The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-27
CROUCH MAKES
CONFESSION OF
KILLING, CLAIM
Suspect in U. S. Agents
Death Captured in
Local Hideout.
OFFERS NO RESISTANCE
Given No Chance to Use
Gun as Officers Wake
Him From Sleep.

Harlan Crouch ST., IS, who was
captured by police and Federal
men as he slept in hideout at APT
E. Louisiana-st, today confessed
firing the shots that killed John r.
Foster, 81 of Marion, United States
revenue agent, Lieut.. Roy Pope, po-
lice homicide squad head, claimed.
II thought we were being pur-
sued by hijackers," Lieut.. Pope
quoted Crouch as saying. james
Jacobs, who was riding i'll the car
with me, handed me a rifle, and l
let them have it,"
Foster was killed May IA during
chase Of suspected rum runners
near st. John, Is miles south of
Hammond. Guy Goodin, another
agent, was uninjured
Crouchs statement that he
thought ne was firing at other gang
sters conflicts with one attributed
to Jacobs following his capture sew.
eral days ago by Chicago Heights
police. Authorities quoted Jacobs
as saying that Crouch opened fire
because he thought the pursuing
car contained Federal agents.
Asks Speedy Trial
Demands for immediate indict-
ment and speedy trial were made
in Chicago by E. c. Yellowley, Fed
eral Alcohol Tax Unit head. Yellow
ley said he would appear before
Federal Judge Thomas w. Slick at
Hammond, Ind, later today.
Il will ask Judge Slick for a
special grand jury to indict Crouch
at once" Yellowley said, when in
formed Of the capture. I'VE hope to
have an immediate trial A murder
warrant against Crouch already has
been sworn out and will be served
on him when he reaches Hammond. -
Yellowley also said that his agents
would pursue every one suspected of
harboring Crouch during the two
weeks he was hunted and would
prosecute all found to have aided
him.
Captured with Crouch was a man
who gave his name as Sam Burns.
Police said the second prisoner was
Sam Pendgraft, alias Blackburn,
who has been wanted two years to
answer charges of auto banditry and
assault and battery.
Also taken to police headquarters
for questioning were Miss Pearl
Pendgraft, 80, whom police said was
sister of Sam, and 14-year-old
Dewey Wiley.
Held for Questioning
A man who gave his name as
Paul Mueller, &c. of 1851 APPLICABLE
st, later was arrested by city po-
lice for questioning in connection
with the case and slated on va
grancy charge under $4,000 bond
Police believe Mueller returned
Crouch to indianapolis from an
out-of-town hideout recently.
How did 1 get in this place."
Crouch asked officers who shook
him out of sound sleep. What
time is it?"
Police said the hunted man had
.45-caliber revolver under his pill
The house had been surrounded.
Officers with machine guns were
stationed at front and rear doors,
and others armed with sawed-of
shotguns guarded windows.
Crouch on Probation
Crouch was on probation from the
La Porte Circuit Court, Alexander
Spychalski, court clerk. said. He re-
ceived a suspended l to 10-year
sentence from the La Porte court on
Nov, IS, 1885, on charge of carry
ing concealed weapons, records
show.
Four Taken to Hammond
Four men accused of aiding
Crouch to escape from Federal
agents were taken to Hammond
Monday for action by the Northern
District Federal court.
Sam Curry, owner of a Moores-
vile chicken farm; his son, John
Curry, and Tommy Burns and
Frank Dold, farm tenants, were re-
leased from Indianapolis Municipal
Court to the custody of Federal au-
thoritieS.
Neighbors told police the house
where Crouch was captured was
operated by Mr.. and Mrs. Earl Hall
1t was an orderly establishment,
they said. Mr.. Hall is employed as a
truck driver for the Wheeler Rescue
Mission.