The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-30
ASKED
BY STATE IN
POISON CASE
RushviIIe Farmer Tried for
Death Of Third Wife;
Quiz TaIeSmen.
BY. CHARLES E. CARLL
Times STAFF Correspondent

GREENFIELD, Ind, Jun 3d.
Seeking death penalty for George
Kolb, Rushville farmer accused of
murder of his third wife, states
attorneys today began selection of
jury to try Kolb in Hancock
circuit court.
Nine of the fifty prospective
jurors that appeared in Judge
Arthur G.. Van Duyn's courtroom to-
day were weeded out by the state
before twelve men we're accepted
tentatively.
Each of the dozen said he was
not prejudiced against the death
sentence for murder. Defense
counsel was to question the jurors
later today, and with dismissal of
several inevitable, completion of the
jury appears improbable for at least
two days.
Died Last Fall
Mrs. Edna DagIer Kolb, the state
charges. died at her home last fall
after Kolb administered poison po-
tions as medicine during her ILL
ness. She married Kolb five months
before.
The second wife, Mrs. Maggie
Kolb, also died suddenly, and under
circumstances so strange a. Rush
county grand jury indicted the huS-
band on murder charge, which
still is pending but probably will
not be involved in the present trial.
In both instances, the state has
pointed toward collection of life in
surance and estates as possible muir
der motives.
Kolb sat in the court, intensely
interested in the legal proceedings
that will mean life or death, or
long Imprisonment to him.
With him were two Of his three
children, William, 10, and Raymond,
10. Mrs. Bessie True, daughter,
was not present.
Talks to Counsel
He watched movements Of the
states attorneys as closely as those
Of his own, and frequently his
busny, black eyebrows knitted in
bewilderment as he leaned forward
to conduct whispered conferences
with his four attorneys.
Defense counsel, headed by John
H. Kiplinger of Rushville, will not
divulge what avenues their defense
will take, but assert they will be
sensational
The state will introduce fifty or
more witnesses during the trial;
The defense indicated it will have
that many, or more witnesses, many
of whom will testify to Kolb's char
acter and community reputation.
Probe Former Death
AS Kolb faced trial for the muir
der of his tAird wife, investigators
we're at work attempting to learn
more about the sudden death of his
first wife, Mrs. Louisa Kalb, six
years ago.
There is nothing spectacular
| about Kolb. He is farmer VINO
has lived in Rush county for many
years. He is ordinary in appear
ance and is SIS. His marriages, the
deaths of his wives and the subse-
quent court action have left their
mark on him.
According to evidence gathered
against Kolb in the death of his
second wife, it is alleged he "got her
out of the way to obtain some prop
erty and insurance, totaling $1,000,
that she held. It is said he was sue
cessful in collecting the money.
Farm Mortgaged
At the time of his third marriage
Kolb still was farming his eighty
acre farm near Rushville, but had
mortgages on it amounting to $4,000.
The state charges that immedi-
ately after the marriage, he insured
his wife's life for $1,000. The insur-
ance company, though, has not paid
the insurance.
Albert Stevens, Rush county
prosecutor; Paul Benson, former
Henry county prosecutor, and Will
liam E. Russell, Hancock county
prosecutor, will present the case to