The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-15
'JEKYLL-HYDE'
BRAND PLACED
ON CORONER
vehIing's Tactics ASSaiIed
by Prosecutor Wilson in
Final Argument.
CASE TO JURY TODAY
Defense Attorney Makes
Strong Plea to Clear
Accused Official.

Branding Coroner Fred w. Vehl-
ing as a DIR. Jeckyll and Mr..
Hyde" Prosecutor Herbert Wilson
today made the states initial clos
ing argument in the coroner's
criminal court jury trial on a
charge of soliciting a bride.
With but three hours of argu-
ments remaining, it is expected the
coroner's fate will be placed in the
hands of the jury shortly after 4
this afternoon.
Climaxing one of the swifteSt
trials of public official ever to be
held in Marion county, Wilson
sketched the fundamentals of the
states charge that Vehling threat
ened to change the verdict in the
Mr.. and Mrs. Benjamin Stickel and
William Colle gas death cases I'M
less given insurance policies, $3.50
in cash, an automobile and house.
hold furnishings.
Faces Long Term
If convicted, Yelling faces two to
fourteen years Imprisonment, fine
of $4,000, or both. This judgment
can be suspended, all or in part,
by the court.
Partial closing argument of the
defense was made during the morn
ing session by Fred Barrett, one of
Vehling's attorneys.
While a crowded courtroom lis
tened, Barrett moved spectators
and one defense attorney to tears
with vivid word picture of the
states battle to ruin Vehling and
place him behind prison bars"
Barrett'S plea was made after Will
son, attacking Vehling's alleged
tactics in handling of death cases,
pleaded with the jury to restore the
public's confidence in public Off
Gifts"
Threat Charge Cited
What is the public coming to if
it can't have trust in public officials
the men who hetray them" Will
son said. THE great trouble with
the government today does not exist
across the seas, but right here at
home, with our own governing Off
Gals"
Wilson reviewed testimony Of rela-
tives of Mr.. and Mrs. Stickel and
Mr.. Cobel, in which they claimed
Vehling threatened to return sui
eide verdict rather than one of &C
cidental death, which would have
prevented collection of double in
demnity on insurance.
'Vehling wanted that funeral"
Wilson declared, land he said he'd
change the verdict if he didn't get
it."
Testimony Is Attacked
Wilson attacked the testimony of
character witnesses for Vehling.
These included several Indianapolis
undertakers and business men.
ANY one of u.s." Wilson said,
pointing to the jury, could commit
murder tonight, and bring a dozen
character witnesses into court to-
morrow"
Wilson described the lament
able" circumstances under which he
said relatives of The dead persons
were forced to fight" for the bodies
with Vehling. He attempted to re-
flute the defense statement that
$4,000 was not too much for the
funeral of the victims.
1T doesn't make any difference
if the defense showed $4,000 was
a fair price for the funeral" he
said. THE attempt to solicit a
bride remains the same, whether
the funeral cost was $500 or $5,00O.
During Barrett's argument, re-
curing nearly an hour of the de-
lenses allotted time for final state
ment, George Sheehan, co-counsel
for Vehling, wept openly at Bar
rett'S reference to prison walls for
the coroner if convicted.
Sheehan now is under Indictment
in criminal court in connection with
an alleged $4,000 bond theft in
New YORK last tall.
Several spectators were seen to
cry.
Barrett attacked alleged indiffer-
ences in testimony of states wit
nesses, asserting the discrepancies
reelected on the states case.
Thomas MCGEE and Eph Inman,
other defense attorneys for Vehl-
ing, were to complete the closing
defense argument this afternoon.
Floyd Mattice, chief deputy prose-
cutor, will complete the states ar
gument, and Fred G. Cause, spe-
cial judge, will read instructions to
the jury.