The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-10
MOB VENGEANCE
ECHOED BEHIND
SCHOEN KILLING
Patrolman'S Murder Most
Involved of Score in
Decade.

This Is the second Of a series Of
stories on twcnty-one unsoIved murders
In indianapolis in less than ten Years)
HIS body was found lying face
down, but a few steps from his
home.
The slayers bullet had entered
his back. ranging upward on the
left side and lodging near the heart.
Patrolman Norman Schoen had
been murdered.
The Staying Of Schoen was one Of
several murders Of police officers
which have occurred in the last few
years.
Their names have been added to
the list of unsolved Staying mys-
teries in Indianapolis in less than
ten years and, with those of other
citizens. make the total, twenty-one.
Other police officers who were
slain had an opportunity to see
their killers.
But Schoen had no chance.
Vengeance Is Rumored
He was walking on the sidewalk
approaching his home about 1870
the night of March 6, 1923. A coupe
was parked on the wrong side of
Irvington avenue and from it came
a shrill whistle. And then a shot.
Schoen's body was found few
minutes later after the car. carry
ing the slayers, had disappeared in
the gloom.
Rumors came from the under
world that the Staying was gang
vengeance. From other sources, came
reports that men in Indianapolis,
who generally were not associated
with rackets, had ordered the slay-
ing.
The day following the murder,
Claude Worley, then police chief,
personally offered 500 for the cap
ture of the killer. That same day
an Indianapolis business man boost
ed the reward total another 500.
But, never after the coupe disap-
peared east on Washington street
was any trace of the murderer
found.
Burglar Theory Dropped
Theory that burglars, interrupted
in their work by Schoen, had shot
him in their escape, was discarded
by police.
Ten detectives were assigned to
the case, but the knowledge that
the underworld seemed to possess
never found its way to channels Of
justice.
When his body was found near
the curb, Schoen clutched a fash
light in his left hand. His revolver
was in his pocket, untouched.
1t is probable that Schoens flash
light would have given him an OPP
portunity TO dodge that bullet or
perhaps thrown light on those guilty
of his murder?
Turning back the pages of I'M
solved murders to Jan. 3, 1925, seven
other names appear. One is that
of another police officer and among
the list is that Of a former police
man.
Those seven murders occurred in
these fashions:
Harry Blythe, 2110 Singleton
street, was carrying out his duties
as a grocer Jan. 8, 1925, when two
gunner entered his store They de-
manded money and Blythe's refusal
was answered by five bullets that
killed him before his body struck
the floor
The night of Jan. % 1925, James
Lucas, a former policeman, was
driving his car into his garage in
the rear of his home at 1922 College
avenue. Trained in police methods,
he resisted the robber who leveled
a gun at him. He was shot and died
the next day.
Harry Kelley, living on North
Meridian street, left theater on
Illinois street and walked east in
Vermont street April 10, 1925 A
woman met him and walked several
feet with him.
Carter Killing Mystery
Suddenly she was heard to
scream: I'm going to get mine,
now
Keeley died the following day
from bullet wounds
Then following the murders OF
Rufus Webster, Harry Nutter, street
car conductor and Dahlman DeBolt,
insurance collector, slain in rob-
berries in the year from Jan. 4, 1926,
to Jan. s. 1927,
And these killings, like that Of
patrolman Charles Carter, never
were solved.
Carter stopped to question a man
on his beat May T. 1927. Two days
later he was dead, the victim Of
a revolver whose owner probably
never will be discovered.
II