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.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

May 12, 1972 — On May 14, 1872, three men with $60,000 established the Lake City Bank of Warsaw. Begun as a private bank, the 100-year-old financial institution now has assets of nearly $43 million.

Exchanging approximately $3 million daily with its patrons, the Lake City Bank will hold a week of centennial celebrations from May 15, through May 20 in the main Warsaw office and branches in Winona Lake and Silver Lake.

The only bank in Warsaw to survive the Depression years, the Lake City Bank was founded by James McMurray, president; J.H. Lewis, vice president; and J.B. McMurray, cashier.

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 Harrison Street, Plymouth. A fourth man, George Redman, 21, of East Shaffer Street, 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 16, 1979 — A Marshall County grand jury has recommended the death penalty for three men indicted Tuesday for the March 6 murder of Bourbon businessman Claude (Murph) Yarian, 68.

Held without bond in the Marshall County jail at Plymouth are Larry Perkins, 20, Plymouth; Duane Schuh, 25, Etna Green; and Larry Williams, 21, Plymouth. They were indicted on charges of felony murder, conspiracy and armed robbery, and the Marshall Superior Court grand jurors recommended the death penalty under the new Indiana felony/murder statute.

A fourth man, George Redman, 21, Bourbon, was not indicted by the grand jury and remains in custody in the jail here on a charge of conspiracy to commit burglary.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels