The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-04-17
WILL QUIZ
CLUBMEN IN
RICE CASE
Supt. to Question Mem
bers of Wheelmen's
Organization
MAN EXPIRES
AFTER ASSAULT
Autopsy Shows He Suf-
fered From DrOpsy
and Weak Heart

supt. Of Police Ernst Marauardt
pays he expects his men 20 bring
90 headquarters this afternoon sew.
srsl members OF the Detroit Wheel
mems club, who are alleged TO have
beaten Louis Rice 30 badly that ne
o,ed Tuesday morning In receiving
hospital.
Rice. al years old. was registered
a. a drunk In police headquarters.
Or. A. r. French, county physician.
says that there are indications that
Rice had q fractured skull and that
IN addition he was suffering from
snaemia. a weak heart and dropsy.
Or. French performed an autopsy
on the mans body.
According to the story OF the
ciubmen who brought Rice 70 DO
lice headquarters Monday morning.
the man was found proving about
automobiles parked outside the club
rooms. No. 63-55 Adams-ave. east.
One story which the police have
gathered IL that Rice drew a re
ovlver from his pocket when he
was asked 10 explain why he was
working his way among the motor
cars.
The stories OF men who knew
Rice az the Partisan laundry. Nos
tS-4s Grand River-ave.. agree that
The man was so weak from sickness
that he could offer no resistance 20
anyone. They frown upon the state
rnsnt that the man was intoxicated.
declaring that they had never
known him 10 take drink or iiquoT
IN the seven months that he was
employed as night Waterman In the
laundry.
Rice was brought into headquar
tiers AZ about IL o'clock sunday
night by several men who said thcy
found him acting suspicIously
among the automobiles His eyes
were blaekened. his nose was
bruised. and he showed other evi-
cences OF having been assaulted.
The ofacer on the desk did not take
the names OF the men who escorted
the prisoner TO the station becatfse
these men declined 20 appear as
complaining witnesses.
The condition OF Rice seemed so
serious that he was sent 90 the re-
Ssfving hospital He was returned
later and registered as a drunk Ali
the time. II Ia said. the man was so
weak be was unable TO speak. His
face was pale and he bore The
marks OF q prolonged illness.
Tho Investigation has shown that
Rice had been seriously IN for more
than a week. he was kept in police
headquarters for several hours and
then forced 10 20 thru the strain
OF appearing in the early session
police court jam. He was taken
before Justice Heston. daEed and
speechless. Impressed by the mans
helpless condition. Heston sent him
back 10 the hospital TO give him
time to straighten up"
He died without giving an &C.
count OF what had happened TO him
Rice complained OF illness several
weeks ago. and last Friday he was
forced TO give up his work. He said
he was going back to his old home
in Capac. Mich. TO consult the fam.
fly physician. Tho his daughter
urged him to remain In Capac. he
came back 20 Detroit Sunday night.
Friends who worked with him be-
lieye he was In such weakened men
tal condition when he came back
10 Detroit that he wandered about
nimlessly until he found himself
among the automobiles parked near
The Wheelmen's club.
''He couldn't have licked q two
year-old boy. he was that weak"
paid one man who had worked with
Rice.
Tho she had not been notified that
misfortune had befallen her father,
Rice's daughter continued 20 worry
over him from the time he left her