The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-12
GUN FOUND IN
BROWN COUNTY
MURDER RUINS
New CIeW investigated in
Attempt to Clear Up
Death Mystery.
FINGER BONE DUG UP
Riddle of Third Body Still
UnSoIVed; LukeWarm
Search Made.

viewed by state authorities as new
clews into the murders committed
on the fruit farm Of Lee Brown at
Nashville, Ind, in December.
The pistol, found by Roland
Brown, the dead farmers son, lay
IN jar Of coal oil at the home Of
Arch Ball. ballistic expert Of the city
police department, awaiting exam
nation late today.
The pistol was brought to Indian
apolis by Virgil Quinn and Charles
Bridges. deputy state fire marshals,
after a. private search of the farm
home ruins by Brown disclosed the
weapon within four feet of the spot
where the corpses were found in the
funeral pyre.
Snow Delays Search
Little importance is attached to
the finger bone, deputy fire mar
shals said. They believe the bone
may be that of Lee Brown or Of the
body found near his side, which is
thought to be that of Paul Brown,
his son. The bone was turned over
to Joshua Bond, Brown county cor
oner.
Bunge served as guide to the
farm home. He pointed out the
spot where Lee Browns body lay
He seemed nervous and excited as
he conducted searcherS on the tour,
Charles Bridges, deputy state fire
marshal, said.
Quinn asserted today that drifted
snow would make it impossible to
search the ruins thoroughly for a
third body until the first Of next
week.
While awaiting Balls report, on
the pistol found by the murdered
mans son, Quinn plans to seek eX-
pert advice regarding the possibility
of Mrs. Browns body being con-
sumed In the open fire of the farm
home.
IT haven't had enough experience
With bodies burned by fires to know
whether it could be burned totally"
he said.
CrematlOn lakes hOuIe
Morticians Of Indianapolis today
told Times reporters that it takes
two and one-half hours of a torch
like flame to cremate bodies and,
even after cremation, bones of the
bodies cremated would remain.
mo heat is severe enough to
nbliterate bones. Acids are the only
means of destroying every vestige OF
body said one undertaken.
Last week two Indianapolis
physicians declared the bodies were
that of two men. Quinn and other
officers say the bodies are Lee
Browns and his son Paul.
But Chester Bunge, hired hand of
the Brown family and the only eye
witness of the crime, charges that
Paul Brown killed his father and
his mother and wounded Bunge,
after chasing him a quarter mile.
Suicide Is Theory
Supposition of Quinn is that Paul
Brown, after wounding Bunge, re-
turned to the family home, fired
the house and out buildings, and,
re-entering the home, committed
suicide.
But the weak link in Bunge's
story is that he says Mrs. Brown
was wounded and that she was in
the home. Yet her body has not
been found
Despite this knowledge, Brown
county officers and Quinn persist
entity have refused to question Bunge
again regarding his story Bunge
now is employed as truck >irivek
in Martinsyille.
Charles Bolte, investigator for the
state bureau Of criminal Identified
ton. desired to re-examine Bunge,
but was baked at every turn, it is
known.
Cling TO Bungc Story
Lets look over the ruins again
and see what We can find" was the
chant of the officers defending
Bunge's take.
And now Bolte is out of the case.
He has been placed on another in
vestigation by E. L. Osborne, chief
of the bureau.
i've no other men to send down
there" Osborne declares.
Brown county officers accept
Bunge's story and even Prosecutor
Howard Robinson of Franklin, def
nitely says, 1--WE heard his story and I
don't care to talk to him any more.
The best thing that could happen
in this case would be for it to end
as a double murder and suicide. "
Probers Handicapped
The bureau of Identification is re-
ported handicapped in probing
Bunge's story by lack of co-opera-
ton of the officials of Brown
county.
I'VE have no right to detain 2
man unless county authorities are
willing. But if necessary I'll go to
fthe attorney generals Office in an
effort to get Bunge questioned
again." Osborne said.
The state police can not act in
the murder due to their limited
powers which permit arrests merely
in automobile theft cases.
Albert Fowler, deputy fire marshal
in charge Of the arson division, said
his department might subpoena
Bunge to appear at the Statehouse
Cor questioning after all angles of
the case had been considered.
Fowler admitted that Brown coun-
BY officials hindered the probe. He
said Quinn had been withdrawn
temporarily from the investigation
10 probe fire at Portland, Ind.