South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-12
EXPOSE SCANDAL
IN COUNTY JAIL;
TURNKEY FIRED
Sheriff Declares Bernbardt
Exceeded Authority in
Freeing Prisoners.
CONFIDENCE VIOLATED
Discharged Jailer Changes c 5
Mind and Refuses TO Make
ANY Statement.

Ou Information furnished Sheriff
Lew Duck 10y The News-Times that
county official. with but three more
weeks Of his term TO serve. Monday
barred a county jail scandal whose
ramifcations may involve several OF
the sheriffs staff. The jail turnkey.
Albert Bernhardt. was summarily
discharged from office Monday
by SSher.f Duck for gross viola
ton OF the trust OF his Office and
Sheriff Duck is understood 90 be in
vestisatng a number OF aspects of
the present scandal which cast seri-
Gus reflection on his entire admin
istration as sheriff.
The information which led 20 the
summary discharge Of Turnkey
Bernhardt was that a county jail
prisoner. whose sentence does not
expire until December 10. had been
released. This prisoner was Mike
Vintella, 402 Short St. Mishawaka,
who was sentenced to 30 days in
jail by Judge John NJ Raab Of Iish-
awake ON November Is. The 80
days sentence suspended on previ-
Gus conviction for violation OF the
liquor laws IN Mishawaka was re-
voked at that time by Judge Raab,
and sentence on the second cOnvic-
ton was held Up pending the sery-
ing of the suspended sentence.
Vintclla Home Sunday.
According to information the
AIishawaka police received sunday
VinteIa came 90 his home and
was alleged 20 have assaulted his
wife. The Mishawaka police re-
ceivcd a call from neighbors about
10 o'clock that night. but when they
reached the home, Ninte.la was not
to be found. and his wife would not
admit then that he had been there.
Monday morning Capt. Beehler
and officer Marchant Of the Misha-
yaka force again went TO the Vim
tella home, and Mrs Ninteila told
them that her husband had come
home Sunday afternoon about .
O'Clock and remained until just be-
fore the police responded TO the call
made on neighbors' complaint. She
was reluctant about telling the Off
GERS that her husband had assaulted
her. but her little son was more
voluble. Papa pull mammals haiI
and chase her out OF the house,
The yOungster said
Treated DirSy." says.
Following the receipt OF this in
formation from the Mishawaka pO.
lice. The News-Times called Sheriff
Duck and presented the facts as
ccrtuined I'm M.shawaka and asked
The sheriff If ne knew anything abou
the case. Sherin Duck professed tC
be astonished and emphatically SAID
that there could be nothing 20 it.
Il don't believe any OF my mer
would treat me as dirty as that n,
said when the M.shawaka police Of
ficers positive statements We're mad,
known 60 him.
"If they have let any prisoners on
before their time was up they did 81
against my positive orders / dom
believe they would do anything like
that
The sheriff promised 90 investigate
the situation and asked 20 be called
AGAIN ih short time when h'
was called again his brief statement
was but vcrihcat.on Of the iuforma
ton furnished him by The Ncws
Times.
yes he's out. he said. "aud I've
fired Bernhardt. the turnkey. foi
letting him $50 before his time va.
up.
Bernhard the discharged turu
Key. iS said 90 have refused 20 MAX,
and statement or explanation &.