The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-27

Vic IIlOA Ll1A1S VI
Dec. 8 while two pals went inside
and were killed by police in ambush
when they attempted to stage
$4,000 holdup.
otto Price and Carl Kittrell we're
the bandits killed. Of1cials had in
formation that friends of the ban
dts, particularly those of Price,
might be in the courtroom armed
and ready to take a vengeful shot
at Herman Armfield, Kokomo, the
man who informed police Of the
plot to rob the Hohlt store.
Armfeld's connection with the
plot has been a police secret since
the holdup.
Armfeld, declaring he did not
want to be involved in bloodshed,
went to police several days before
the robbery and told of the scheme
in detail.
This enabled police to plant a
dozen sharp-shooting officers inside
the store. Price, Kittrell, Armfield
and Amos drove to the store about
6 a. m. Dec. 8. Price, Kittrell and
Armfield went inside. Police had
been warned not to shoot Armf1eld,
who had gone through with the
plot.
Armfield to Be Witness
Armfeld tok a pre-arranged place
beside a doorway. Kittrell and
Price started shooting when the Of
ficers commanded them to surrender
The police returned the fire and
the two bandits wilted under the
hail of bullets.
Armfield was to be state witness
today. He was kept, under protec-
ton, in the prosecutors office, while
Jury selection proceeded. Lieutenant
Roy Pope and Detective Herbert
Fletcher, policemen who were Slight
ly wounded in the gun battle, were
among the fifteen police witnesses
waiting to testify.
Mrs. Kittrell, widow of the ban
dit, also was entertained in the pros
ecutor's private office. The state
may use her as witness.
Judge James A. Collins asked Po-
lice Chief Claude M. Worley for a
special detail He sent six plain
clothesmen. Besides these guards,
Detective Harry McGlenn of the
prosecutors office, John T. Willis,
criminal court investigator, and two
deputy sheriffs were on duty. The
fifteen police witnesses were Under
instructions to be ready to aid the
guards in case of disorder.
Guard Every Entrance
The guards were stationed so as
to command every entrance and exit
and men with wide knowledge of
known gangsters, particularly the
friends of Price, were seated WI re
they could scan the faces Of every
one in the courtroom. 1t was
planned to search any known gang
ster Who appeared in or near the
courtroom.
The jury, completed at 11:25' a. m.
include: Arch Grundy Negro, r. r.
A.; Edgar Patterson, 214 East Fif-
i teenth street; Olin A. Hammond,
1888 Hall place; Homer G. Lathrop,
$3.50 Washington boulevard; Clar-
ence E. Miller, Acton; William G..
Krei5, 1876 Euclid street; Dale White,
1856 West Thirty-first street; John
Hilgert, r. R. 5; Lawrence Archgill,
ITO Barth avenue; Fred j. Hen
neke, r. r. s. Myron j. Gardner,
r. R. g.; Walter H. Rasmussen,
1048 West Thirty-fift street.
A. G.. Manning, Kokomo, attor-
ney for Amos, announced the de-
ifense would admit Amos drove the
bandits to the Hohlt store, but
Iwould contend he knew nothing of
the purpose of the trip.
Branded master Mind"
Deputy Prosecutor Judson l..
Stark in the states opening state
ment, described Amos as the arch
designer" of the holdup attempt.
He and Amos asked Herman Arm
field to spot the place" and prom
ised him a go per cent cut on the
job"
Amos, according to Stark, urged
Armf1eld to participate in the con-
templated robbery and told him
that he had obtained the services
of two Chicago gunner who had
kplugged coupla guys and who
meant business"
amos told Armfield that he in
ended to obtain from $4,000 to
250,000 in robberies before Christ
( has"