a short distance
when the men asked the boys to drive
them to Elkhorn Mills, where they
were working on the construction of
the new C. & o. railroad yards. When
they neared the place the men pulled
bottles from their pockets and hand
ed them to the boys who drank from
each bottle.
/ After the men had left the boys at
Elkhorn Mills, the boys drove back to
the straight line pike. During this
time Weber became drunk and fell
asleep or unconscious. Hale also fell
asleep and Ribkee drove to the pike.
He had driven south on this road but
a short distance when Weber fell
from the vehicle. Ribkee attempted
to arouse his companion, but being
unable to do so he placed Weber
body to the side of the road and drove
to the pasture, where he secured the
two horses which the boys were sent
after. He also told a farmer that
Weber had fallen in the roadway and
asked his assistance in placing the
boy in the buggy. This was done and
on the return trip Ribkee made sew
eral futile attempts to awaken both
companions. Finally Hale was arous
ed and their combined efforts to
awaken Weber were fruitless. Upon
arriving here the boys drove to Zutter
meister's barn and placed Weber on a
cot. They believed that he was drunk
and that he would awaken within a
short time, so they went to theil
homes for lunch.
Found to Be Dead.
In the meantime Zuttermeister Wen,
to the barn and found Weber, as he
supposed, peacefully sleeping. He
went in search of the two boys and
upon learning the details of the affair
he returned to the barn with the boys
and on closer examination found
Weber dead. The coroner and rela
tives were notified Immediately.
Statements of the two boys were Civ
en- Police Supt. Gormon and Coroner
Pierce last evening and this morning
Patrolman Hehble, Chief Gormon and
young Hale drove to the construction
camp in company with Deputy Sheriff
Morel, where Hale identified Case,
and Burns as being two of the men
/ Casey, the first man placed under
arrest denied being in this city yester
day and refused to give the name OF
the third man. Patrolman Hebble
and young Hale suspicioned that Cod
rington was in a tent and walking in
to it they found the man sleeping
The three men were taken to the auto
mobile in which the party made the
trip. At an opportune moment Cod
rington made an attempt to escape an6
ran to the yards where he hid in &
gondola or coal car Chief Gormor
darted after him and took him bach
to the machine. AS Codrington raI
he threw a bottle to the ground. Cor
mon picked it up and will give it Il
the coroner. The bottle contains
liquor.
L There is a question as to whether
the whiskey contained drugs or mo-
and the liquor will be analyzed b,
the coroner.
The men have not been informed O
the death of the boy. On returning II
this city in the machine they joke<
with each other saving, Il told yo,
that you would get into trouble b,
giving liquor to those boys"
The men are not knoMn here.
-gsIs {