The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-23
REMUS CLAIM
OF COERCION
IS RULED out
Judge Holds Chauffeur of
Ex-BootIeg King Not
'Intimidated.'
TELLS OF DEATH RIDE
Aid Describes Actions of
Employer Prior to Kill
ing Wife.
TELLS OF DEATH RIDE
BY PAUL w. WHITE
United Press STAFF Correspondent

charge that George Klug, his
chauffeur, had been intimidated by
the prosecutors Office was made to-
day by George Remus before the
jury that is trying him on the
charge of numbering his wife, Imo-
gene.
After hearing evidence in support
of Remus' allegation and the States
replies, the court ruled that mo
coercion or intimidation has been
shown" and the examination OF
Klug continued.
AS the morning session of court
closed an argument broke as to how
far the State could go in its attempt
to prove George Remus conspired
with others to murder his wife.
Judge Shook satisfied the defense
with the ruling that the State first
must connect up Remus with the
post Staying activities of his alleged
confederates.
Before that the State had gained
an important admission from Klug,
who said that when he drove away
from the spot in Eden Park where
Mrs. Remus was shot and killed by
her husband, he went across the
river to the home of Miss Blanche
Watson.
Klug previously had denied even
having seen Miss Watson, secretary
to Remus, after the killing.
Intimidation Charged
Charles Elston, co-counsel for Re-
mus, arose and asked whether Klug'S
testimony was admissible, in view OF
the fact that Remus did not go with
him to Miss Watson'S home. The
jury was excused for the ensuing
argument.
Remus made the intimidation"
accusation while Klug, styled as o
hostile witness, was being examined
by Walter K. Sibbald, assistant
prosecutor, on statements allegedly
made by the chauffeur shortly aft
er the killing.
The jury was excluded from the
courtroom.
Were you intimidated?" asked
Charles H. Elston, co-counSel for
defense.
"Yes," said Klug.
"In what way?"
"John Clippinger, the assistant
prosecutor, said to me, You have
been a boob for George Remus long
enough. You couldn't open your
mouth down in Federal Court.
Don't be a boob for him now or
you'll go to prison at Columbus"
He then said he had been given
five minutes to say he had driven
Remus to the Pennsylvania station
after Mrs. Remus was shot.
Didn't Answer Right"
"And because I wouldn't answea
the way he wanted me to, the wit
ness related, "they sent me to the
hospital in Jail where the dope fiends
are kept and I was made to give
$4,000 bond as a material witness
to get out of there"
The interruption came when Sib-
bald asked Klug whether on the
morning of the murder Remus had
joked with him before leaving the
Price Hill mansion, that once was
the scene of Remus' bootlegging &C
tivities.
mo-" Klug said.
"But didn't you tell me to the con-
trary in an interview we had in the
prosecutors Office.
Remus then made his coercion
claim.
During the hearing on the intimi-
dation charges Klug said:
IT told the truth as far as I know
talked of my own free will"
Judge Rules for State
That was enough for Judge Shook
and he ruled in favor of the State.
The judges ruling was read. The
jury was called back and Sibbald
went on with his questioning.
Klug said that when he drove Re-
mus to Eden Park on the morning
of Oct. 6, when Mrs. Remu3 was
shot, he and Remus had just been
chewing the rag and that included
in their conversation was the re-
mark: well, the time we spent to-
gether in Atlanta penitentiary
wasn't so bad after all"
The witness said he stopped his
car near the Aims Hotel, where Mrs.
RemuS was registered.
''Mr. Remus told me he wanted to
see his wife before they met in di-
vorce court that morning." Klug
went on
after five minutes of sitting
there, Remus said: There she goes
in that cab now SO 1 started after
the cab. He told me to pass the cab
and cut it off SO he could talk to
his wife.
"The first time I tried it the driver
of the taxi swerved lis car. But the
second time, stopped suddenly
and the other car stopped.
"Remus got out and walked back"
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