The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-23
LUTz TO QUIZ
MONSTERS ON
JAIL DELIVERY
Attorney-GeneraI Is Seeking
Evidence About Men
Behind Scenes
PATRICK ALSO IN LIMA
CIark's Relatives Fighting to
Prove AIibi, Save Him
From Chair.
BY BASIL GALLAGHER
Times staff Writer

| bl ofASAb OALAaOhLh
Times STAFF Writer
LIMA, O., March 23.-Seeking
evidence to confirm belief that per-
sons behind the scenes" in the
Lima Jail delivery aided in the
Grown Point Dillinger break, Philip
Lutz Jr., Indiana encouragement,
arrived here today.
The encouragement was accom-
panied by his chief deputy, Herbert
j. Patrick, and Roy M. Hullett, in
vestigator.
He said that after court adjourns
today he will question Harry Pier
pont, Russell Clark and Charles
Makley, terror mobsters, and others,
including former prisoners who were
in the Lima Jail when Dillinger was
freed and the sheriff slain.
He said he was particularly inter-
ested in activities of several attor-
neys, mentioning, in particular,
Louis Piquett, Chicago, who was
arrested here over the weekend
when he said he was attorney for
Dillinger before his Grown Point
break, and Joseph Ryan, Indianapo-
lis attorney. under arrest at In
dianapolis on a check charge.
DiIlinger in Chicago?
Lutz revealed that he believes
Dillinger now is in Chicago, and
said two Indiana state police in
vestigators are in Chicago now
seeking to pick up his trail.
Members of Clark's family today
we're waging a desperate, but bitter
ly contested alibi battle to save the
Dillinger mobster from the electric
chair
First defense witnesses today,
after the state rested its case, were
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew Strachen, De-
troit, brother in-law and sister of
Clark, who sought to establish an
alibi with testimony that Clark
stayed continuously in their house
from Oct. 7 to Is, 1888, during which
time Sheriff Sarber was slain.
Prosecutor Is Confident
Prosecutor Ernest S. Botkin to-
day said he was confident he would
be able to shatter the alibi with re-
buttal testimony of two Detroit po-
licemen. Lieutenant Fred Drechsler
and Detective Andrew Santell, that
they raided the Strachen home dur
ing the period and Clark was not
| there
Mr., and Mrs. Strachen testified
that on the day the sheriff was
slain. when the gang released Dill
linger from the jail, Clark was at
their home attending a birthday
party for Clark's brother, Edward,
who failed to show up for the party.
Spectators recalled that Harry
Pierpont, according to testimony in
his own trial, was attending birth
day party for himself at the same
time in Leipsic. o.
Strachen, on the witness stand,
denied that Clark was "kill-crazy."
adding he did not even think Clark
was a criminal.
In Sympathy With 'Boy"
I'm in sympathy with the boy .
he said. He got twenty years on
his first offense, and the family was
not notified so they could get an at
torney. I don't think he got a fair
break
The witness denied knowing that
Mrs. May Clark, the defendants
mother, had employed Louis Piquett
Chicago, as attorney for Clark, add
ing that he always thought Joseph
Ryan, an Indianapolis attorney. was
Dillinger's attorney"
Clarence Miller, a defense attor-
ney, limited Clark would take the
witness stand in his own defense
Other defense witnesses were ex-
pected to include Clark's mother
and his sister and brother n-law,
Mr.. and Mrs. Jess Norton, Detroit
The trial was expected to be con-
cluded late today or tomorrow.
Last state witness was Mrs. Lucy
Sarber, widow of the slain sheriff
who broke down and wept when she
related the story of the jail release
and shooting of her husband
Alleged spying activities around
the heavily guarded Jail were re-
vealed by Prosecutor Botkin. as the
shadow of the electric chair doomed
larger for Clark.
Spying" Is Charged
With the shadow of the electric
chair looming larger today for
Clark. as the state rested its case.
so-called spying" activities around
the heavily guarded Jail were re-
vealed by Ernest Botkin, Allen
county prosecutor.
Mr.. Botkin disclosed that the
heavy military guard which keeps a
twenty-four-h vigil on the jail
in which Harry Pierpont, Clark and
Charles Makley are confined. was
not an empty gesture. He charged
specifically that members of the
Dillinger gang have fitted in and
out of Lima in the past month.
The mysterious opal Long"
Clark's girl friend and so-called
gun moll,' was identified by Mr..
Botkin as one of the spectators in
the court recently.
The prosecutor also believes that
Homer Van Meter. called the finger
man." or spy, of the mob, and still
at large. has been active recently in
Dillinger's behalf.
Tells of Peru Holdup
In connection with the first men,
ton recently of Van Meter in the
case. Mr.. Botkin for the first time
disclosed the inside" story of the
holdup Of the Peru police station
last fall by Dillinger mobsters when
eleven bullet-proof vests, four sub
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