The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-18
YELLING FACES
GOUGE CHARGE
IN BURIAL CASE
Attorney John |. NibIaCk
to Ask Revocation of
EmbaIming License.
ALLEGE HoLDUP EFFORT
Coroner Demanded Fee of
More Than $4,000, Say
Relatives of Victims.
BY DICK MILLER


Charging that Coroner Fred w
Vehling boosted of being the "laV
in Marion county," John l.. Niblack
attorney, today took steps to have
Vehling's license revoked by the
state board of embalmers and fun
eral directors.
Complaints, which will be filed
before the state board, will be based
on charges in affidavits of friends
and relatives OF three persons who
were victims of gas fumes IN their
home, Feb. 26, Niblack said.
1t is alleged that Vehling threat
ened to change his verdict OF acct
dental death in the case unless rela-
tives permitted him to bury the
bodies at an exorbitant fee. Change
in the verdict would have blocked
receipt of double indemnity on three
insurance policies.
Charge ExOrbitant Demand
The gas victims were Mr.. and
Mrs. Ben Stickel and William Coble
who we're found dead in their home
331 East Tenth street. Leak In a
gas water heater had filed the
house with the deadly fumes.
Allegations are that Vehllng de-
manded three insurance policies, to-
falling $3.50, an automobile and
$50 in cash for the funerals, and
refused to release the bodies to an
other Indianapolis undertaken.
Mrs. Charles Arnold, 1914 South
Gale street. friend of the victims
said she went to Vehling's under
taking establishment at 702 Virginia
avenue, with relatives. and found
embalming of the bodies completed.
She charges that when she asked
how much the embalming would
cost, Vehling told her;
1T will take several hundred dol
lars right on this table and no
checks or notes, either
Threat Is Alleged
It was then, Mrs. Arnold charged,
that Vehling declared he would
change the verdict Of accidental
death and prevent collection Of in
creased insurance under the double
indemnity clause.
Vehling was irate, Mrs. Arnold
said, when she declared that she
would ask attorneys to determine
whether Vehling had authority to
retain possession of the bodies and
demand the funeral privileges.
Il will have to be paid we'll before
those bodies are released" it is
charged the coroner declared. I'm
the law in Marion county"
This purported assertion by Veh-
ling recalls the boast of D. G.
Stephenson, former leader of the
Ku-Klux Khan, who, in his hey
day, proclaimed: Il am the law in
Indiana"
Report $1,000 Paid
After two days of verbal battle,
the affidavits charge Vehling re-
duced the burial price to $780,
members of the family surrendered
to his demands, and provided the
graves.
Charles Stickel of Indianapolis
brother Of Ben Stickel, is said to
have become Ill during the Difficult
ties with Vehling and was unable to
attend the funeral rites
During administration of the eS-
tate of Mr.. and Mrs. Sticke1 and
Coble, who was Mrs. Stickel'S broth
err, Vehling was criticised for his
activities in the appointment of an
administrator.
Il have a right to be interested
1 have lots of money tied up in this
case" Vehling is purported to have
stated.
Law Is Cited
Niblack said his charges will be
based on the law passed by the last
legislature in connection with con-
troll of embalmerS and funeral
directors.
If the holder of a funeral di-
recting or embalming license be
guilty of taking any undue adj
vantage of his patrons" the law
reads, "or shall be guilty of a fraud
ulent act in conduct of his business
or any other act. which, in the
Judgment of the board is not in
accord with proper business prac-
tees, as applied to the business d
profession of embalming and fun
eral directing, the board may revoke
the license without further notice.