The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-22
SLEUTHS LINK
BANK CRASH
WITH MURDER
Tangled Maze of Theories
Faces Investigators in
Sullivan Cases.
SEEK FLUSH CITIZEN
Belief That FinanCier Took
Own Life Held, Despite
I Coroner'S Verdict.

A theory gained ground here to-
day of link between the mysterious
disappearance last year of James
Lang, veteran Sullivan Qnd)
banker. the wrecking of the Shell
burn State bank, and the murder
or suicide of Edgar D. Naples, vice
president of the Peoples National
Bank and Trust Company at Sulli-
van last week.
When Lang disappeared, a short
age of $4,000 in funds of the Citizen
Trust Company, of which he was
president. was discovered.
The theory, only slender thread
that the three affairs might have
been connected. grew out of receipt
by one of the detectives inveStigat-
ing last weeks tragedy, of letter
from a former Sullivan citizen, now
in Chicago.
The letter suggested that the de-
tectiveS find a former Sullivan citi-
zen interested in several minor bust
ness ventures. who suddenly showed
signs of affiuence and made trips to
Havana shortly before LangS dis
appearance.
Suspect Is Downfall
The letter suggested that this
man may have had something to
do with knocking Lang from the
pedestal of civic trust he held in
Sullivan and might have been the
man who was trying to borrow
$4,000 form the Peoples bank
through Naples the night before
Naples was found dead in the bank.
The investigation, according to
Sullivan dispatches, appeared to be
going around in circles, with con-
flicting stories about clews being
put out by various officials inter-
ested.
Officials of the Peoples bank are
insisting upon crediting the theory
of the coroner, who officially ruled
that Naples was murdered. The
bank could collect practically all
Mapes' insurance policies to cover
$4,000 in bad paper if Naples were
murdered. If he we're suicide pol
icies for only about $4,000 would be
In effect, it is said.
Supporting the murder theory,
information has been put out that
blood stains were found on wash
basin in the bank at the time Ma
pies body was body.
Scoff at Theory
A different set of investigators,
however, now declare that that
blood was not on the wash basin
at the time Naples body, shot
through the forehead. was found.
They say some one who helped han
ole the body had washed his hands
there.
This same set of investigators say
they have established definitely that
there was no possible connection of
Jessup Bolinger president of the
Shelburn State bank. with Naples
death. Bolinger has confessed that
he forged the bad notes which Ma
pies had accepted in the regular
course of business at the Sullivan
bank. Bolinger's bank was closed
the day Naples body was found.
Some officials had declared that
Bolinger had his car out of his
garage early on the morning that
Naples died. other investigators
say positively that they examined
the doors of Bofnger's garage
wednesday noon, only few hours
after the Sullivan tragedy, and
found them still coated with the
sleet which had formed Tuesday
night.
Differ About Wound
Bolinger had been rescued from
this garage Wednesday morning by
his father. who suspected he might
attempt suicide and through the
garage window saw him topple over
when monoxide gas affected him.
The garage doors we're closed and
Bolinger had started his motor.
Stories as to the nature of the
wound in Naples forehead also diff
fer. Those supporting the murder
theory declare the wound indicated
the bullet was fired from several
feet away.
Others state that the first exani-
nation disclosed powder burns in
side the gaping wound, indicating
the muzzle OF the weapon has been
placed against the forehead. The
coroner's verdict stand as murder,
however.