The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-16
TESTIMONY IN
INQUEST SHAKES
MURDER THEORY
Witnesses Agree in Story
That Sullivan Fell Out
of Boat.

Witnesses in the coroner's inquest
today into the death Of John Sullivan,
So, of SAL S. West ST., whose body was
found lying on a bed in a cottage at
Spring Lake, southwest Of the city,
Wednesday, agreed in their story that
Sullivan died from drowning after he
had fallen from a boat. officials had
been following the theory he was
murdered.
Detectives announced charges of
vagrancy against Thomas Cahiu. 26.
OF 1859 S. Meridian ST., held In the
case will be dismissed Three other
men were arrested by detectives, but
released after they had testified at the
inquest. They are Ed McGinnis, sos
s. West St; Joe McGlynn, S23 Church
St, and Ernest Haupt, 1913 S. Ala
bama st. Two others, Joe Forestal,
1905 Kentucky Ave, and Earl Dun
can. who says he has no address, also
testified.
Purvis Testifies
William PurVis, 1856 Madison Ave.
told the coroner he. his brother, Frank
Purvis, a Mrs. Burchman and her
cousin rented a cottage at Spring
Lake. He said at a. m. Wednesday
a man knocked at the door and asked
II 1t was the Ward cottage. He said
they told him It was not and he and
number of companions went next
door. He said he heard no fight.
All six of the men who testified
agreed that they had a party at the
cottage, that they were all drunk and
that after the party they started
across the lake in boat. They said
Sullivan fell from the boat and that
Maupt pulled him out of the water.
9'hey said they thought he was drunk
and that he wonid shortly recover.
The witnesses said they lifted Sui
livan on the bed and that because
he was heavy and they wanted to
lift together they counted "one, two,
three" and on the count Of three"
they swung him on the bed. Of
ficials believe this is the counting
reported to have been heard by a
witness.
Witnesses agreed that they left
Sullivan on the bed, believing he
would regain consciousness when the
effects OF the booze wore off.
Snider Awaits Inquest
Sheriff George Snider and Deputies
Snider and Shinn, with Allen Hen
bricks. Ollie Mays and Ollie Mathews
of the Franklin Township Horse Thief
Detective Association, found a large
quantity OF beer ar some white mule
in the cottage. The sheriff made no
arrests. Snider stated today he was
awaiting testimony to be given in the
inquest of Coroner Paul F. Robinson
before he started action.
After an autopsy Deputy Coroner
w. A. Doeppers reported to Coroner
Robinson that death was due to
drowning. The report added that the
body contained an excessive amount
of liquor and that bruises and cuts on
the body probably were caused by ef
forts of the party to revive him.
Campers Make Discovery
Sullivan's body was found Wednes-
day morning by Wayne Williams,
827 s. West ST., on bed in their cot
tage when they returned from Indf-
annapolis. They told police they at
tended a prize fight at Ft. Harrison
Tuesday night.
Ward and Williams rent two cot
tages from A. N. Retz, Spring Lake,
manager of the resort. According to
Retz and Williams, the campers told
Retz before they left that he could
sublet one cottage for the night to the
party of two men and two women, of
whom it is said Purvis was a member
Retz told Sheriff Snider that he had
heard brawls on the other side dur
ing the summer and neglected to stop
them because he needed the money,
the sheriff said