Indianapolis Times, Volume 45, Number 217, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 January 1934 — Page 1

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WFBM BOOKS ARE BAFFLING, SAY PROBERS Light Cos. Cloaks Accounts of Its Radio Station, Accountants Claim. RECORDS SHOW LITTLE ‘Clean-Cut’ Statement of Revenues Is Sought by Bookkeepers. Radio station WFBM. operated in this city by the Indianapolis Power and Light Company, is a nonoperating revenue source, the expenses of which, in the lignt company's reports to the public service commission. are puzzling to accountants. An analysis of the light company’s reports to Sherman Minton, public counselor, in preparation for the rate case to begin Feb. 1, reveals that the figures quoted for the operation of the radio station list “gross revenues’’ or “revenues” representing gross receipts and sale of services for the broadcasting station, according to accountants. No deductions are made for operating expenses, depreciation of equipment, maintenance of station's equipment, cast of artists’ services, etc., in the reports to the commission of the operation of the radio station, accountants charge. While they admit that these expenses for the radio station probably are reported in some other expense account, a careful study of the official reports has not revealed them to date, accountants declare. They maintain that the light company should make a “clean-cut” declaration of these expenses for the operation of the radio station, which easily could be found by any accountant and not merely by the accounting department of the light company. Fail to See Benefit Accountants allege that if the station were profitable, the light company would be only too glad to show that it was a money-maker. As in the case of certain other nonoperating revenue sources of the light company, which are alleged to be a heavy drain on consumers’ pocketbooks. utility experts fail to see what benefit the operation of the radio station is to electric consumers, under the present high rates. Under the caption, “miscellaneous nonoperating revenues” in the reports of the light company to the public service commission, accountants declare that the following figures regarding the operation of the radio station are the only statistics Mr. Minton can find: None reported I*?K <• gross revenue) $??,676.83 1929 < revenue) $75,693.91 1939 l revenue* $!¥.165.*)1 1931 Across revenue) $8?. 361.58 193? inet profit) ,$35,983.13. Accountants studying these reports of the light company stated to Mr. Minton that the management of the company should be asked to give the public an operating account for 1927 to 1932. inclusive, and state to what account or accounts the expenses connected with WFBM have been charged each year. Items Are Recalled Recalling the alleged questionable items relating not only to the nonoperating revenues of the light company and their benefits to the ultimate consumer, but also the alleged “write-up*: 1 totaling $24,000,000 as charged by Mr. Minton, the public counselor today cited the following statement by the light company which appears on the last page of its reports to the public service commission. “We the undersigned (the president and officer in charge of accounts* on our oath do severally say that the foregoing return has been prepared under our direction, from the original books, papers and records of said company: that we have carefully examined the same, and declare the same to be a complete and correct statement of the business and affairs of said company in respect to each and every matter and thing therein set forth. ’And we further say that no deductions were made before stating the operating revenues therein set forth, except those shown in the foregoing accounts and that the accounts and figures contained in the foregoing return embrace all of the financial operations of said company during the period for which said return is made, to the best of our knowledge, information and belief.” 20 KILLED IN BATTLE Bolimns Rout Paraguayan Cavalry in Gran Chaco War. /•' I sited Pn ns LA PAZ, Bolivia, Jan. 19. Bolivian forces in the Gran Chaco at dawn yesterday routed the Paraguayan second cavalry in the southern sector, an official announcement said today. There were twenty casualties. The Bolivians also repulsed an enemy incursion in the Plantanillos sector, the announcement said. Times Index Page Bridge 13 Broun 17 Classified 26, 27 Comics 29 Congress Pace 3 Crossword Puzzle 30 I Curious World 29 Editorial 18! Fmanclai! 26 Pood Section 20. 21. 22. 23 Hickman—Theaters 17 Our Gant—A Senes " 17 Pegler 17 Radio 14 j Sporti 24, 85 ; State News 8 Unknown Blond 291 Woman s Pages 12, 13

