The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-17
COURTSHIP OF
LATTA Barred
BY HIS FIANCEE
Miss Sanders, on Stand,
Tells of Proposals
and Acceptance.
MET ON OCEAN LINER
Evidence in Rebuttal viii
Attempt to Reveal
Affairs Sound.
BY ARCH STEINEL
Tines Stan Correspondent

DANVTLLE, Ind, NOV. lac
ouaintance formed aboard trans
Atlantic liner in 1927 and succeed
ing meetings that eliminated in
proposal of viii H. Latta to marry
Miss Emma Margaret Sanders, Fl.
Wayne. we're chronicled by Miss
Sanders in Hendricks circuit court
here today
Weeping. Miss Sanders related
events of Lattas courtship and in
troduced letters and wedding an
nouncements that never were
mailed. in rebuttal of defense Of
fered by the United States Cas-
ualty Company in her suit for
SIC. 900 accident insurance be-
queathed her by Latta, who was
killed BY train June IL. 1929, five
days before their wedding was to
have taken place.
Miss Sanders said she conducted
European tours in 1925. 1926, 1927,
and 1928. On the 1927 tour, Latta
and Mrs. Amanda Hunt, his mother
in-law. and Miss Mabel Hunt, her
daughter. we're seated at the same
dining table aboard ship.
Tells of Proposal
He visited her in Ft. Wayne later,
and in 1928 began frequent calls on
her. In March, 1929, he proposed
marriage. but she did not consent
Miss Sanders said. Letters, two and
three daily. followed from him, and
April 6, 1929, she agreed to his pro-
posal, she related.
Refuting the testimony OF William
J. Krieg, Latta's former business
associate. indicating Mr.. Latta's
death was suicide, Miss Sanders cit
ed conversations with the attorney
indicating he looked forward hap
pilv to their approaching marriage.
Supporting the theory he killed
the motor of his car on the Mo-
non tracks, where he was killed,
Miss Sanders told how Mr.. Latta
almost invariably killed the motor
of the car by drawing too heavily
on the choke while starting it.
Soon after the death of Joseph
A MCGOWAN, head of the Indian
apolis Street Railway Company,
while. Miss Sanders said, Mr.. Latte
was being mentioned as McGowans
successor, MIR. Latta told her;
That Job has killed three men
and I'm not ready to die yet"
Cite Krieg Conversation
On another occasion when they
we're discussing their future, MI
Iatta told her, she testified: It
want to teach you to play as 1 have
After Mr.. Lattas death, Miss
Sanders said she met Krieg at the
home of Cecil K. Calvert in Indian
apoIs and heard Krieg tell her.
They have started a report that
Mr. Latta committed suicide. No
one knows better than I how much
he loved you. He was the last man
on earth to do a thing like that"
Krieg testified that in a converse
tion with MIR. Latta two weeks be-
fore his death he said, my God,
what am I going to do? I am en-
gagged to be married and / haven't
got the money to do 1t.
Business Friends to Testify
other rebuttal witnesses will at
tempt to show that charges of the
defense that Mr.. Latta mulled over
various suicide plans are erroneous
and that he was happy as the pro-
verbal lark at the thought of his
prospective honeymoon.
Friends of Mr.. Latta in business
circles are expected to testify that
his financial affairs, although in
volyed because of a multiplicity OF
deals. were not umsound as witnesses
for the defense attempted to show.
When the Latta will was pro-
bated. following his death at grade
crossing north of Carmel, it was
found that he had provided through
trust requests for civic center IN
indianapolis, university at Ligo-
nier, Ind. to bear his name, and
endowment of funds to the Indian
apolis Conservatory of Music.
Provided for Civic Center
The trust fund for $4,000 was to
be held until the year 1929 when
the buildings and university were to
be erected in his memory. The viii
estimated that the $4,000 would
accrue $140,O0o,0o0 in the 200 years
time.
Whether the trust fund will be
established is dependent on the set
Element of the Latta estate.
Stocks totaling $91 500 have been
sold by the executors and claims
of approximately $4,000 have been
fled against the estate in the Mar
ion county probate court.
$4,000 Policy Already Paid
MIR. Latta carried $4,000 in acct
dent insurance at the time of his
death. One policy for $4,000 has
been paid.
Attorneys for a second insurance
company are attending the present
trial. It is expected a second
$50 900 policy held by the company
represented by the attorneys will
be contested.
The case in trial is expected to
reach q jury the latter part Of
this week.