The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-10
BANK BANDIT
SUSPECT Slain
BY OFFICER
Gun Jams, Shot to Death at
Wheel of Car by Frank
lin Deputy.
COMPANION is WOUNDED
Injured Pal Captured, Taken
to Hospital, Refuses to
Identify Dead Man.

En- Times SpccioI
GREENCASTLE, Ind, June TO-
An unidentified man was killed, shot
through the head and body, and
Earl Spencer, %. of Franklin, Ind,
escaped convict and suspected bank
bandit, was wounded seriously by
gunfire from the .38-caliber auto
matte pistol of Deputy Sheriff Har-
old B. Cobb of Franklin, at a filling
station nine miles north of here
early today.
Cobb and Harry MCMillln Of
Franklin we're en- route to Decatur,
Ill, by auto to return prisoner to
Franklin when they drew into the
Motor Inn, at the intersection Of
Roads 43 and SO, for gasoline and
OF at 4:30 this morning.
Spencer and his companion just
had filled the tank of their Hupmo-
bile 50" Spencer stood at the side
of the door, his companion at the
wheel, when the deputy sheriff
alighted
Recognizing Spencer as the man
wanted for alleged participation in
an attempted bank holdup at Vim
cennes a week ago, Cobb walked
over to him.
whats your name?" he de-
manded.
"Ralph Emerson" Spencer re-
piled.
"I know you and you know me-"
Cobb said How would you like TO
go back to Franklin?"
Companion Pulls Gun
Before Spencer could answer, his
companion whipped out a As
calibre automatic and pointed it at
Cobb with, III be damned if he'll
go back"
Before the man in the car could
fire, Cobb had drawn his gun and
fired twice. He crumpled in the seat.
One bullet entered his left eye and
penetrated his head, while the other
entered the left shoulder and passed
through his body His gun had
jammed.
Cobb then fired once at Spencer
as he reached for his pocket. The
bullet went through Spencer's upper
lip and lodged in the back of his
neck.
DR.. L. w. Veach of cambridge,
four miles distant, administered
first aid to Spencer. who was re-
moved to the hospital here. His
companions body was brought to
the J. E. McCurry morgue. F. E.
Reed, of Cloverdale, coroner of Put
nam county, performed an autopsy.
Papers Found in Pocket
The dead man was about 25 years
old. about 5 feet 6 inches tall, wore
a gray striped suit bought at Cune
Brothers, Terre Haute, and gray
cap. He wore a gold ring with
small rub set on his left hand. His
right arm bore tattooed anchor.
In his pocket were found papers
bearing the names Chauncey Wat
son. 1926 North Fourth street; Miss
Evelyn Mankin, 2109 North Fourth
and half street. Mrs. J. S. Nuther,
1928 Eighteenth avenue, and nota-
tions GO. K. 18th Infantry" IL.
r." r. r. 4. Box 357; "B. c." r. r.
a. Box SO. No name of a city fol-
lowed these addresses. A pair Of
glasses, purchased at Blocks, In
dianapolis, and $5.85 in money also
were found in his clothing.
George L. Winkler, Marion county
sheriff, questioned Spencer at the
hospital Unable to talk, Spencer
scribbled his answers on a pad. He
admitted his identity, wrote that
he escaped from the Indiana state
reformatory at Pendleton a year
and a half ago, but denied being
in Vincennes when the bank hold
up was attempted.
He insisted he did not know mis-
companions name, but met him in
Danville two days ago They stole
the Hupmobile sedan, bearing H.
Iinois license number 99-410, at
DanVille Sunday night, he wrote,
and we're headed for Indianapolis.
Clemency Hope Fades
Fate cheated Spencer from re-
ceiving clemency from Governor
Harry c. Leslie
Serving a one to fourteen year
sentence for grand larceny. Spencer
escaped fro mthe Indiana state re-
formatory Oct. 27, 1927.
His father, John Spencer, of $50
West street, Franklin. appeared at
the meeting of reformatory trustees
at Pendleton Friday, promising his
sons return if trustees would par
don his escape and permit him to
serve his original sentence.
Governor Isle, who attended the
meeting. was impressed by the ia
Tiers story of the young mans re-
pentance. He directed his secretary
TO write the father. agreeing to his
terms.
The letter had not been mailed
when newspapers reached the Gov
ernors office, relating that Spencer
was shot by a Franklin deputy
sheriff this morning.
Spencer is expected TO recover,
but hopes of executive clemency
disappeared when it was learned the
car in which he and his companion
were riding was stolen Sunday night
in noaviIlo Ill