Foul Play Ruled Out In Plane Fall

Foul Play Ruled Out In Plane Fall

But Investigation Into Double Fatality Is Not Yet Complete

The investigation into the death of two men in a Saline plane crash Wednesday continued on two fronts today with no indication of foul play.

Coroner Edwin C. Ganzhorn, who ordered autopsies on both victims of the crash, said the examination showed no signs of either bullet wounds or drugs.

Rudolph Schumaier, 44. who lived at and owned the Saline Airport, and William Beardsley, 49, manager-director of the Hayden Flour Mills in Tecumseh, were killed in the crash.

The two-place, dual-controlled plane took off from Saline Airport about 5 p.m., flew about one-quarter mile and crashed as it labored to gain altitude.

Schumaier was a veteran flyer and instructor, Beardsley a student who had just soloed.

Sheriff Erwin L. Klager ordered a detailed investigation of the crash because someone fired three slugs through Schumaier’s airport bedroom last Friday morning, as the owner slept.

Also investigating the crash are Civil Aeronautics Administration agents. That group released the plane wreckage after inspection yesterday but officials of the group said today the investigation was as yet "incomplete.”

Investigators examined the log books of Schumaier’s 60 flying students yesterday. Today, together with Schumaier’s lawyer, Albert. J. Rapp, they began detailed inspection of the dead man's voluminous files of business papers and personal correspondence.