The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-09
State CALLS
LAST WITNESS
IN TORCH Case
Jack Stump, Detective, to
. Wind Up Testimony for
Prosecution.
ALIENIST VERDICT NEAR
Sanity Test Expected to
Play important Part in
Schroeder Trial.
BY EDWARD c. FULKE

married. events accompanying the
grewSonae' High School road torch
car crime, May 81, as attorneys for
Harold Herbert schroeder, Mobile,
leveled guns for counter ATTACK in
defense of Schroeder's claim to in
nocence Of the murder Of an I'M
known man.
After a morning Of cross-exami-
nation of one witness, the case was
recessed for the noon hour, with city
detective Jack Stump on the stand
as states closing witness.
Behind closed doors in the court
room this morning significant events
occurred as alienists made what
was believed to be a final judg-
ment on the sanity Of the accused
man.
Confer on Sanity Test
Conference Of more than a half
hour was held in Judge Frank P.
Bakers private chamber at the re-
cess hour, with Dr.. Charles D.
Hume, alienist; Prosecutor Herbert
Wilson; Floyd Mattice, chief dep
uty, and Ira Holmes, Schroeders
attorney, as conferees.
Scientific findings of DR.. Hume
and DR.. E. Rogers Smith probably
will constitute the most clinchlng
evidence Of the case when they take
the stand at the close Of the de-
tense case to pronounce on Schroe-
der's mental capacity.
Conferees declined to discuss the
subject matter of the conference,
although they indicated important
features of the trial had been dis
cussed with the alienists' findings in
view.
Wilson, who petitioned for the
sanity probe in answer to Schroed-
er's special plea Of insanity to the
first degree murder charge, said
after the conferences; IT carlslaot
talk"
Verdict Kept Secret
Baker had instructed alienists to
make their verdict known to no
one except the presiding judge.
AS the thirteenth day of his trial
began Schroeder greeted relatives
when he entered the courtroom
this morning after a weekend re-
cess. He carried out the usual
morning round Of kissing and en-
bracing his mother and father, Mr..
and Mrs. Ernest Schroeder Of Clar-
ion, Ia; a brother and three sisters
and his two sons, Ernest, 8, and
Harold Jr., IL. He tussled plaTully
with the two boys.
,-,.a rlraA f11rnf4cfI-
the session for the first time this
morning, as attorneys wrangled
over permitting jurors to hear parts
Of evidence on Schroeder's grilling
after being returned to Indianapolis.
Protests Holmes Speech
Mattice rose indignantly at one
point to protest against Holmes
making a speech to the jury"
Holmes had been cross-examining
Clarence Colder, city detective, a
participant in the alleged grilling.
Holmes had qualified the question
ing as bordering on third degree"
Baker sustained Mattice and adj
nnonished Holmes again,t further
alleged speech making
I'D be glad if defer Sc counsel
would make an issue Of tie grill1ng.
We want all the facts laid on the
table" Mattice remarked, in &
cross play of words that followed.
Colder Is QuiEzed
Holmes opened the cross-e3arlina-
ton and Colder. resumed his testi-
fying where it ended at adjourr1a-
ment Friday.
Holmes questioned Colder in de-
tail on the condition Of roadside
bitches near the place thirty-t1ve
miles west of Terre Haute, where
Schroeder said his car left the road
and plunged into q ditch, breaking
the unknown mans neck.
After fifteen minutes Of question
ing on that point, Holmes was halt
ed by Baker and admonished
against taking up q lot of time. "
Holmes then asked Colder if he
knew that DR.. r. N. Harger, toxi-
cologist at the Indiana university
medical school, had made an exanli-
nation Of the torso, finding that it
showed no traces Of oil being
poured Oh Tue u4lA44ON4@ A4lS4l > bOOy
before it was set aflTe.
Colder answered NO" and Mat
tice rose with an offer to show that
DR.. Harger's report did mot exclude
the possibility Of kerosene having
been used"
Never Saw Man
Holmes objected to the intro
duction Of DR.. Harger's typewrit-
ten report in DR.. Harger's absence.
Baker sustained Holmes.
"As far as you know, Colder, you
never saw the man alive whose body
was found in Schroeder's car in Ma
rion county?" Holmes proceeded.
NO" Colder answered.
Picture Of Schroeder standing
before the charred torso at the
Royster & Aslzin funeral parlor:
June 26, shortly after he was cap
tured, was stretched before the jury
as Holmes questioned Colder.
was Schroeder shown that torso
at the undertaking establishments
He was"
"was he questioned by detectives
while he looked at it7"
HE was"
did you stay at Schroeder's side
ell the timer" Colder was asked.
YES, all the time"
you never left the room st all7"
Yes. I did; ! lefC the room t.
smoke"