The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-16
Judge Refuses Motion for
Calling Labor Secretary
as Witness. H
SANITY IS CHIEF ISSUE
'DeIusions Of Grandeur
May Be Put Forward
as Defense.
BY PAUL w. WHITE


CINCINNATI. Ohio, Nov. To-
George Remus, ex-bootlegger king,
on trial charged with the murder OF
his wife, Imogene, today moved to
subpoenae James j. Davis, secretary
Of labor, so that immigration records
could be introduced in defense of
the former king of bootleggers. He
lost his plea.
Judge Chester r. Shook, after
lengthy debate between RemuS and
Charles P. Taft II, county prosecu-
tor overruled the motion as being
unnecessary and beyond the juris-,
diction of the court"
Remus asked that Secretary Davis
be directed to appear with the "en-
tire file of defendant in the Depart
ment Of Labor, bureau of inlmigra-
ton, introducing therein especial
reference to the honorable secretary
OF certain anonymous letters relat-
ing to the defendant."A
hOarS Ills Protest
In explaining his motion, Remus
said that if the records were brought
into court he could prove that Mrs.
Remus and Franklin L, Dodge, for
mer operative of the Department of
Justice, conspired to have him de-
ported.
When Taft, the youthful son Of
the former President, opposed the
motion, pointing out that while
dispositions were being taken in
Washington recently no effort was
made to obtain the desired material
from Secretary Davis, RemuS arose.
The stocky little defendant, with
decisive sweeping gestures, roared
that the prosecutor was not acting
as an officer of the court should act.
THE prosecutor should try to get
all the evidence, not merely that
beneficial to his own side Of the
case" Remus stormed, and he con-
tinued in that vein for some time.
1T is quite evident" Taft OBJ
served quietly, "that the only rea-
son for the motion was to give Re-
mus the chance to make a speech"
Demands Dodge Subpoena
Judge Shook then said he would
entertain no further motions along
that line and directed Remus to 90
to the clerk of the court for any sub
poenaS he wished issued.
But Remus was not done.
II understand the prosecutor
knows where Franklin L. Dodge can
be reached" he said. He was suffer-
ing from cold and his voice was
throaty.
II ask that the sheriff be told
Dodge's address SO that the latter
may be served with a defense sub
poena"
The court again ruled against
Remus, who cried out that the
prosecution was concealing wit
neSses.
Dodge has been accused by the de-
fendant of stealing the love of Mrs.
Remus and conspiring with her to
rob Remus of his huge bootleg for
tune.
Remus came to court today ag-
greSsively fighting his own case.
AS court opened he handed to
newspapermen copies of petition
he said he would press, asking an
order directing that 1900 law books,
allegedly held by garage owner
who was said to have procured them
from his wife, be returned to him
forthwith.
Objects of art, business papers and
house furnishings also were de-
manded by Remus in his petition.
Whether Remus was insane at the
time he killed his wife had emerged
as the paramount issue of the case,
Only his mental powers as of Oct.
6, the day he shot and killed his
wife, while she was on her way to
appear against him in divorce
hearing, vitalIy affect the trial.
The alieniStS. DrS. Charles r.
Kiely, David I. Wolfstein and E. A.
Baber, attend every session of the
trial to watch Remus' actions and
make their report at any time.
DeIusiOns of Grandeur
They have been cautioned not to
speak of the nature or trend Of
their examinations Of the Defend
ant, but the United Press was in
formed that the question of whether
Remus was suffering from "delu-
sions Of grandeur" figured largely
in the preliminary study.
Such delusionS, the Informant
went on, under certain stimuli, could
bring the brain to point over the
border-line of sanity.
The specific queries, the psychia-
trists will answer, are:
/. Was the accused a free agent
in forming the purpose to kill?
2. Was he, at the time, capable
Of knowing whether that act was
right or wrong2
8. Did he know at the time that
it was an offenss against the laws
of God and man?
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