The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-24
FREES WIFE OF
BLAME AS He
DIES OF SHOT
|. G. Cummins, Prominent
in City Affairs, Killed
by Bullet.

AS he died, Lawrence @. Cum
minis, AZ, Indianapolis business man,
exonerated his wife Ethel, A, of
blame for a bullet wound which
caused his death at st. Vincent's
hospital Sunday night.
Cummins was wounded Saturday
night at his home, 4166 Washington
boulevard. Police said they did not
learn of the shooting until about
an hour after it occurred.
The couple, prominent in social
circles of the city, quarreled after
retiring Saturday night, according
to Mrs. Cummins, when the hus-
band said that she could not &C
company him on trip to Martins
vile which he planned to make
Sunday.
Struggled for Revolver
Cummins had returned Saturday
from Martinsville and his wife from
Terre Haute.
I'll go with you" Mrs. Cummins
is said TO have asserted. mo, you
won't" the husband responded.
The quarrel continued and finally
Cummins, according to statements
to police, asserted he would leave
Immediately for Martinsville.
His wife obtained a revolver and
is said to have threatened to kill
herself. They struggled for possess
sion of the weapon, which was dis
charged. A bullet entered Cum
Minis abdomen.
Called Friend of Family
Assisting her husband to bed,
Mrs. Cummins is said to have tele-
phoned Thomas M. Quinn, 2340
North Pennsylvania street, bust
ness man and friend of the Cum
Minis family.
He, in turn, called a police officer
at his residence, who suggested call
ing the captain on duty. An in
vestigation was made by detectives
R. j. Taylor and Lawrence Nc
Carthy.
Tom, you take care Of Ethel" is
statement credited to Cummins by
Quinn.
Mrs. Cummins was arrested on a
vagrancy charge and released on
$4,000 bond. Authorities indicated
today she will not be prosecuted,
theory of accidental shooting hay
ing been accepted.
DR.. w. E. Arbuckle, coroner, who
has deathbed statement of Cum
minis generating his wife, opened
an inquest today.
A statement made 60 detectives
by Mrs. CumminS varies from other
versions of the shooting only in
that she says she first telephoned
the family physician, DR.. T. N.
Siersdorfer, Winthrop and Fairfield
avenues, instead of Quinn, and
that Quinn accompanied the doctor
to the CumminS home.
Born in BrOwnstOwn
CumminS, who was born in
Brownstown, had been resident of
indianapolis si1ce childhood, and
was secretary treasurer and plant
manager of the Schwitzer- Cummins
Company, 1925 Massachusetts ave-
nue., which he and Louis Schwitzer
formed in 1918.
He was member of st. Joan of
Arc church, Indianapolis Athletic
Club, Highland Golf and Country
Club, Algonquin Riding Club and
the Knights of Columbus.
Besides the widow, he is survived
by his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. George
w. CumminS, 4201 North Pennsyl-
vania street; two sons, Lawrence G.
Cummins Jr., Purdue university
student, and John Cummins, stu
dent in Indiana university; three
daughters, Mrs. Paul Mcnamara,
Miss Mary CumminS, student in st.
Mary's college, Lake Forest, ILL.,, and
Sister Ethelrieta, member Of the
Sisters of Providence.
Funeral services will be held at 8
Wednesday morning at the home
and at $50 at st. Joan of Arc
church. Burial will be in Holy
Cross cemetery.