The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-17
BY EDWARD c. FULKE
Times STAFF Correspondent

NlCHlSIAN. CITY, IND, March
17.--In the shadow of the walls of
Indiana state prison Harold Her.
bert Schroeder. ate his last meal
ION the outside
After chilling four hour drive
from the county Jail at Indianapo-
lis, Sheriff Charles CBuck) Sumner
gave the torch car convict his last
opportunity to eat without the en-
barrasSment of handouts, within a
block of the prison where he must
eat for at least the next two years
under the eyes Of guards.
Schroeder will serve a two to
twenty one-year term on his conyic-
ton for voluntary manslaughter by
Marion county criminal court
jury. The conviction came in the
states case in which the former
Mobile garage man was charged
with murder for the alleged STAY
ing and burning of an identified
man IN his sedan on High School
road carly May 81.
Schroeder Pans Companions
AS Schroeder stepped from the
car in front of the small restaurant
near the big house today, Sum-
ner took off the handouts which
the prisoner had worn on the auto
trip
Sumner jerked his thumb in the
direction of the gray walls.
That's the joint over there,
Harold Sumner said.
Schroeder glanced toward the
prison, grunted and passed scowlng
into the restaurant.
Throughout the trip, Schroeder
smoked innumerable cigarets and
''panned" The Times reporter and
Ralph Hitch deputy sheriff, because
they made no secret that they were
cold.
Just a couple of big 'he-men'
from the big city," Schroeder said.
He sat in the front seat with Sum-
ner and the reporter. Hitch sat in
the rear.
Mentions His Son
Schroeder didn't discuss his fam
lily on the long trip, but, hatless, as
always, stuck his head out of the
car window several times and re-
marked that "one of my boys sure
would like to see these snowdrifts."
Schroeder talked volubly but
jumped from subject to subject,
even touching on the Muscle Shoals
question in congress.
Except for the reference to his
boy, he did not mention any other
members of his family. Talking
about his case, he said:
I'm just victim of circum-
stances, that's all. It'll all come out
in the wash some of these days"
He was bitter in condemnation of
George Winkler, former sheriff, and
Judson Stark, former prosecutor,
who, he said, lied about me-" He
branded Detectives Jack Stump and
Clarence Colder in the same man
ner.
Not Tough Guy
THE only thing lit hat 1 don't
dant to be stuck in Jail with the
hard guys up here" he said. IF
they just let me alone, I'll get along
all right. I amt hard, even though
you newspaper guys said was. I'm
not tough
He turned in the seat. A cigaret
dangled from one corner of his
mouth.
And as for you," he said, adj
dressing The Times reporter, I'll
get you sure as hell after 1 get
out of this place. You're one OF
the guys that tried to make me a
tough bird"
After his lunch, Schroeder was
to be taken to the prison to trade
his name for a number. Tonight
he viii meet the man or men with
whom he may pal" behind bars for
at least the next two years.
viii Be Given Job
Ard, within few days. he'll havS
a regular Job in the. prison, which
he may hold thEaDghout mis- term
if his behavior IS good,
Behind are Schroeder's wife, Mrs,
Leah Schroeder, and two sons, OF
Mobile; mother and father, Mr.
and Mrs. Ernest Schroeder OF Ga
rion, Ia; four sisters and a brother
who fought side by side for the ac-
cuSed mans freedom.
Schroeder's last long ride under
guard of authorities, was longer
than the one Of today, but the
destination was no less certain
That was last June %, when
schroeder was captured in a Mobile
weed patch, and returned to In
dianapolis to begin his tight
against a murder charge.
From that time until Feb. %
Schroeder waited in jail to be tried
Then, after fourteen days OF pres
entation of evidence, twelve OF
Schroeder's peers weighed his guilt