Shelby County Indiana
Newspaper Articles
Zeigler
Newspaper Articles
Zeigler
The Shelbyville Republican
Tuesday, February 29, 1944
Page 1
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WEAVER FREED
OF COMPLICITY
IN RAPE CASE
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Declared "Not the Man"
by Victim; Still in
Jail Awaiting Decision
of Judge
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A statement exonerating Pierce Weaver, 46-year-old Shelbyville man, of responsibility in the criminal assault of a 12-year-old girl, was received yesterday from the girl under oath by Shelby Circuit Court Judge Harold G. Barger. Judge Barger stated that the girl declared she was frightened when she made previous statements in the case to police and before the grand jury.Tuesday, February 29, 1944
Page 1
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WEAVER FREED
OF COMPLICITY
IN RAPE CASE
----------
Declared "Not the Man"
by Victim; Still in
Jail Awaiting Decision
of Judge
----------
Held in Jail
Weaver, however, is still being held in jail under $5,000 bond on the indictment charging him with rape, which was returned by the grand jury last week following its investigation into the case. Judge Barger said his final decision in the matter would be forthcoming.
The statutory case, which resulted in the death of one local man, Charles Smith, who died after being struck by the girl's father, "broke" again, Sunday night as the result of further investigation by the city police department, State Trooper Elmer Cord, Sheriff Fred Courtney and Deputy Fred Gravely, Prosecutor Dale S. Rafferty and Warren M. Brown, Weavers' attorney.
In addition to the girl's statement, which placed all final responsibility for the criminal assault on Smith, police said that further investigation showed that Weaver could not have been responsible for a part in the assault.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday, February 17, 1944
Page 1
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FREE ZEIGLER
FROM FURTHER
PROSECUTION
----------
Grand Jury Recommends
Father of Assault Victim
Be Released From Bail,
Prosecution.
----------
Roy Zeigler, charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a man who had confessed to the criminal assault of Zeigler's 12-year-old daughter, has been released from further prosecution in the case on recommendation of the Shelby county grand jury.Thursday, February 17, 1944
Page 1
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FREE ZEIGLER
FROM FURTHER
PROSECUTION
----------
Grand Jury Recommends
Father of Assault Victim
Be Released From Bail,
Prosecution.
----------
At the same time, jury members who were in session on Monday and again on Wednesday, released another man from further prosecution in another case and returned indictments against two others.
One indictment, for rape, was returned against Pierce Weaver, 46-year-old Shelbyville man from whom local policeobtained a confession of having also criminally attacked the same girl victimized by Charles E. "Doc" Smith, 67, who died after having been struck by Zeigler. At the present time, Weaver is being held at the state reformatory at Pendleton.
Prosecutor Dale S. Rafferty stated last night that the grand jury's recommendations would automatically release Zeigler who is 35, from further prosecution and from the $2,000 bail under which he has been at liberty. The other man released from further prosecution is Orville Brown, who had been charged with disorderly conduct following an altercation with the Shelby county state conservation officers.
The second man indicted by the six-man body is Sylvester Moore, age 32, R.R. 3, Shelbyville. The indictment returned against Moore is for operating a motor vehicle upon a public highway while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. The Moore case is the result of an automobile accident last December 18 on Road 244., just off Road 29, a short distance east of Shelbyville. Moore's seven-year-old son, Stanley, died of injuries suffered in the crash against a culvert and tree.
The jury interrogated 21 witnesses in conducting its investigation of the court cases. In its final report, relating to the statutory case, the jury recommended "that the case of the State of Indiana vs. Roy Zeigler, being cause No. 4507, in the criminal docket in the Shelby circuit court, be dismissed from further prosecution therein for want of sufficient evidence, and that said defendant be released from bail." The same recommendation was tendered for Orville Brown.
During its two-day session, the grand jury also inspected the county jail, infirmatry and Gordon Children's Home, finding all three institutions in satisfactory condition and efficiently managed. Members of the grand jury were Raymond W. Harding, of Sugar Creek township, foreman; Ora E. Schumake, Moral township; Jasper J. Kemper, Hanover township; George H. Armstrong, Shelby township; Virgil Messmore, Union township, and Morgan McNeely, Liberty township. Following completion of the report late yesterday, it was approved and signed by Judge Harold G. Barger.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelbyville Republican
Thursday, February 17, 1944
Page 1 and Page 6
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MAN DIES AFTER
BLOW BY RAPE
VICTIM'S FATHER
----------
Charles 'Doc' Smith, Ac-
cused of Attack, Hit By
Father of 12-Year-
Old Girl.
----------
Charles "Doc" Smith, between 65 and 70 years of age, fell dead at the city hall at about 7:30 o'clock last night following a blow delivered by Roy Zeigler, 35, of 307 east Hendricks St. The dead man had just confessed to police the raping of Zeigler's 12-year-old daughter, and had implicated Percy Weaver, 40, as an accomplice.Thursday, February 17, 1944
Page 1 and Page 6
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MAN DIES AFTER
BLOW BY RAPE
VICTIM'S FATHER
----------
Charles 'Doc' Smith, Ac-
cused of Attack, Hit By
Father of 12-Year-
Old Girl.
----------
Through a combination of circumstances, there was no witness to the blow which was delivered to Smith's temple. Chief of Police Goebel had just left the room, Officers Maurice Moberly and Lloyd Mellis were engaged in grilling Weaver and State Patrolman Elmer Cord was looking on.
Zeigler Confesses Blow.
During the brief moment Zeigler and Smilth were alone, Zeigler delivered the blow to which he readily confessed. Smith had apparently died instantly. Investigation in to the cause of death will be made by Acting Coroner C. J. Price.
Chief Goebel came back in to the room in time to see Smith fall.
The chief of police said that prior to his leaving the room, Zeigler had voiced his bitter resentment to Weaver who was then being questioned by Officers Mellis and Moberly.
"I'd like to break every bone in your body," he had said to Weaver, according to Goebel. "Anyone can see that this man (nodding to Smith) is not responsible -- does not know any better, but you do." Zeigler is being held on a manslaughter charge.
Smith Found in Shack.
Smith was arrested when Officers Moberly and Mellis recognized him from the description of the 12-year-old rape victim. He was found in his shack on an alley just off Pike street and readily admitted his complicity in the affair but at first withheld the name of the other man, whom the little girl had described as having "a black beard." The occurrence was reported by Mrs. Liza Gayheart, aunt of the child.
The two men are said to have enticed the little girl away from the corner of Hendricks and Center street where she had been playing in the snow, and to have conducted her between them to Smith's shack.
No mormal charge ahd yet been filed against Weaver but he is being held for further investigation. He had served a term for coal theft recently.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Indianapolis Star
November 7, 1915
Page 69 Column 7
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SHELBYVILLE.
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Clarence Lee and
Miss Ruth Zeigler were married Monday evening by the Rev.
S. D. Hawkins. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Zeigler.November 7, 1915
Page 69 Column 7
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SHELBYVILLE.
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Contributed by Virginia Latta Curulla
The Shelbyville Daily Democrat
Thursday, January 21, 1886
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LOCAL NEWS.
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Mrs. Mary McFarren, of West
Carolton, Ohio, sold her farm yesterday, near Smithland, to Mr. Joe
Zeigler, and will return home to-day.Thursday, January 21, 1886
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LOCAL NEWS.
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Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
