Sheriff Vaughn Treber

Sheriff Vaughn Treber served as Sheriff of Grant County from 1937 to 1940 and also served from 1949 to 1950.

​Sheriff Treber was born on November 10, 1897, and died on October 6, 1983

Sheriff Vaugn Treber lived at 1708 S Boots Street when he died. He was known as a metal worker but he also had a long successful career in law enforcement. Sheriff Treber was known as an honest and compassionate leader so much so while serving as Sheriff a man was given a job working as a “turnkey” after serving time in the jail. Unbeknownest to Sheriff Treber until later that man was a suspect in an Ohio Bank Robbery. Here is the article along with Sheriff Treber’s obituary.

Ohio Bank Raid Suspect Found on Job As Turnkey

Fugitive In North Fairfield Holdup Turned Up In Indiana Through FBI Photo

Marion, Ind., Dec. 20 (AP)- The Sheriff said today the man he trusted with the keys to the jail turned out to be an Ohio bank robber.

Nearly four months ago Sheriff Vaughn Treber hired a new turnkey. The man called himself Jimmy Burke.

But Jimmy Burke wasn’t his real name. Yesterday, through an FBI photograph, he was disclosed as James H. (Bugs) Perry, 56, of Rittman, Wayne County, Ohio, Sheriff Treber announced.

Idenitiy Admitted

The FBI has been hunting Perry for the $3,134 robbery of a bank in North Fairfield, Huron County, O., last June 13. Perry admitted he was their man straight off, Sheriff Treber said, regretting only the embarssment the incident might cause the sheriff.

Paul Boyes, 17, already has been picked up in Florida as Perry’s buddy in the holdup and was sentenced in Federal Court in Toledo.

This is the way they caught Perry, according to Sheriff Treber

Held For vagrancy

On Aug. 9, he was picked up on a vagrancy charge and served an 11-day jail term. Sheriff Treber took a liking to him and hired him as turnkey. He did a good job too.

But Detective Capt. Hobart Whitton happened to be thumbing through FBI circulars of wanted men. One photo looked a great dal like Jimmy Burke.

Captain Whitton and the sheriff showed the picture to Jimmy Burke. Jimmy – or Perry – agreed it looked like him.

Had Access To Guns

“That’s it,” said Perry. “I’m that guy.”

Perry was working a round the clock shift at the jail, seven days a week, and had access not only to cell keys but to gun racks and the jail’s mail. He ate there and was being paid $100 a month.

Friend Of Turnkey Sentenced In Toledo

Paul Boyes was arrested in Miami, Fla., June 23 and returned here. He pleaded guilty to charges of delinquency and was sentenced in Federal Court here Sept. 19 to serve time in the federal correctional instution at Chillicothe, O., until he reached the age of marjority, according to Gerald P. Openlander, assistant U.S. district attorney.

Papers will be prepared today requesting James Perry’s return to Toledo, Mr. Openlander added.

Chronicle-Tribune

Vaughn Treber, former county sheriff dies

Vaughn E. Treber, 85, 1708 S. Boots St., Marion, died at 7:20 a.m. Thursday at Marion General Hospital.

The former three-term Grant County Sheriff had been in failing health the past year. He was admitted to the hospital Monday after being a patient at the Marion VA Medical Center for about 10 months.

Mr. Treber served as sheriff from 1937 through 1940 and again in 1949 and 1950. Born in Markle, he had lived most of his life in Marion. He was the retired owner and operator of Treber Sheet Metal Co. He was a building inspector for the city of Marion from 1960 to 1964. He had worked as a gunsmith for several years after he retired from the sheet metal shop.

A boxer before the Golden Gloves competition was established, Mr. Treber in 1921 won the light heavyweight boxing championship for the Central States division of the Amateur Athletic Union. He was the Indiana AAU champion in 1920 and 1921.

Two former Grant County sheriffs who knew Mr. Treber said Tuesday that he was a good sheriff who couldn’t be pushed around.

Harold Ash, 69 1110 N. Western Ave., Marion, said that as an Indiana state police trooper he worked with Treber when he was sheriff in 1949 and 1950. Ash was sheriff from 1967 through 1974.

`”I always liked Vaughn,” Ash said. The sheriff’s staff was small at the time and Ash would ride with Mr. Treber to scenes of accidents, burglaries and on other investigations.

“He was honest and sincere,” Ash said. “He still was strong. He was strong as a bull. He was a good worker and wouldn’t back off for anybody.”

“You could always trust him. If he’d tell you something, he meant it. He’d follow through on it. I’d say he was a good sheriff,” Ash said.

Former Sheriff Lora D. Puckett, 80, 115 W. Sherman St., said “Vaughn was a very good sheriff. He wasn’t afraid of anything. He’d fight a buzz saw.”

Puckett was sheriff from 1945 through 1948. “When I went out of office he appointed me special deputy and I directed traffic for him at the Highway Theater,” he said.

M. Jack Edwards, 82, 405 N. Gatewood Lane, Marion, also praised Mr. Treber. He was city building inspector during Edward’s second term as mayor of Marion.

“I think he was probably one of the most fearless sheriffs who ever occupied that office,” Edwards said. “He was one of the finest, most strict sheriffs Grant County ever knew and one of the most honest.”

“He was never out looking for trouble, but when trouble presented itself he took care of it,” Edwards said.

An Army veteran of World War I, Mr. Treber was a member of the Byron Thornburg Post 10 of the American Legion and was a past commander of the post. He was a member of the 40&8 and was its past Chef-De-Gare, or commander.

He was a life member of the IOOF Lodge in Marion, and a member of the Marion Samaritan Lodge 105 of the Free and Accepted Masons and its past worshipful master. He also was a member of the Scottish Rite, The York Rite, the Mizpah Shrine of Fort Wayne, and the Eastern Star.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Marion.

Survivors include his wife Lucile; a son, Richard E., Marion; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Needham and Son Funeral Home, 814 S. Adams St., Marion, with the Rev. Phill Stephens officiating. Burial will be in Grant Memorial Park cemetery, Marion.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. There will be Masonic services at 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.