The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-11
CORN FLOWING
DELAYS TRIAL
OF VAN HOOK
Sixty-Two Brazil Veniremen
Questioned. Eleven Are
Accepted.
OPINIONS ARE FORMED
Alleged Deputy Killer of
Attorney Nervous as
Case 0ragS.
OPINIONS ARE FORMED
By BEN STERN
Times stan Correspondent

O0Ok ~ 0SOf
By BEN STERN
Times stan Correspondent
BRAZIL, June Speedy JUS
tice." for which John Van Hook,
"gun-toting, ad-slinging' Terre
Haute deputy constable, pleaded
when he asked for a change of
venue from Vigo county for the
Staying of Austin Sweet, Terre
Haute attorney, April II, was la
mentally lazy today.
Sixty-tWo Clay county farmers
frankly declared that they we're not
Interested in justice and we're ready
TO show cause as 10 why they
should not sit on the jury to try the
Van Hook trial.
In endless refrain each prospec-
tive Juror declared that his mind
mas already made I'D as TO the guilt
IN the case.
They showed absolutely no inter-
est in the question of Defense
Counsel Bernard Craig of Brazil as
to whether they believed "a man
vas innocent until proven guilty,
but on the other hand we're not
10th to declare in the Clay county
courthouse corridors that this is
corn blowing time"
Defense Approves Eleven
Each prospective juror professed
staunch faith in what he read in the
papers as to the guilt in the case,
but in spite of this the defense has
selected eleven jurors. who, however,
must undergo the scrutiny Of the
prosecution.
Court was dismissed Monday aft
ernoon at O'Clock when Sheriff
Thomas z. Tiffee ran out of pros
pective veniremen.
He appeared today, however, with
4 fresh stock of twenty-five men,
none of whom cared TO fulfill their
duties as citizens and do jury serv-
ice while corn blowing is waiting
The only living being that evinced
any interest or desire to stay in
court is Foxy. the dog of uncertain
pedigree belonging to Miss Cynthia
Burk. court reporter Foxy sleeps
comfortably in front of Judge
Thomas Hawkins bench and need
not listen to the nonotonous chal-
longing of the jurors.
And while each member Of the
ventre attempts TO evade jury duty
by declaring his mind is made up
as TO Van Hooks guilt. the little
deputy constable nervously chewS
his gum and eyes his peers with ap-
parent disfavor.
Second Murder Trial
Trial for first degree murder is
no new experience for Van Hook.
Eighteen years ago he was on trial
for the shooting of Fred Martin at
= miners union meeting in Shell
burn.
At that ting, as he is prepared
70 do now. Van Hook pleaded self
defense and after two days delibera-
tion the jury acquitted.
Everything has been prepared for
the self defense plea.
The state, on the other hand will
fell of the enmity of five years
which existed between Van Hook
and the dead attorney.
The prosecution will declared that
this enmity began in the 1925 cleo
ton when Van Hook circulated
sllegedly false reports concerning
Sweet and two of his friends. who
we're candidates in the election.
They will tell of open clashes be-
tween the two when Sweet appeared
as an attorney in justice of the
peace courts and of the verbal tiltS
that occurred.
And then the state will use its
greatest weapon
That no such position Of deputy
constable is recognized under the
Indiana statutes and that Van Hook
vas a treSpaSser when he appeared
in Sweets Office accompanied by
TWO game wardens. Armand Hill
and Leland Randall with a war
rant for the arrest of Sweet. his
son. and Franklin Taylor. a Negro
janitor, for fishing without IL
censs.
Sweet. according to the states
witnesses. refused to permit Van
Hook to serve the warrant, but de-
clared that he was willing for the
wardens to do so. After an ex-
change of unsavory phrases. Var
Hook left the room.
He vas followed into the corridor
by Sweet. who went into a, lengthy
description as to Van Hooks al
legged ancestry.
Blows FOLLOW Epithets
Blows followed the epitfetS anc
Van Hook attempted TO strike SWEEP
With q mace. In the scuffle the
mace was lost and Van Hook shot
Sweet in the forehead. the bulle'
coming out of the top Of the attor'
news head. Sweet died a few min
utes later in the hospital.
The prosecution will attempt x
show that the 1925 statutes did not
give constables the power OF ap-
), pointing deputies, because thest
deputies abused the power OF Their
badges by browbeating debtors Of
installnent companies. arresting al
legged PETERS and haling motorists II
the Justice of peace courts or
.trumpec up charges.
THAT Van Hook had no ofncial
status and had deliberately shot
down Sweet.
The defense. on the other hand
= is asking every prospective juror as
10 whether he believes In law en-
forcenlent.