The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-14
DIED TO AVERT
WEDDING, SAYS
LATTA'S FRIEND
Attorney Wanted to Reloln
Wife in Oblivion Ayers
Former Partner.
FlANCEE TO TAKE STAND
Hopes to Refute Charge of
Suicide With Story of
Honeymoon Plans.
BY ARCH STEINEL
Times staff Correspondent

Times staff Correspondent
DANVILLE, Ind, Nov. 14.-On
the eve of his remarriage, VIII II.
Latta, indianapolis corporation at
torney, chose suicide that he might
reioin his deceased wife in death
rather than chance the uncertain
ties of a second marriage, a jury
was told here today in Hendricks
circuit court.
That financial difficulties may
have been responsible for this
fatalistic preference was indicated
in the testimony of William j.
Krieg, Latta's former business part
ner.
Miss Emma Margaret Sanders,
TT. Wayne, fiancee of Latta, suing
the United States Casualty Com
pany to collect a $4,000 insurance
policy. was to take the stand this
afternoon in an effort to refute the
testimony of suicide threats given
by Krieg.
Killed at Rail Crossing
Latta was killed when a loco
motive struck his coupe on Monon
railroad crossing north of Carmel on
the night of June 10, 1929. The cor
oner held the death was mot acct
dental" Insurance company attor-
news contend it was a case OF sui
eide.
My Cod! What am I going to
do?" Krieg testified, Latta said to
him a week or two before the attor-
news death. Il am engaged to get
married and 1 haven't got the
money to do it,
Krieg also testified that on a busl-
ness trip to Chicago, Latta attempt
ed to drive his car OH a railroad
track near HAMMOND when train
was approaching and warning lights
flashing. -,
What are you trying to do, kill
us both?' Krieg said he asked Latta,
after he had grabbed the emergency
brake lever. ......... !.
NO, this isn't the place. will
show Il ITO yot later" he quoted
Latta as answering.
A few days later, Krieg said he
and Latta were on a business trip
In north Indianapolis and Latta
drove him on the Smokyville road
10 the Monon crossing near Carmel,
where, later, Latta is alleged to have
parked his car and awaited ap-
proach of a fast train.
Says Latta Stopped Car
"Latta stopped the car on the
tracks and said this was the place
he was telling me about" Krieg tes-
titled
The witnesses said from time to
time, Latta had discussed various
methods of dying and once re-
marked
7 nor nobody else knows what
death is. If there is oblivion, that
is where l want to be, because 1
could be with my wife"
witnesses Thursday testified Latta
remarked he always carried his wife
with him." that the wife's body was
kept in an Indianapolis mortuary
two years before being buried, and
that Latta visited the grave, at
Plainfield, the day of his alleged
suicide.
Krieg appeared reluctant to an
swer many questions, saying he liked
Latta. and appealed to the court to
spare him from answering.
Hint Different Stories
Counsel for Miss Sanders at
tackled Krieg's testimony. attempt
ing to show he had told different
stories to other persons.
Attempt was made to impeach his
testimony by introduction OF a
promissory note for $1,000 signed
Dec. 8, 1924, by Krieg, and held by
Latta in which Krieg stated he was
ending all relations with Latta, and
agreed not to mention Latta in any
future business deals or converse
tionS.
Krieg admitted genuineness of the
note. but testified he had been en-
gagged in handling realty deals for
i.atta at numerous times after that
date.
The defense introduced Latta's
bank account, to show large amounts
had been checked out and that
Latta had little money left.
oI,atta called me to his Office July
Is. 1926. and asked me to get him
some money, saying he had gotten
Mike Foley and Dave Watson to
sign an $500 note" Krieg testified.
Michael E. Foley and David E.
watson are indianapolis Street
Railway Company attorneys with
whom Latta was associated.
The defense expected to rest its
case this afternoon, after which
rebuttal testimony would follow.
Hope to Refute Charge
Attorneys for Miss Sanders in
rehuttal testimony hope to prove
that the coupe stalled on the rail-
road tracks and that Mr.. Latta's
death was accidental.
Through Miss Sanders and letters
written her by Mr.. Latta, the de-
tense hopes to refute suicide allega-
ton of the insurance company with
testimony that his last thoughts and
plans before his death we're for his
marriage to Miss Sanders and their
honeymoon to Europe.
In turn. the insurance company'S
lawyers through testimony of
friends of Mr.. Latta have sought to
prove that his visit TO the grave of
his wife in Plainfield on the day of
his death, alleged significant re-
marks he made from time to time,
and his alleged ill-health prove
motives for his suicide.
The case Is expected TO be pre-
scented to the jury Monday.