Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-10-28
NO CLUE TO SLAYER
OF WOMAN DOCTOR
5Atectives Search for Hidden Clue to
Account f,r Mysterious Murder
of DR.. Helene knabe.

AN Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. Though
more than thirty-six hours have passed
since DIR. Helene Knabe was found
with her throat cut from ear to ear in
her apartments In the Delaware Flats,
the police have not discovered even
the sembiance OF clue that will help
In the solution of the mystery.
The apartments have been visited
time and again. every one residing in
the fats has been auizzed. another
search of the rooms and closer ex
animation of the body of the deceased
have all been made and revealed moth.
ing that will aid in unraveiing the
mystery Augusta Knabe, cousin
and Katherine Mcpherson, assisten 10
the slain physician, were among tao q
examined
Why there was a delay of over an
hour in summoning the police after
DIR. Knabe's body was found by Mis-
Mcpherson and what were the aonii
tions In detail were questions put &c
the two women. After Miss McPher
son entered DR.. Knabes fat and saw
her body. with the gaping wound In
the throat, she stated she first called
BY telephone Augusta Knabe from heI
home
Augusea Knabe lives In a distant
part OF the city. The dead woman
Miss Mcpherson said, was lying on
the bed, on her back. without cover
Her night dress was wadded under
her arms. Miss Mcpherson added that
she pulled the night dress down over
DIR. Knabe's body before the arrival
of physicians, who she summoned be
fore the police were notified. This &C
ton, the detectives said, would explain
the presence OF blood on DR. Knabe' Z
left leg. for the night dress was soak
ed with blood as 1t lay crumpled I'M
der her chin.
The windows in the room were
closed and locked and the furniture
was in order. No weapon Of any kind
was found, and the only ingress and
egress would have been by the dumb
waiter to the basement, and this would
not admit the body of man.
Miss Mcpherson and Miss Knabe
were with the body OF DR.. Knabe for
nearly an hour before the arrival OF
DIR. Ernest Reyer, who was the drst
of Dr. Knabes other friends to enter
the apartment. Miss Mcpherson de.
MED emphatically, as did Miss Knabe,
that she saw a knife that might have
been used in killing the physician.
The detectives turned to investiga-
ton OF theory that DR.. knabe might
have ended her own life and that
some of the group of her friends as
sembled in the fat before the police
inquiry got under way may have
sought to take away evidences of SUI
eide.
Handsome and of brilliant Intellect
ual attainment az she was. the police
after much hard work were unable &c
discover that she had either an enemy
or an intimate man friend. The theory
OF suicide seemed untenable becaus'
the knife with which DIR. Knabe wa
killed was not found and the corone'
is sure the heavy slash that almcs
severed her head was struck as she
lay in bed. There. was no trail of blood
on the floor DR. Knabe's assistan ,
Miss Mcpherson, said that her p.ac
tice was increasing daily and that she
was in cheerful humor.
The coroner having found no eyi
dence of a personal attack and here
being no indications of robbery. the
police sought 10 find secret places in
DR.. Knabes life. They believed that
the murder was done by person that
entered the door, not window. OF
the apartment, did his work and de.
parted through the door
The crime is one Of the most hor-
rible in the criminal annals of lndi.
ana
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