The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-28
KILLING STORY
OF STATE COP
IS ATTACKED
Four Witnesses Say That
Officer Knew Shots
Struck Fugitive.
LOOKED AT BODY; LEFT
Greensboro Man Declares
He Heard No Command
to Halt.

BD Times Spcctdt
RICHMOND, IND, Aug. ga
statement attributed to Carl Spring
mire of Greensburg. state policeman
charged with voluntary manslaugh-
ter in connection with the death OF
Stanley Coomes OF Economy, in
which he said that he did not be-
lieve that shots he fired took effect
has been refuted by four Green's
fork persons.
They we're witnesses to the STAY
ing, which took place at the Fay
cite county fair at Connersville last
Friday night.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hallas Brown and
llr. and Mrs. Pierre Beeson, all of
whom saw the shooting, declare that
a man clad in the uniform of a
state officer fired three shots at a
fugitive.
The man pitched forward at the
third shot. and as he lay on the
ground the state officer trained a
fiashlight on the body, leaving after
viewing it for several seconds, they
declare
Stories in Conflict
Springmire, who surrendered to
Connersville authorities and was
released on $4,000 bond, was quoted
by police of that place as saying
that he fired three shots at a man
whom he believed was robbing a
parked car, but did not think any
Of the shots took effect.
Brown and Beeson we're walking
with their families toward their car
after an evening spent at the fair.
Brown was walking With his Z
year old nephew. while their wives
were behind them with their
babies.
A distant shot was heard, accord
ing to Brown, who acted as spokes-
man for the quartet when they
we're interviewed.
All believed it to be an explosion
OF a firecracker, but they soon saw
man running down the driveway
in their direction. Pursued by a
uniformed officer, Brown said.
Felled by Third Shot
The officer. Brown said, was play
ing a flashligllt on the fleeing man.
a second shot was heard but there
was no way to tell If it was fired
in the air or at the man.
When Coones reached a point
about twenty or thirty feet from
the party, with the. flashlight still
turned on him, a third shot was
fired, Brown stated At this, the
fugitive pitched headlong to the
ground, falling in front of a parked
car.
The man in the uniform of a
state policeman. presumed by
Brown to be Carl Springnlirc, in
the light of recent developments,
looked at it for a short time, and
then walked across the driveway
and disappeared i'll the shadows,
Brown testified.
A park policeman arrived short
time after, according to Brown. He
asked If a man had been shot and
Brown told him the body was just
across the driveway.
state Officer Returns
The park policeman asked if the
man had tried to steal anything
and Brown replied that he knew
nothing about the case.
The state policeman rejoined the
park OF Ncer within few minutes,
Brown ated, and the two con-
versed for a short time. The state
officer then left, with the other Of
ficer remaining by the body.
I'VE never heard the officer who
was pursuing Coomes order him to
STOP" Brown stated, and Coomes
made no cutlery when he fell Meth
er did the officer ask us our names
and addresses.
THE state officer must have been
aware of our presence. because of
the screams of my nephew, who
thought he was going to be shot.
I'VE were all frightened. We we're
afraid that a shot might so wild
end strike one of us.
I'VE all are perfectly willing to
appear as witnesses if Springmire is
brought to trial"