Black Sheep Sunday: Prisoners To Stay In City Says Sheriff

Kokomo Daily Tribune, April 5, 1925, page 1

PRISONERS TO STAY IN CITY SAYS SHERIFF

Denies Report That They Will Be Taken Away For "Safe Keeping."

ARE WELL GUARDED HERE

Pierpont and Skeer Were to Be Arraigned on Bank Robbery Charges Today

Harry Pierpont and Thaddeus "Ted" Skeer were taken into city court this afternoon.

But no proceedings were had.  Prosecuting Attorney Homer H. Miller made a statement to City Judge Joe Cripe in which he stated that by agreement between himself and attorneys for the prisoners, the preliminary hearing might be set for Thursday afternoon.  This the court agreed to.

Pierpont and Skeer were a focal point for hundreds of pairs of curious eyes.  Word had gotten abroad that the two men charged with the holdup and robbery of the South Kokomo bank on Friday, March 27, would be arraigned, and a crowd of spectators had assembled to catch a glimpse of the two youths who could stage so sensational an episode for a community that has known nothing of the kind since before the Civil War.

Pierpont and Skeer, though they were manacled together and surrounded by an ample guard of officers, had nothing of the appearance of the type of desperado which many people seem to picture them.  On the contrary they appeared like two ordinary young men, such as might be encountered on the streets or in store or factory anywhere in the city.

Sheriff Joseph Lindley emphatically denied today that Pierpont and Skeer, charged with robbery of the South Kokomo bank on March 27 would be spirited away from Kokomo and lodged in another jail for safekeeping.

The sheriff made this denial in response to inquiries touching a report that he was conveying them to Pendleton until proper disposition shall have been made of their cases.

"They are hear and they are going to stay here." Sheriff Lindley added. "I am not only watching them personally but I have plenty of help.  They are not going to get away."

The ease with which jail deliveries have been effected in the past from Howard county's antiquated bastille has occasioned apprehension in the minds of some citizens that the place would be inadequate to hold experienced criminals, such as Skeer and Pierpont are known to be, but that the sheriff is taking no chances with them is indicated by the care and forethought he has given to making the place secure, either against attempts from within to escape or any effort that might be made outside to effect a delivery.

"The men will be here when the law calls for them," Sheriff Lindley said in conclusion.

That the law would require the presence of Pierpont and Skeer in court this afternoon was indicated by Prosecutor Homer B. Miller, who said that they would be arraigned before City Judge Joe Cripe who issued the warrants for their arrest.

This will be largely in the nature of a formality, as it is expected the two men will be bound over to the Howard circuit court, their bonds fixed, and the next step will be the preliminary hearing before Judge John Marshall.

Mr. Miller said he hoped to have a preliminary hearing of the charges against the bandit suspects Tuesday afternoon.

He said that he would not await action by the Howard county grand jury, but would prosecute immediately on affidavits making charges covering the holdup and robbery of the South Kokomo bank.

No late new developments came to light today in the case of the two men being held here.

Inquiry at police headquarters as to when Hayes would be brought to Kokomo elicited from Chief of Police Underwood a statement that he had not yet been informed as to when the Detroit authorities would be through with him.

Hayes was arrested at Detroit at the same time Skeer and Pierpont were taken into custody.  The Detroit authorities refused to turn him over to the Kokomo police, stating that they wanted to use him as a material witness in a murder case there.

The Kokomo police were promised that Hayes would be delivered to them as soon as his testimony was obtained in the Detroit case.

Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Pierpont of Brazil, Ind., where he is a prominent business man, came to Kokomo Sunday and arranged with the law firm of Overson & Manning and Healy and Carl Bree to look after the interests of Harry Pierpont when he is arraigned in court.

The same lawyers have also been retained to defend Harry Pierpont during the subsequent trial.

Mr. and Mrs. Pierpont are the young man's parents.

Also the same lawyers indicated that they would represent Skeer.

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This article was found at the Kokomo-Howard County Library in the vertical file regarding cousin Harry Pierport (1902-1934). I am enjoying transcribing the news accounts of his robbery of the South Kokomo bank and subsequent arrest.

Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.