The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-31
PASTOR BUILDS
AL|b| AGAINST
ATTACK TALE
Witnesses in MunCie Trial
Level Heavy Attack on
Girls Story.
CONWAY TO TESTIFY
Expected to Go on Stand
Today; Time Element
Made Factor.
BIZ I nited Press

~ tHiifH ITeSS
MUNCIE, Ind, March 31.-Three
alibi witnesses were presented by
the defense today in an effort tc
show that the Rev. G. Lemuel Con-
way, suspended minister, was not
guilty of attempting to attack Miss
Helen Huffman, pretty 18-year- old
teacher in his Sunday school,
They testified that he was in the
Williams plumbing shop planning a
hunting trip on the afternoon of the
alleged attack.
Miss Huffman had testified that
Conway offered her ride about
230 p. M, Dec. %; that he drove
her to a country road near De Soto
and attempted to attack her. She
said they returned to Muncie about
4 p. m.
But the defense witnesses, j. Ed
gar Newbold, William Ridgeway and
Joseph Sullivan, all testified that
Conway was in the plumbing shop
from 2 to p. M, Dec. 90.
Pleased With Replies
Ridgeway and Sullivan said they
had planned to accompany him on
the hunting trip the following day.
The deposed Methodist minister
displayed great interest in the wit
nesses and seemed pleased with
their replies to the questions of Rol-
lin bennington, chief defense coun-
sell
Miss Huffman sat quietly at an
other table, comforting frequently
with Prosecutor Letter
Conway was expected to testify in
his own defense shortly after the
opening Of the afternoon session.
Before calling the alibi witnesses,
bennington summoned Thomas D.
Martin, former railroad detective,
to the stand
1t was explained that Martin had
taken an interest in the case from
the start, but it was not brought out
what was responsible for his inter-
est. He denied having been en-
ployed as a detective by the de-
Tense.
Martin refuted testimony offered
Thursday by DR.. Frank Daughetty
Muncie district superintendent of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
DR.. Daugherty had testified that
Conway offered to move out of town
if the charges were dropped.
"On the contrary" Martin said
DIR. Daugherty offered to drop the
charges and transfer Conway tc
another parish.
Courtroom Is damned
But Conway refused to do this
He said he was not guilty and
wouldn't run away; that he wanted
to be cleared of all the charges"
Martin declared that throughout
the whole case, DR.. Daugherty has
taken the attitude that Conway was
guilty and had given him no chance
to prove himself innocent.
Another capacity crowd was
present in the circuit court room
today.
Two sisters were among first wit
nesses for the defense.
One of them, Mrs. Harriet Per-
clue, widow of former sheriff, tes-
titled that on three other occasions
Miss Huffman, black haired, high
school senior had accused men Of
attempting to attack her.
She also declared that the girls
mother Mrs. Burl Huffman, often
had remarked that Conway will
not finish his term in this charge. -
Mrs. Perdiue and her sister, Mrs
Emma Kiger, who corroborated her
testimony, formerly lived next to
the Conway home.
Several members of the con-
gregation objected to Conway, be-
cause his five daughters did all the
singing at the church, Mrs. Perdiue
testified