The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-19
RULE PRYOR
IS GUILTY OF
MANSLAUGHTER
Sentenced to 2 to Fl Years
in State Prison by
Judge Collins,
DEFENDANT LOOKS WAN
Displays Mild Interest as
Foreman Reads Decision
in Criminal Court.

Sentence of two to twenty-one
years in Indiana state prison was
imposed on Ernest Pryor. 80, Mar
tinsville, this morning after a GRIM
inal court jury found him guilty of
voluntary manslaughter, for death
OF his wife, whom the state alleged
he poisoned.
Verdict was reached after the jury
deliberated four hours, and took
six ballots, the first of which was
reported to have stood nine to three
for guilty of first degree murder,
with which the state charged him. !.
Pryor was led into the courtroom
a few minutes before the verdict
was returned, and, looking worn and
spent from the long torture of his
trial, appeared only mildly interest,"
ed as Don Elliott, jury foreman.
read the verdict.
His brother, Deery Pryor, sat i'm
mediately behind the defendant.
Criminal Judge James A. Collins
called Pryor before the bench and
sentenced him Immediately after
the verdict was read,
Ended in Ninth Day
Pryors trial ended at 4:3O Thurs
day afternoon in its ninth day.
When the case was submitted to
the jury by Judge James A. Collins,
jurors were told that one of six YER
diets might be returned, including
a finding of not guilty to the first
degree murder charge or a guilty
verdict, with the alternative YER
diets of the death penalty or life
imprisonment; finding of guilty to
second degree murder or to volun-
tary or involuntary Inanslaughter.
William Bray, Morgan county
prosecutor in charge Of the states
case askedztne--.jury to impose the
death penalty in his closing argu-
ment.
Pryor's alleged scheme to poison
his young wife and collect $4,000
insurance in order to marry Miss
Elsie Ham of Brazil, a roomer at
the Pryor home, was branded by
Bray "the plan Of a fool"
spectators Ihrong Court
s'To Pryor it was a shrewd scheme,
foolproof, but when it exploded it
was found to be extremely crude, the
plan Of a FOOL" Bray stated.
Through nine days spectators
thronged criminal court, filling the
balcony and occupying all available
standing room. When the case went
to the jury hundreds of listeners
fingered in the courtroom for hours
in anticipation of an early verdict.
Collins had instructed jurors a
verdict would be received inn
mediately if reached before 8 p. m
From 10 a. m. until $3.50 p. m. the
jury listened to final arguments OF
both sides.
Attorney John Royse pictured the
crippled and haggard defendant as
"a nangled and manned man" He
stated many things were unfair in
the case, declaring Pryor was per
secuted and branded a murderer by
his fellow townsmen."
Defendant Breaks Into Tears
Pryor wept brokenly, hiding his
face in his hands when any refer
ence was made to him in the clos
ing plea.
Mr. and Mrs. Alvs Sing Of Cos
port, mother and father of Thelma,
sat with states attorneys while clos
ing pleas we're made. They wept
and stared hard at Pryor when
Thelma's name was mentioned.
Prosecutors attacked apparent
failure Of the defense to establish
an alibi. It was not until the eighth
day Of the case that Royse began
grilling Of witnesses for cleWs to
what he said was the suicide Of the
young mother.
William r. Ringer, Marion county
deputy prosecutor, branded Pryor's
defense as 81 didn't do it but If
did was insane and anyway my
wife committed suicide"
Confession Is Ruled Out
DR.. r. N. Harger, states star wit.
ness, had testified that total OF
four grains. Of arsenic existed in
the vital organs Of the woman after
her death. This was enough to kill
normal person, he testified.
The state called almost two scores
of persons from the Morgan county
seat to testify against Pryor. They
described how Pryor spread a runor
of his wife's fatal illness" shortly
before she died, despite the fact
she visited and did her homework
until the third day preceding her
death.
Pryor's alleged confession to tbs
crime was ruled out Of evidence in
the case by Collins on ground it was
obtained under duress of the de-
fendant and was made after his ale