W DO OUD Ml

VOLUME 45—NUMBER 217

‘Penrod’ Grown Up Now—and So Are Other City Characters Written Into Fame by Kindly Booth Tarkington

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Booth Jameson

BATTERS HEAD AGAINST CELL Man Believed Prominent Muncie Citizen Is Seriously Hurt. A man believed to be Raymond Greeley, head of the Greeley Lumber Company, Muncie, was taken to city hospital today by police after he injured himself seriously by butting against the walls of his cell in city prison. The man was taken in custody by police who were called to Thirtieth and Illinois streets on report that a man was “acting queerly.” Arresting officers said the man attempted resistance and tried to seize one officer's gun. He was placed in city prison on mental vagrancy charges and shortly after being imprisoned. began battering his head against the cell walls. His condition is serious, it was said at city hospital. Membership cards in Muncie civic and fraternal organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, afforded clews to the man's identity. All bore the name of Raymond Greeley. MACHINE GUN MOB ROBS ILLINOIS BANK Dillinger Gang Suspected; Loot Is $5,000. By I'nit Ml Press GIRAfjD. 111.. Jan. 19.—Five bandits. armed with a machine gun, a sawed off shotgun and revolvers, and believed by police to be members of a gang of bank robbers headed by John Dillinger, notorious escaped Indiana convict, held up and robbed the Girard State Bank here today and escaped with an estimated $5,000 in cash.

•BLUE BOY/ MOVIES’ PRIZE HOG, IS DEAD; BLAME OVEREATING

By United Press HOLLYWOOD. Jan. 19—Blue Boy, only “leading man" hog in motion pictures, is dead. The prize winner in “State Fair" died at a stock farm near here, the victim of what his expert handlers called over-groom-ing. Others called it a common hog ailment—over-eating. CARLOADINGS ON CLIMB Increase of 55.688 Reported Over Previous Week. By United Press WASHINGTON. Jan. 19. The American Railway Association announced today carloadings of revenue freight for the week ending Jan. 13. totaled 555.627, an increase of 55.688 over the preceding week and an increase of 45.734 over the corresponding week in 1933.

QOME years ago a war movie made its first appearance in an Indianapolis theater. „ It was a plain-spoken mode. It was realistic and had the smash of front lines. Former service men attended the movie during its presentation here. It brought them many memories, from the daily scratching to the singing of Mademoiselle from Armentiers.” That movie was "The Big Parade.” Its author was Laurence Stallings, a one-legged newspaper man. who admitted he couldn’t get the World war out of his mind. That inability to forget the World war has stood Mr. Stallings in good stead. He was one of the first American writers to put the war in print in other than fairy tale style. Mr. Stallings’ latest contribution to the world of war literature is the impressive photographic history, "The First World War,” which will be republished in The Indianapolis Times, beginning Tuesday.

The Indianapolis Times Fair tonight and tomorrow; lowest temperature tonight about 28; somewhat warmer tomorrow.

