The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-10

sc 49,
vance. Howell pulled the trigger.
There was a flaSh-a double report
but it was Carleton Meade who
toppled over on his face.
A woman screamed, "Oh, my God!
he's hit Carleton!"
At first Howell thought it was a
joke. Then the lights went out
and he felt the pistol he was hold
ing wrenched from his hand. When
they came on again it was lying at
his feet.
But that's not my pistol" he
shouted.
No one paid any attention to him.
Jacqueline. was telephoning for a
doctor. Some one else had already
telephoned for the police. Mrs.
Carleton Meade had tainted.
Bewildered and dazed, Howell at
tempted to explain.
my pistol was filled with blanks.
I couldn't have shot him."
You must have been mistaken, ~
Jacqueline groaned. "Oh, Howell, !
got you into this. It's all my fault
He insisted. But I didn't do it, I
tell you. I couldn't have done it."
LIVERY one at the party had seen
H him fire at the comedian. Hit
ting Carleton Meade might have
been a mistake. Still these extras
every one knew they'd been deS-
perate for work.
If it became known that Garlic
ton Meade had refused TO help him,
he wouldn't have a chance in the
world.
In the midst of a babble of accu-
satiOns, explanations and confusion,
Howell was arrested. Jacqueline'S
attempts at defense were futile.
I've known this boy for years.
It's all a terrible mistake. I know
he wouldn't Go such a thing"
The fact that she had hired him
to raid her party as a joke was no
joke to the Los Angeles police de-
partment. She was held as a
possible accomplice.
Howell was charged with assault
with attempt to kill, and If the pro-
Queer died, the charge would be
changed to manslaughter. He was
unconscious, they said, but living.
Another Hollywood scandal was
'out." And it was thus Howell made
the front pages of the Los Angeles
papers, and won publicity he had
desired from coast to coast.
Extra Hired as Fake Cop at
Movie Stars Party Shoots Famous
Producer" And in smaller print
Howell Shefield's name-a name
respected and honored for genera
tionsl
He imagined he could hear the
newsboys calling outside. Pictured
the news flashing across the wires;
copied in Kansas City papers.
In Fairfax the negihbors would
be running back and forth. Torn
between curiosity and sympathy for
his mother and Agnesl And they,
Observation-Disclosures - crushed!
He knew the fear of madness that
night, locked in his cell.
A CCUSED Of attempted murder
IA on the anniversary of his IA
theirs death! Penniless, friendless
and in jail!
A year from the day his father
had laid his life upon the altar of
his professional profession he had
believed his son would follow-for
which ne had made provision in
his will.
What madness had possessed him
to forsake the ambition of his child
hood to follow a foreign star? De-
serting a career which he was fitted
for, the will-o-the-wisp of sudden
success he imagined awaited those
who came to Hollywood.
He thought of his mother and
sister and tears burned in his eyes.
He though of Sally and was over
come with shame and despair. How
glad she'd be that she hadn't waited
for him.
The faint hope that she would not
believe the newspaper stories and
would come to see him died when
he saw copies of the morning
papers.
Every possible item concerning his
would-be career was dragged to
light.
An interview with Mrs. Granville
Matthews. who admitted her inter-
est in the boy had waned because
of his lack of gratitude" disclosed
the fact that Carleton Meade had
spoken to her some time ago Of a