Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-04

USED TO KILL
HOPPER, REPORT
Coroner Finds Fatal Wound
Inflicted in Forehead by
Round Instrument.

W. A. Hopper, address unknown, who
was killed presumably In a drunken
I brawl at 400 West Maryland street, last
night, was not killed with a jsb from a
screwdriyer, as was at first supposed.
Coroner Paul T. Robinson, coroner, an
nounced today following an autopsy.
Robert Thompson of the West Mary
land street address. who IS being held
charged with the murder of Hopper, frBt
said he had struck Hopper with a screw
driver and later changed his statemeHt
10 say that he did not know whether or
not ne hit him, but that he struck at
him" with 4 screwdriver. He turned the
screwdriver oyer to the police.
WOUND FROM SMALL,
ROUND INSTRUMENT.
Coroner Robinson said examination
showed Hopper had been killed by
wound from small round instrument
which pUnctured the forehead. He said
the wound could not possibly have been
caused by the screwdriyer, which is nat
and blunt. The coroner ordered the
mousse searched for the instrument with
which the murder was committed.
SAID HOPPER FIRST
TRIED TO STRIKE HIM.
When Thompson. alias Hall, came to
headquarters he said he did not know
whe her Hopper was dead or not. He
said he had been left in charge OF the
house and that Hopper and two women
came there to tell him he could not have
possession. Hopper. be said. picked up
q stick OF stove wood and started to bit
him. II was then the screw driver was
brought into play. Thompson claimed
Police said they believed Thompson had
IT, A.. r.
fair TO Sergeant Dean. The investigat-
ing squad searched the room where the
murdered man was found and discovered
primitive "blackjack," hidden between
two mattresses on a bed. The weapon
consisted Of an old glove the hand Of
which was stuffed with a Wad of tin
foil about the size Of a billiard ball.
Although Thompson said Hopper came
to the house with two women, the police
say they have learned that he CANT
with another man and one woman. Pc
lice are hunting this pair.
In the room also were found gledge
hammer and two screw drivers, but there
was no blood. Six empty bottles, smell
ing Of whisky, wood alcohol and ia
maica ginger were scattered about. The
authorities said Thompson told detectives
they had been drinking denatured alcohol.
DETECTIVE ROACHE
RECOGNIZED MAN.
Thompson's right name was not learned
until Detective Patrick Roache recog-
nized him The detective said Thompson
has The nickname OF Peg and lives
at Brownsburg. The detective said
Thompson pulled a gun on him twenty
years ago and has been in mix-ups with
the police several times.
Detectives learned the house where the
murdered man was found belongs to
Thomas Cassidy, who Is out Of the city.
Cassidy had left the place in charge of
Thompson, the police said they were In
formed.
Coroner Robinson said he believed
Hopper died about II o'clock last night.
The dead man had his overcoat on when
found. An autopsy is to be performed.
The body was brought to the city
morgue.
When Thompson was taken into room
at police headquarters to be questioned
Detective Peats said he noticed a blood
stain on one of his hands. When Thomp
son left the room the stain was gone,
excepting a small patch on a finger nail.
The detective surmised ThOmpson's
hands were moist and he had removed
the blood from one with the other.
Records in the city clerks office show
that Cassidy, has been convicted upon
charges of violating the liquor laws
three times in city court during the past
year and that there has been no dis
position of one such charge against him.