The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-16
VEHLINC FOUND
GUILTY.; FREED
ON $4,000 BAIL
Coroner Reported Dickering
for Leniency; Willing to
Resign, Rumor.
fConfInued from, PAGE n
CONTINUED from Page y

VIC oHl4OSoJ blldlS VI q R--HAAC Va
fetal ever to be held III Marion
county was concluded. Vehling was
placed on trial Tuesday Of last week,
and only one day was required to
impanel a jury.
For two days Prosecutor Her
bert Wilson, assisted by Floyd Mat
tice, chief deputy, and oscar Hage-
meier, grand jury deputy prosecutor,
paraded prosecuting witnesses be-
fore the jury.
Wilson Pleads for Honesty
The defense case, in which sew
eral undertakers, Indianapolis bust
ness men and attaches of Vehling's
office, testified, required two days.
Closing arguments were completed
in the Monday session.
Wilson, who in closing arguments
pleaded for renewal of public conf
dence in public officials, commended
jurymen for their decision.
1.-THE verdict shows that honest
men again are demanding that pub
lie office become a public trust" he
said.
while the verdict does not bring
Joy to the prosecutor or his depu-
ties, yet 1t Is the only one that hon
est jurors could have returned. 1t
is further evidence that the prose-
cutor is not prosecuting cases in
which he does not have sufficient
evidence.
Party Cleaning --Ouse
1.-THE trial and conviction of the
coroner also is proof that the Demo-
cratic party in Marion county
stands ready to clean its own
house"
Wilson said the same set of facts
leading to Vehling's conviction will
be offered in the circuit court i'm
parchment proceedings against the
coroner. The facts will be aug
mented by other charges of mall
feasance presented to the grand
jury in the quiz that led to the in
dictment of Vehling.
The grand jury's investigation was
launched by Prosecutor Wilson, fol-
lowing a series Of disclosures by The
Times of alleged illegal activities of
the coroner.
More than 100 witnesses appeared
before the probe body, as result of
these disclosures
Serious Charges Made
Investigation of Vehling's activ-
tiles by The Times, followed charges
of "bulldozing" of relatives of per-
sons killed and barred charges that
unwarranted post mortems were
performed.
Other instances of "body grab
bling" and exorbitant embalming
fees were charged.
Following these disclosures, DR..
Charles Myers, city hospital super
intendent, barred hospital internes
from performing autopsies without
permission of relatives of the de-
ceased.
Relatives in several instances
charged bodies were rushed to Veh-
ling's establishment, at 702 Virginia
avenue, where students embalmed
them before relatives were located.
Illegal Collections Alleged
After the grand jury returned the
indictment against Vehling, county
commissioners prepared to sue
Vehling on his bond, to collect il
legal fees paid on claims which the
coroner had sworn were truthful.
Severe criticism of the coroners
autopsy expense bill was made by
county councilmen, and several re-
quests of the coroner for additional
funds were refused.
Commissioners George Snider and
Dow Vorhies announced they had
heard reports of Vehling's attempt
to gain lenity, on condition that
he resign as coroner.
Both commissioners said they
would assent to the offer only on
condition that Vehling make full
restitution" of funds alleged to
have been used for numerous I'M
warranted autopsies.
Vehling was indicted Jan. 2, ex-
actly one year after he took Office.
The indictment, charging bride So
licitation, later was quaShed and
an affidavit was substituted. This
was done, according to Wilson, to
add new charges to others con-
tanned in the indictment.
During VehlingS trial, sensational
testimony that the coroner failed to
comply with the law, by not filing
official death verdicts with the
county clerk, was given by Miss
Minnie F. Sartor, coroner's clerk.
This, she testified, was lust an
oversight"
Threat Is Charged
Jurors heard relatives in the Mr..
and Mrs. Stickel and Mr.. Coble
death cases testify Vehling declared
he was ''the law in Marion county,"
and that suicide verdict would be
returned rather than one of acct
dental death, TO prevent collection
of insurance, unless vehling got the
funeral.
Vehling's attorneys, Fred Barrett,
Eph Inman and Thomas MCGEE,
outlined twelve arguments why
Vehling should not be convicted.
MCGEE declared conviction of the
coroner would be the greatest
atrocity ever perpetrated against
man."
On the question of the bride, In
man said that if Vehling wanted
to solicit bride. he would have So
licited more than "mere $3.50"
Vehling did not testify in his own
behalf.
Newspapers Are Blamed
MCGEE blamed newspapers for
Vehlings indictment, and argued
that 1t Is no crime to solicit busi-
ness, If done in legal manner.
Members Of the jury are:
Hamilton N. Leonard. farmer. OF Frank
lin township: William A. Umphrey invest
ment securities salesman. 1881 North Me-
ridian street: Andrew j. Van Sickle. farmer