Whining Shells Scream a ‘Song of Death ’Once More

BY BASIL GALLAGHER Times Staff Writer •’■QENROD," far behind him the adolescence which endeared him to millions of readers, dressed in brown tweeds and standing six feet in his custom-made boots, contemplated his creator reminiscently. He stood in the stately living room of Booth Tarkington's home at 4270 North Meridian street while the man who wrote so glowingly of “Penrod's” juvenile adventures sat in a wing chair and warmed his hands at the open fire. And Mr. Tarkington, also waxing reminiscent, talked of “cabbages and kings” and an Indianapolis which bred not only "Penrod,” but scores of other characters in his books and plays. “ ‘Penrod’ really is a composite picture of Booth and his brothers, John and Donald Jameson,” said Mr. Tarkington. “Booth, I think inspired the dominant note in ‘Penrod’s’ complex personality. “I was very lucky at the time I wrote ‘Penrod’. Then my three nephews all were growing up and playing in the barn back of the old house at Pennsylvania and Eleventh streets. A numbr of boys in that neighborhood who played in our back yard, unconsciously were writing themselves into that book.” * K * “IYyTALOTT WHITE, for ex•LJ. ample,” Mr. Jameson chuckled. “I remember when you gave Malott and me each 25 cents a week to stop yodeling near your window. The bribe made it a little nard for us to communicate with each other, but it was fine to have the extra spending money.” “And the girls in the book, Mr. Tarkington?” interrupted the reporter. “They were also local for the most part,” said the author. “No individual girl, you understand, but a number of girls in the neighborhood. Little girls of Indianapolis, as boys saw them, you understand.” A smile wreathed the author’s kindly face. “Little girls from my own boyhood in Indianapolis also went into the book,” he laughed. “A few years ago I went to a dance at one of the country clubs here. I met a charming woman and asked her to dance. “Not if you behave the way you did the last time you asked me,” she said. “The last time?” I asked, incredulously. “Yes,” she replied, “when we both were very young I was to be your partner in a cotillion at dancing school. The day of the party I received a note from you. It read: “Dear Miss R—“Please excuse me from dancing the cotillion with you. I fell off the barn roof today. “Booth Tarkington.” n m a "T WAS very afraid of little 1 girls in those days,” Mr. Tarkington confessed. “And as I remember, I fell off the roof purposely. "Yes, I have written a number of Indianapolis families Into my books." the author continued, “but I don’t dare to mention names. And practically all of them are composite pictures, anyway. An incident from one family combined with a personality description of another. Minimizing his own famous contributions to literature, Mr. Tarkington said that the Hoosier school of literateurs, including James Whitcomb Riley, Dreiser, Wallace, Hubbard, Nicholson, Ade and others ranked as a regional group, second only to Longfellow, Holmes. Emerson, Lowell, Thoreau and others. Os the new deal, Mr. Tarkington spoke whimsically. “One speaks of new world conditions as one does at some very solemn event like a funeral,” he said. “Hushed and cautious phrases are used. One approaches the subject almost prayerfully.” And of books: “Two of the greatest books I ever have read almost are unknown now,” said Mr. Tarkington. “ ‘Grandismes’ by George W. Cable and the ’Damnation of Thearon Ware’ by Harold Frederic.” •That is the curse of this age. The good things are almost as likely to perish as the trash.”

The picture story of “The First World War 1 ’ is the most stupendous record of w'ar photos ever compiled. The series contains approximately 500 uncensored pictures. Many of these never have been printed before. The photographs are not limited to battles, big guns and blood-stained trenches. Mr. Stallings has obtained the other side of the story, too. He shows the homes that were blighted by “The First World War.” He shows old women, ankle deep in snow, bending over crosses on graves that were created suddenly by the ravages of conflict. m m m THE book shows hopeless prisoners of war and returning refugees facing only the remains of their homes while others learned that entire villages in which they lived had been wiped off the earth. With this startling array of photographs, are smashing art captions. one. whether it

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1934

Booth Tarkington

CWA READY TO CUT PAYROLLS Million Men to Be Laid Off Every Two Weeks Starting Feb. 15. By United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—The civil works administration contemplates a drastic demobilization among its workers, starting Feb. 15, which “substantially means dropping 1,000,000 men every two weeks,” Civil Works Administrator Henry J. Hopkins said today. Mr. Hopkins said sufficient funds were on hand to meet the CWA pay roll at least up to Feb. 10. Any activities of the civil works administration after Feb. 15, he said, will depend on whether congress appropriates $350,000,000, as requested by the President. ROOSEVELT ASKS GOLD BILL HASTE Adoption Sought by Tuesday to Aid Refinancing. By United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.—President Roosevelt, as well as Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, wants congress to pass the gold bill by Tuesday because of treasury financing plans, house majority leader Joseph W. Byrns said today. "The President wants to have the bill enacted into law by Tuesday because there is refinancing to do,” Byrns said.

