Timeline From The Past: Yarian Murder, Fuel Boycott
From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society
Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.
May 14, 2004 — A Cromwell man fired about 70 shotgun rounds at police officers Thursday night, injuring Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputy Jeff Howie.
Robert James Louden, 41, of 9821 E. Rockabye Lane, Cromwell, was arrested without incident, though it took three hours of negotiation before he submitted to police.
May 15, 1979 — The first break in the 3-1/2-month-old murder investigation of Bourbon businessman Claude (Murph) Yarian, 68, came today following the arrest of four men.
Three jailed at Plymouth Monday were Larry Perkins, 20, Rt. 5, Plymouth; Duane Schuh, 25, Box, 9, Etna Green; and Larry Williams, 21, of 312 Harrison St., Plymouth. A fourth man, George Redman, 21, of 305 E. Shaffer St., Bourbon, was picked up by police Friday night and lodged in the Kosciusko County Jail to purportedly isolate him from the other suspects being jailed in Marshall County.
Yarian, long-time owner and operator of Yarian’s store in Bourbon, was gunned down as he approached his home on North Main Street early on the morning of March 6. Authorities said Yarian was killed by a shotgun blast to the upper abdomen.
Police said Yarian had closed his general store about midnight and drove, with his wife, Ann, to their home seven blocks north of the town’s business district. Mrs. Yarian reportedly remained in the car while her husband approached the residence to unlock the door and turn on the lights. As Yarian walked on the north side of the home, he was met by his assailant.
May 15, 1979 — Wholesale fuel distributors and service station owners in Kosciusko County are closing their businesses earlier each day and some have resorted to closing on Sundays in an effort to stretch limited gasoline supplies, but most say they will continue to pump gasoline during the four-day nationwide boycott.
The long lines and government rationing plans in southern California may only be one month away in Indiana, local gasoline suppliers claim.
“We’ve always believed we’ve lived in a land of plenty,” but many are finding that is not true,” commented J.C. (Mac) Silveus, president of Silveus and Bradway Oil Co. Inc., Warsaw.
May 10, 1975 — Rob Staley and Therese Peters were crowned Warsaw Community High School’s Prom King and Queen for 1975 in the auditorium last night. Rob is the son of Mrs. Mae Sprong, Shady Lane, Warsaw, and Therese is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Peters, 722 N. Harrison St., Warsaw.
– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels