MANION, Ermal Billy - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Crawfordsville – The defense opened its case Thursday morning in the first degree murder trial of Ermal Billy Manion, 25 in Montgomery Circuit Court before Judge Howard A. Sommer. The state rested its case Wednesday afternoon. The prosecution closed its presentation of evidence in the case in which Manion is accused of the shotgun slaying of Orris Edison (Ed) Bastion last March 3, after examining 18 witnesses and presenting 18 exhibits in an effort to prove that Mansion was sane and sober at the time of the slaying.  Bastion was Manion’s stepfather-in-law.  Manion has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge.  Three psychiatrists have been appointed to examine him.  Among state witnesses Wednesday was Det Sgt James M. Frazer of the Lafayette State Police Post.  Sgt Frazer who investigated the case last March 5, testified that Manion told him that he had consumed 8 quarters of beer on the day of the slaying.  A drunkometer expert, Sgt Frazer testified that the alcoholic content of 8 quarters of beer is equal to that of 20 shots of whiskey would render a 150-pound man unable to drive an automobile.  In the questioning of Sgt Frazer, the prosecution brought out that he was testifying as to statements made by Manion.  Other state witnesses Wednesday were Burton Ferguson, former city policeman and Carl Frees, Crawfordsville police officer.  Ferguson testified that he asked Manion to take a drunkometer test after the slaying and that the defendant refused.  Frees was a witness to the defendant’s confession take at the Crawfordsville police station.  The confession signed by Marnion was entered by the state as an exhibit Tuesday.  State Police Sgt. Edward Replogle, a fire expert was the last witness for the state.  Earlier testimony for the prosecution was given by Sheriff Merle Remley.  Mrs. Martha Danielsx, a neighbor of the Bastion family, and two Lafayette Alcoa plant employees.  Manion had been employed in the Alcoa plant die shop since July 1952. Testifying were Dale Henderson, Alcoa plant superintendent and William Conner, shift foreman.  Both testified that Manion could be considered sane by ordinary standards.  Dr. Robert HG. Pierson, deputy Montgomery County coroner and Prosecuting Attorney John R; Berry were other witnesses.   ~~~Transcribed and Typed by kbz

Crawfordsville – Erman B. Manion, 25 of Crawfordsville, a former employee of the Alcoa plant in Lafayette was indicted here Monday on a first-degree murder charge for the shotgun death of his wife’s stepfather, Oris Edison Bastion, 53 of Crawfordsville also an Alcoa employee last March 3.  The shooting occurred at the front door of the Bastion home as the aftermath of several arguments.  Police said Manion confessed the slaying and contended that Bastion had “beat him up” earlier during a family squabble.  Bastion had been summoned to the Manion home by Manion’s wife, Bessie after she and her husband had engaged in an argument police said.  Subsequently she left her home with her stepchildren taking the three Manion children with her, according to police. Manion, advised by telephone by police that it would be necessary for him to wait until the next morning to file an assault and battery affidavit against Bastion, seized a shotgun and went to the Bastion home, police said. Manion fired the weapon through the glass of a storm door the charge striking Bastion in the upper abdomen, police reported.  He died almost instantly.  Manion fired the weapon through the glass of a storm door, the charges striking Bastion in the upper abdomen, police reported.  He died almost instantly.  The first-degree murder indictment was returned by a Montgomery County grand jury.   ~~~Transcribed and Typed by kbz

Crawfordsville – At a sanity hearing in Montgomery Circuit Court two court-appointed psychiatrists testified that Ermal Billy Manion, 23 is sane and able to assist in his own defense on a first degree murder charge in the slaying of Orris Edison (Ed) Bastion, 52 in the Bastion home on March 3.  Judge Howard A. Sommer postponed a decision on the testimony until after another hear on July 30 requested by the defense. The two psychiatrists were Dr. Earl W. Mericle and Dr. George S. Rader of Indianapolis.  Attorney for Manion said they would attempt to introduce testimony of medical witnesses at variance with the findings of the Indianapolis psychiatrists at the June 30 hearing.  Drs. Mericle and Rader were cross-examined regarding an accident suffered by Manion in June 1949, when allegedly sustained several hear injuries.  Both said Manion’s reactions were slightly impaired possibly as a result of the accident.  After tests made at the Montgomery County jail, the two psychiatrists said they believe Manion is sane that he has comprehension to understand the charge against him and that he is of sufficient mental capacity to aid in his own defense and that he knows the difference between right and wrong.  Bastion was shot fatally following a family quarrel in both the Manion and Bastion homes.  Manion’s wife was a stepdaughter of Bastion.   ~~~Transcribed and Typed by kbz