The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-23
GRAND JURORS
START QUIZ IN
YELLING CASE
Wilson Will Place Evidence
Alleging Law Violations
Before ProberS.
FACES SERIOUS CHARGE
Illegal AutopSieS Claimed:
Threats by Coroner
Are Cited.
BY DICK MILLER

First testimony relating to alleged
illegal activities of Coroner Fred w.
Vehling will be presented the Mar
ion county grand jury Tuesday.
The jury's probe into alleged
maladministration of the county
office is to determine whether
Vehling is guilty of state law viola
ton and may lead to impeachment.
Prosecutor Herbert E. Wilson, who
is to lay the facts before the
jurors, did not reveal who might be
called as first witnesses in the quiz.
Jurors and Wilson opened the
probe today, gathering data and
names Of witnesses who will testify.
Vehling is the target OF charges
that he has obtained fees from the
county for illegal autopsies; that he
has ordered curiosity" autopsies;
that he has threatened to change
verdictS in death cases when he was
refused burial privileges; and that
he has charged exorbitant embalm-
ing fees when relatives or friends
of deceased patrons have attempted
to block his alleged high-handed
tactics.
Records to Be Scanned
Records of the city hospital.
Vehling's office, and claims filed
with county commissioners, were
brought before the jury today. The
records will reveal discrepancies in
death verdicts and that autopsies
were made by city hospital internes
and $25 fees in many cases claimed
by Vehling or his aid.
Included in the cases to be probed
is death of Vernon Primer, Negro,
81, of 2216 Pleasant street, Aug. 5
at the city hospital.
When w. T. BlasengyIn, under
taker, sent for the body at the re-
quest of relatives, he said internes
at the hospital refused the release.
The internes requested an autopsy,
which WIS refused by the relatives,
and the doctors are alleged to have
called Vehling by phone and OBJ
tanned permission for a purported
curiosity autopsy.
Vehling is said to have declared
Primer died of a contagious form
of meningitis. Blasengym paid for
the second autopsy by DR.. Clarence
A. Tolles, pathologist, and Tolles
found that death was caused by a
complication of meningitis, not con-
tagious.
Private Funeral Ordered
Vehling commanded the family to
hold a private funeral and they
were placed IIncer quarantine. City
health board physicians investigated
the following day. finding there was
no danger to the family or others
because the disease was not con-
tagious.
Suit for $1,000 is expected to be
filed within few days on behalf
of Mrs. Joseph Schindwolf, 1871 Veg
horst street, alleging Vehling held
an illegal autopsy and returned an
improper death verdict.
Vehling is said to have gone to
the Schindwolf home and solicited
the burial of Mr.. Schindwolf. Be-
fore the funeral, relatives discoveries
an autopsy had been performed on
the body.
Vehling, under questioning, is said
to have admitted performing the
post-mortem ana declared death
was due to form of meningitis.
Death Due to Injuries
Members of the family charge
death was due to in
juries sustained several DAYS be-
fore, when he fell on his head
while working on house on East
st. Clair street.
DR.. E. B. Boots, who attended
before his death, pro-
death caused by inter-
cranial pressure, resulting from the
fall.
On Vehling's refusal to return an
accidental death verdict, one insur-
ance company declined to pay the
claim.
Another insurance firm, however,
paid the full claim, after investi-
eating the case and Vehling's activi-
ties.
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