RIDDLED BY BULLETS, DILLINGER’S AUTO IS PURCHASED FOR $475

Riddled with bullet holes and dusty from many desperate flights from the law, the car of John Dillinger brought $475 at an auction in the state highway garage, jammed with curiosity-seekers. It was “knocked down” to an automobile dealer. The car, which is believed to have snatched Dillinger away from police squads after sensational bank holdups. was confiscated In Chicago. Dillinger and his gang, drawn from Michigan City escaped convicts and Chicago gangland, deserted Chicago after they had narrowly escaped pursuing police. INDIANA CREDIT UNION LEAGUE TO CONVENE Talcott Powell, Editor of The Times, to Speak at Session. The Indiana Credit Union League will hold its tenth annual meeting at 6:30 next Friday in the Real Silk hosiery mills cafeteria. Principal speakers will be Harvey Hartsock, member of the state financial institutions commission, and Talcott Powell, editor of The Times.

consists of one word tells the story of the photo with a pvmch that will grip you. The grisly rough-and-tumble with which most of Mr. Stallings’ writings are touched, and which is apparent on many pages of “The

“The First World War,” a remarkable and stirring photographic history, is to be republished In The Indianapolis Times, starting Tuesday. Hundreds of photographs, collected from many sources and telling the story of the war from its beginning down through the Armistice and beyond, will be presented. The first pages of these pictures will appear Tuesday, and thereafter there will be at least a page of them each day. The accompanying story tells something about the man who Is chiefly responsible for this great book—Laurence Stallings, its editor. The photo series will start Tuesday in The Times.

First World War.” is in startling contrast to the man himself. He is a gentle fellow with a pronounced southern drawl, who earns his living—generally speaking—by writing book reviews for the New York Sun. His mart famous "What

‘MYSTERY MAN 1 IS ARRESTED IN WYNEKOOP MURDER CASE TRIAL OF ACCUSED DOCTOR DELAYED

FUR FOR LIE ts Klim ST.PFUH.MfIN Blood Stains Are Found in Abandoned Automobile of Young Banker. (Copyright. 1934, by United Press) ST. PAUL, Jan. 19.—Discovery of bloodstains in the automobile from which Edward G. Bremer was dragged by kidnapers has chilled the banker’s family with dread that he is seriously injured, or perhaps dead, the United Press learned today as the rendezvous for payment of $200,000 ransom was awaited. The grewsome index to the abductors’ desperate character was found shortly after the abandoned motor car was discovered by searchers Wednesday afternoon. * Police Chief Thomas Baliill, who has had sixty-seven men on “instant call” duty since the first rumors of the snatching, but still is not officially in the case, learned of the motor car’s recovery and upon examination found it “covered with blood.” the United Press was informed. Front Cushions Crimsoned Two large splotches and a smeary streak crimsoned the front cushions and floor of the machine. One of the splotches was on the driver’s seat, the smear pointed toward the opposite car door and the other splotch Was by the door on the floor board. The indication Investigators gained from their observations was that Mr. Bremer had been battered on the head and dragged unconscious into another machine. Chief Dahill declined comment on the startling development, but did not challenge the verity of the information. Awaits Final Orders Meanwhile, the ransom money awaited the crucial contact with the kidnapers for final instructions as to payment. The victim’s father, Adolph Bremer, wealthy brewer and friend of President Roosevelt, begged publicly for police nonintervention. “Leave us alone to carry through our plans” the gray-haired patriarch pleaded. “We want to get our Eddie safely back to his family.” The latest arrival was Frank J. Blake, ace of the federal division of investigation, who came by airplane from Texas to meet the first challenge of the government’s war on crime since he helped send George (Machine Gun) Kelly’s gang to prison for the Urschel kidnaping at Oklahoma City. President Pledges Aid By United Press ST. PAUL, Jan. 19.—President Roosevelt has pledged the full support of the United States government toward the release of Edward G. Bremer and capture of his kidnapers, itVas learned today. The pledge was made in one of two telegrams to the President’s friend, Adolph Bremer, wealthy brewer, Democratic leader and father of the victim. The second telegram extended the President’s sympathies to the Bremer family. HOME OF FUTURE TOPIC I. U. Fine Arts Professor to Speak at Local Extension. The house of the future will be the subject of two lectures to be given by Harry Engel, Indiana university fine arts department instructor, at the extension division, 122 East Michigan street. The first lecture will be Wednesday night. Mr. Engel’s lectures will be followed by talks on interior decoration, given by Mrs. Eleanor B. Miller and Mrs. George Calvert. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 30 10 a. m 36 7a. m 30 11 a. m 40 Ba. m 31 12 (noon).. 42 9 a. m 33 1 p. m 44

