The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-06
Two Men viii Face Trial
for ManSIaughter on
Coroner'S Ruling.
POLICE ARE CRITICISED
Victim Lay in Jail for
Hours Before He Was
Sent to Hospital.

!
East Georgia street, for death of
William P. Hereth, %. taxi driver,
80 North Davidson street, have
been supplanted by charges of in
voluntary manslaughter, it was
learned today.
Orders of Coroner C. H. Keever
caused the change in Municipal
Judge Paul C. Wetter's court. The
two were held to the grand jury on
the new charges.
Criticism of the police DEPART
ment for permitting Hereth to be
thrown unconscious into a city
lookup cell, where he lay for four
hours before being taken to the
Methodist hospital, reached Mayor
Reginald H. Sullivan today.
A citizen, who declared himself
afraid to sign his name because of
police retaliation. sent a letter to
Mayor Sullivan demanding inveSti-
cation of the case.
Police Defend Action
Police countered with statements
that there we're no outward signs of
injury to Hereth when he was found
unconscious and that officers be-
lieved him dead drunk.
| Bishop and Allen have been re-
leased on bonds of $1,000 each in
the manslaughter case, Aliens bond
being signed by John and Mary
Allen, while that of Bishop is
signed by Helen Marshall and
Thomas McNulty, professional
boudsman, SOB Indiana Trust build
ing.
Action of the coroner to dismiss
| the murder charge came after De-
tective Captain Edward Simon re-
fused to change the charge when a
note to this effect was left on his
desk by Coroner Keever. Declaring
he believed the case one for grand
jury decision as to the charge to be
preferred, Captain Simon refused To
act.
William Hamilton, Keever deputy,
appeared in municipal court last
Saturday, hearing recommends
lions signed by Keever that the two
be bound to the grand jury on in
voluntary manslaughter charges
under bonds of $1,000 each. De-
tective Edward Tut was ordered by
the court to prepare new af1davits.
No Evidence by Keever
Keever gave no explanation in
| the recommendations of his change
of charges in the cases and no evil
dence was offered in municipal
court.
Hereth was found unconscious by
motor policemen John w. Willis
and Ora A. Powers beneath the
elevation on East street near
Washington street Saturday night,
April Is.
He was taken to the city lookup
and was confined, unconscious, in
cell there for four hours before
friend, coming to investigate his
disappearance, learned of his con-
dition. He then was taken TO
Methodist hospital, where he died
two days later.
Police believed him intoxicated,
officers declare, and point to al
legged confessions of Bishop and
Allen to uphold their statement.
Bishop is alleged to have con-
fessed a fist fight between Herein,
Allen and himself in which Hereth
was knocked to the pavement by
Allen.
"Hereth took me to a couple Of
Joints where I bought drinks" po-
lice say Bishop confessed. "Hereth
knew the joints and was drinking
with me.
Drunk, Says Accused Man
"He was staggering drunk when
we turned south in East street"
Officer Willis, in commenting on
the case today, said:
I'VE examined the man thorough
ly when we found him on the side
walk, but found absolutely no signs
of bruises or injuries. We brought
him to police headquarters in our
machine and he was examined
again in the turkeys Office, with
out any evidence Of injury appear
ing.
"We get hundreds of DRINKS ev-
cry week and many are so over
come they are unconscious. Hereth
acted exactly as if he was dead
drunk. When asked questions, he
muttered and he dragged his feet
and did not collapse entirely.
"Had there been any injury ap-
parent, we would have sent him TO
city hospital Immediately. Z"
Copper Tells Story
officer Powers said:
willis and I found the man lying
about midway beneath the eleVa-
ton. He smelled strongly of liquor
and mumbled, just as hundreds Oh
drunk men do. When we started to
pick him up, he fought us. We put
/ him in our car and drove to police
headquarters.
I'VE took him upstairs to the
turnkey. Turnkey Clary was on
duty and Dutch Sullivan, patrol
wagon man, was in the Office.
looked at Hereth's eyes; also on the
inside of his ears and felt the back
of his head. I had an experience
Of sending in a man for intoxication
who had fallen downstairs at a no.
/ tel more than year ago and who
later died. There was no blood IN
/ Hereth's ears and 1 could feel no
place on his head that would indi-
/ cate he had been injured"
Possofice Robbed