The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-16
new BATTLE
LAUNCHED TO
GUST YELLING
Prosecutor Starts Action for
Grand Jury Quiz of
Coroner.
PREPARE TO FILE SUITS
Violation of Law Charged in
Handling Numerous
Autopsy Cases.
BY DICK MILLER

Grand jury investigation and
probable court action, seeking i'm
parchment of Coroner Fred w
Vehling for alleged irregular activi-
ties in the administrator of his
office, doomed today.
Prosecutor Herbert F.. Wilson is
scanning the state law governing
functions Of the coroner's office and
is in possession of facts which are
expected to lead to the jury quiz
soon.
Two Indianapolis attorneys today
said they are preparing writs in
which they would attempt to have
Vehling impeached. They said the
prospective suits were based on al
legged law violations growing out of
the coronerS handling of death
cases.
The lawyers said they did not
know when the cases. will be filed
in county courts.
Irregularities Are Indicated
Study of records of city hospital
autopSieS, and files of death returns
at city and county health board
offices by The Times, in the last
few days, has resulted IN revelation
of numerous instances pointing to
alleged irregular functions of Veh-
ling's office.
In previous investigation The
Times uncovered Vehling's mainte-
nance Of a school for autopsy STU
dents, hurried embalming of bodies
without permission of relatives, and
VehlingS practice of ordering
bodies to his undertaking establish
ment, 702 Virginia avenue, without
permission of interested parties.
The opening of The Times second
investigation has brought forward
information which reveals some of
these practices are contiraed and
supports many additional COM
plants lodged with county and city
officials and The Times.
Violations Are Charged
City hospital records reveal no
post mortems were conducted be-
tween Jan. l and Jan. 16. But,
county claims show, Vehling filed
fee requests for nineteen autopsies
during that period. Fee of each
is S25.
Records do not show where these
autopsies were performed.
It has been charged to county
law enforcement agents that Vehl-
ing has overstepped his authority
and has conducted post-mortemS in
cases where no such action should
have been taken, according to the
statutes.
Additional allegs cons that bodies
have been turnt over to interneS
and resident doctors at the city hos
pital, for autopsies, also have beer
made. According to the charges
relatives of persons who succumbec
to natural causes, had refused tC
sign writs for the post-mortem ex-
amirsations.
Wants More Autopsy Money
Verdict records reveal autopsie:
made on some persons either killed
while riding in automobiles or a:
pedestrians struck by vehicles.
In other instances, however. post
mortstns have not been made il
similar cases,
Before he held the Office three
months, Vehling had exhausted his
annual autopsy fund and now i:
seeking an additional $3.50 for four
teen DOSt-mOrtemS
County officials, controlling thu
purse strings, have refused to pay
these claims and are investigating
circumstances surrounding three
recent autopsieS.
Vehling performed post-mortem
on bodies of Lieutenant Lewis Stan
ley, fireman of Engine House 16
killed in an auto accident at Six
teenth street and Central avenue
and Mr.. and Mrs. James Jordan o
Lawrence, killed when tralI
struck their car near their home.
Both cases brought a shower o
criticism on Vehling, whose repl.
to the attacks was: Il guess In
still coroner of this county"
Wilson Immediately opened a pre-
liminary investigation and then of
fered Vehling his advice on the Law
concerning autopsieS.
This was turned down by Vehline