Price Glory?” (written in collaboration with Maxwell Anderson) is a classic of wholesale profanity, but Mr. Stallings seldom swears. In fact, most newspaper offices could supply a dozen more adept “cussers” than this man whose

“What Price Glory?” was barred from the London stage because it was too profane. He is a short fellow with a sensitive face and rather sad eyes. He has been described as having the general air of a chaplain. He was bom In Macon, Ga., Nov.

Entered ■ Second-Ciaea Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis

Fry Drops Licenses of City Cases Pretzel Bell, Blue Ribbon Hit in •By-Drink’ Sales War. Long threatened drive of the state excise department against "by-the-drink” whisky sales bore fruit today with revocation of the beer and wine permits of the Pretzel Bell restaurant, 117 North Illinois street. The restaurant, a popular downtown resort, has been dispensing whisky and gin highballs, according to Fred R. Bechdolt, attorney for Excise Director Paul Fry- Pretzel Bell permits were in the name of Margaret N. Johnson. Also revoked on the same grounds were wine and beer permits of the Blue Ribbon Tavern, 818 West Thirtieth street. These permits were in the name of James D. Rees, Willowbrook golf course operator. Terre Haute Hit The excise department drive has not been confined to Marion county. Nine permits have been revoked in Terre Haute. - Many of these establishments there were of the “joint” variety, it was reported. At Gary, a pharmacy permit was revoked for selling whisky by the drink and buying whisky from unauthorized sources, according to Mr. Bechdolt. City Hotel Is Warned An Indianapolis downtown hotel was warned against “by-the-drink” whisky sales, with a threat of wine and beer license revocation, it was reported. Phil Stapp, prominent in Democratic and American Legion politics and head 6f a Richmond brewery, is one of the owners and incorporators of the Pretzel Bell. He came to the statehouse today and “went Into a huddle” with Excise Director Fry, apparently as an effort to get the license revocation lifted. At noon, however, the revocation still stood. 7 BRAVE GUNFIRE, FLEE KANSAS PRISON Guardsmen Seek Convicts Led by Two Lifers. By United Press LANSING. Kan.. Jan. 19.—Jim Clark and Bob Brady, desperate lifers, overpowered a substitute guard and led five other prisoners over the wall of the Kansas State Prison here under fire of guards today. National guard units at Coffeyville and Fort Scott, Kan., were ordered out by Adjutant-General M. R. McLean to join the search for the fugitives, believed heading southward for outlaw retreats near the Oklahoma border. POSTOFFICEThORT AG E REVEALED IN TRAGEDY Accused Postmaster and Family Found Dead In Fire. By United Press MEXICO, Mo., Jan. 19.—Officers investigating the death and burning of Postmaster Stewart L. Garner and his family at Laddonia, Mo„ revealed today that Garner had been short in his accounts and that the charred skull of his son contained a bullet hole. The charred bodies of Mr. Gamer, his wife, son and daughter were found yesterday after fire, apparently following an explosion, leveled their ten-room house. Sheriff E. S. Haycraft said he found a bullet hole in the skull of the boy. Postal inspectors informed Audrian county authorities that Garner was $1,145 short in his ■ accounts.

