The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-22
CORONER WILL
GUST AID AND
REFUND FEES
Vehling Admits Mistake in
Conduct of Office and
Will Obey Law.
STATE QUIZ CONTINUES
Board of Accounts May
Take Action Against
Former Officials.
BY DICK MILLER
BY DICK MILLER

Admitting errors in adrninistra-
ton Of his Office, Coroner Fred w.
Vehling today, through his attorney
Fred Barrett, issued statement in
which he announced vacating of a
constabls's post in the Office and
stated that money collected by the
constable will be turned over to the
county.
Vehling's statement, in which he
said his mistakes were of the head,
and not of the heart, resulted from
The Times expose of alleged irregu-
larities in his Office.
Hugo SoInmers, constable, has
been discharged by Vehling, who
said he had learned no provision
was made for the post.
Money collected for service fees
by Sommers on Vehling's authority
for sunlrnoning Of witnesses in
death cases will be returned to the
county treasury this afternoon
Vehling said.
Will Stay Within Law
He also said that Gin the future
the Office will be conducted accord
ing to the law in the statute books. 2
The Times revealed that Vehling
had rushed several bodies to his
undertaking establishment, TOO Vir-
GINA avenue, since he took office,
Jan. /. It also was shown that
bodies we're enlbalned before rela
tives arrived and they were forced
to pay a $25 fee.
Other points brought out in the
inquiry were that claims were coll
lected for summons not served per-
sonally and autopsies performed
without legal right.
Vealing's statements came as the
state board of accounts was in the
third day of it's investigation of the
Office. County commissioners today
directed the board to continue its
inquiry. Other claims paid con-
stables under previous adrninistra-
tons will be demanded by commits
sioners, they said.
Barrett Gives Statement
Barrett's statement in vehling's
behalf follows,
when vehling took office as
coroner the first of the year, he had
an investigation made of the laws
and duties of the coroner by an at
torney and then conducted the
Office according to customs that
have prevailed more than twenty
years.
"But since The Indianapolis
Times articles were published he
has caused a thorough search to be
made by an attorney and finds
there is no provision in the law for
a constable in his Office, nor for
the constable fund provided by the
county council and commissioners.
'Vehling's mistakes have been of
t11s head and not of the heart.
From now on, all processes will be
served by the sheriff.
Constable Goes Out
The Office of constable held by
Sommers is vacated and today a
refund will be made to the county
treasury of all money collected by
constables without provision in the
law. This includes fees Of 5 cents
a mile for service of process, and
also q. refund of all service not
actually made.
I'm the future it will be the policy
of the coroner's Office to follow the
spirit of the law in each case in
every detail, and the coroner expects
to be advised by counsel on all
matters in which there may be any
question as to his actions"
Vehling and Barrett came to The
Times to make the statement after
the coroner had been asked several
days ago to declare himself fol-
lowing the investigation. The state
ment was dictated by Barrett, with
vehling approving it.