The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-27
BY CHARLES E. CARLL

ANY man WIN Che KIlOWl-
edge of a death on his mind
and SOU who can stand in
front of the charred remains
of his alleged victim has
nerve.
Any man who can know such cir
cumstanceS and who can undergo a
six-way grilling by authorities in
the hot, damp recesses of a garage,
looking down at that body and
never break is-stubborn.
These are the traits that were re-
vcaled in Harold Herbert Schroeder
Thursday afternoon when he faced
the CHASTITY remains Of the man he
is supposed to have murdered and
burned to death in his car on the
High School road May 81.
Views Charred Body
In a dim corner of the Royster &
Askin funeral directors garage the
charred remains Of the man VINO
died in Schroeder's car lay IN a
plain, wooden caSket.
The top was showed to one side
A light switch clicked, flooding the
erewsome contents of the box with
an intense light from a powerful
lamp overhead.
Schroeder shuddered. Sweat
broke out on his forehead. He
rocked back and forth on his heels
and then stiffened as if he were
galvanized by an electric shock.
He licked his lips and turned his
head, first one way and then an
other. His eyes smarted from the
formaIdehyde. Tears trlckleo
down his cheeks.
Schroeder Is Nervous
Silence, then, for several minutes
Schroeder's eyes were glued on the
corpse. Head down, he rubbed his
hands together, clanking the hand
cuffs that held them. Six pairs OF
eyes scanned his face.
Then came the verbal shot from
all directions:
How did you kill him?"
Head still down, Schroeder began
to culver. His legs and hands
shook. A fresh flood of perSpiration
broke out on his face and neck.
Again: "How did you kill himP"
And silence was all that answered
the question fired third time by
the authorities.
A Negro car washer turned on g
hose to wash hearse. Schroeder
Jumped. Then he looked again at
the corpse.
81 Didn't Kill Him"
"I didn't kill him." came the
feeble reply.
who did," was the next query
To this there was silence, longer
than bSiore.
81 don't know" finally came from
the murder suspect.
Pleas of police, Sheriff Winkler
and Coroner c. H. Keever for
Schroeder to talk brought no re-
Spouse.
Listen, Harold, give that-give
that thing a break" Detective Clar-
ence Colder pleaded, pointing to the
casket's awful cargo.
IF YOU didn't kill him, tell us
who did, so we can get him."
Winkler interposed. Didn't you
tell me you poured oil on that body
before you burned it?"
Smokes Fourth Cigaret
Schroeder again was silent.
The questioning then led to where
he stayed while he was here for the
Speedway race and how the mar
died in his car. Schroeder said he
did not remember where he lived
but that he stayed in a private
home.
To the death query he answered
"I don't know what did it. I've
been trying to think. I was plumb
out of my mind. Maybe flying glass
killed him."
Keever told him examination
showed the man either died by q
bullet or knife, and not with a bro
ken neck, as Schroeder has said.
Schroeder again looked away from
the casket and bent down to wipe
the sweat from the palms OF hi
handcuffed hands. Both hands wen
to the back of his neck and nj
started smoking his fourth cigaret
Denies Going on Parties" Here
He denied he had been OF
parties" here and didn't consider
taking girl for ride and buy
ing her beer" a party"
"I never had drink Of beel
within 200 miles of Indianapolis,
he said, bending to wipe more swea
from his hands and averting hi!
gaze from the casket.
Once more the authorities opened
fire with questions.
Schroeder didn't answer. Plea!
that he tell all he knew for TIT
sake of his conscience and his wifi
and two sons, brought the reply
i've told all could"
Eyes, but not all you know
Harold" detectives snapped.
He lit another cigaret and asked
his questioners to Please, stoT
now"
Detectives halted questioning.
What is it, Harold?" Winklel
asked.
Just this, gentlemen. III tel
you something after I get to talk
to my folks. That's all 7 can say
nov III talk when I eek to see