25, 1894, and educated at Wake Forest college in North Carolina and at Georgetown university in Washington. u n a HE began his writing career as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal. His next job was with the former New York World, where he edited a literary column known as “The First Reader.” His literary pursuits were broken by service in the United States marine corps, from which he emerged with the rank of captain. He learned all about war* from the marines. He went to France early and fought in many battles. In Belleau Wood, toward the end of the war, he met a bullet. There followed eighteen months on a hospital cot; eighteen months in which he was subjected to all known species of wartime surgery. In the end, he lost a leg. m * * AFTER th® war he returned to America and resumed his newspaper work, first as a literary ooltupniat and thgn as editorial

Warning by Defense That Session Might Prove Fatal Brings Postponement; Judge Orders Examination. FRIEND OF ODD JOES MAN QUIZZED Most Severe Heart Attack Leaves Physician in Weakened Condition After Collapse During Yesterday’s Testimony. By United Press CRIMINAL COURTS BUILDING, CHICAGO, Jan. 19. —Shortly after Dr. Alice Lindsay Wynekoop’s murder trial was continued today until Monday in fear that the strain of another court session would kill her, state's attorneys investigators arrested John Simmons, “mystery man” of the case. Simmons, a friend of John Van Pelt, odd jobs man in the Wynekoop home, has been the subject of mysterious allusions by Dr. Wynekoop's defense counsel since the opening of her trial on charges of murdering her daughter-in-law, Rheta.

Captain Dan Gilbert, chief investigator for the state’s attorney's office, said he also was seeking Van Pelt for questioning. The investigation was launched after attorneys for Dr. Wynekoop attached suspicion to Van Pelt and Simmons in courtroom statements. Newspaper stories about an alleged “confession” of Van Pelt brought an order by Judge Joseph B. David that no spectators might bring a newspaper into the courtroom. Examination at 3 Today Definite information concerning Dr. Wynekoop’s physical condition was expected at 3, when an examination ordered by Judge David Is scheduled by physicians appointed by the court and state. Special attention was to be paid the possibility that Dr. Wynekoop might be feigning more critical illness than she actually is suffering. The trial was continued after Judge David was advised that Dr. Wynekoop’s condition was the most critical it has been since the time she first met police after the slain body of Rheta was discovered. “Dr. Wynekoop wants to go on with the trial if it is humanly possible,” said Attorney W. W. Smith of the defense. “She is willing to dare death in order to finish the trial, but I do not think we should proceed under such conditions,” he said. ■Wheeled Into Courtroom Judge David agreed with attorney Smith and said he would appoint an impartial physician to examine Dr. Wynekoop thoroughly and determine exactly what is her condition. The decision to postpone today’s session of the trial came after Dr. Wynekoop had been brought into court as usual on her wheel chair and then removed to the judge's chambers. Her condition was very poor this morning after a severe heart attack at the conclusion of yesterday’s session of the trial at which testimony damaging to her case was given. “There is little question” said attorney Smith, “that if the trial is allowed to proceed today, Dr. Wynekoop will collapse and another collapse means death, I am informed.” “Suicide,” Says Daughter Assistant States Attorney Charles S. Dougherty agreed with defense counsel in the decision to postpone the case for a time long enough for the aged physician to recuperate somewhat. Dr. Wynekoop, when she appeared today in court, was suffering from a temperature of more than a degree. Her pulse was rapid and irregular and her heart action had deteriorated considerable, her daughter, Dr. Catherine Wynekoop, said. Dr. Catherine agreed with her mother in desiring that the trial should continue if passible, but said it was “suicide” for her mother to go on today. “We can't let her kill herself just

writer. Working with him in this latter capacity was Maxwell Anderson, who wrote poems and plays on the side. Mr. Anderson had not gone to the war, so Mr. Stallings told him what it was all about. One day in 1925, Mr. Anderson came down to the office with a mussy manuscript and handed it to his friend. It was the first two acts of the war play vhich became “What Price Glory?” Almost three years of research work, in Europe and America, went into the making of Mr. Stallings’ latest book, “The First World War.” He supervised this work as general editor, and the captions which appear with the photographs were written by him. This great feature starts in The Times Tuesday. It is the most educational and gripping feature ever presented in Indianapolis or the state. Watch for it. Save these full pages of pictures. The Times is supplying you with a background of history that you never will be able to duplicate. Get The Times Tuesday. *

HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marlon County, 3 Cent*

to satisfy her desire to clear herself of these terrible charges,” Catherine said. The eight words which may send Dr. Alice Lindsay Wynekoop to the electric chair if death does not overtake her before that journey can be completed today were graven on the minds of twelve jurymen. The words were: ‘‘l did it to save the poor dear.’* Those words, spoken without emphasis by Dr. Harry Hoffman of the Cook County Behavior Clinic, sent the ashen-faced defendant into her worst heart attack of the murder trial yesterday. Explanation of why the eightword sentence assumes paramount importance in the solution of the mysterious slaying of beautiful, titian-haired Rheta, Indianapolis musician, was believed near. A half-dozen motives for the slaying of Rheta have been advanced. None have proven wholly acceptable. Dr. Hoffman spoke the words as Dr. Wynekoop s answer to his question, “Why did you do it?” Dr. Wynekoop raged at his answer. “It’s a lie,” she said and collapsed in a heart attack so serious that her daughter, Dr. Catherine Wynekoop, ordered physicians to her bedside throughout the night. The state is prepared to present testimony of Dr. Thomas Dwyer of the coroner’s office as a clinching argument to the truth of Dr. Hoffman’s testimony testimony which provided the only new bit of evidence which the state has revealed thus far at the trial. Dr. Dwyer made the first autopsy on the body of Rheta. His report deals with the bullet wound in Rheta's back, the chloroform found in her stomach and the minute quantity of chemicals said to have been found in certain other organs. The report also is said to deal, and this is the important part in the new theory, with the abdominal condition of the slain girl. This condition first was reported by a physician who examined Rheta not many days before her sensational murder. Dr. Wynekoop told this physician she would investigate the matter. Body Position Important In her much disputed “confession,” Dr. Wynekoop said Rheta died of chloroform inhaled to ease the pain of an examination of this abdominal complaint. In this connection it was pointed out that despite the fact Dr. Wynekoop's attorneys discredit the “confession,” Rheta was said to have been found lying on her stomach on the operating table in the normal position for such an examination. The bullet wound was in her back as it would be had she been shot while in the process of the investigation.

The validity of this new and first apparently logical explanation of the slaying lies, of course, in acceptance of the state's contention that this alleged abdominal examination by Dr. Wynekoop did, in fact, take place. Examination Results Sought It hinges also on exactly what Dr. Wynekoop believed she had discovered when she examined her daugh-ter-in-law. Asa background for the crime, it was emphasized that Rheta had lived for four years in what was essentially an alien atmosphere. The interests of the intellect had been paramount in the family of physicians that was the Wynekoop household. Rheta was a talented musician thrust suddenly into the new environment after a courtship conducted almost entirely by mail. She was referred to by Dr. Wynekoop and others of the family as “dear Rheta” and “the poor girl.” There was an apparent clash of interests. In addition, investigation has shown that the girl's husband, Earle Wynekoop, favorite son of Dr. Wynekoop, had for some months before her death lived almost entirely away from his wife. He was interested in other women and had proposed marriage with at least two of them. Rheta, testimony already has brought out, was considered a hypocondriac by the physician member* of the Wynekoop household. She worried constantly regarding her health. She feared death by tuberculosis, it was claimed. Then, the state claims, came th® final revelation of Dr. Wynekoop’* alleged examination and the murder which the state believes It now,has solved.