Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-26
III. HELENE kNABE' s
DEATH AMYsTERY.
Female Physicians Throat Cut by
an Expert -Murde r Still Battling
the Police.
MOTIVE FOR CRIME
dead Woman Had Made Over all Her
Effects to Her Cousin. Hiss Augusta
Knabe-Mauy rheor les as to The Cause
OF Crime Advanced.

Indianapolis, Ind, Oct. 2G.-lnfor-
nation that man with 4 handker-
chief over his face WIS seen III the
alley back OF the Delaware apart
,rents. in a room OF which the muir
dered body OF Dr.. Helene knabe was
found, on the night OF the killing,
was given to the police today. This
is the first definite clue that the po-
lice have obtained and the entire de-
tectiyc force was Immediately put
to work on it.
Around the unrayeling OF the pri-
vate relations OF Dr.. Helene hnabe,
80, the police today centered their
efforts tc solve the battling death
mystery or the woman physician.
With the lapse of as hours since
the discovery OF the almost nude body
in the physicians apartments by
Miss Katherine Mcpherson, Office as
sistant TO Dr. knabe, the police to-
day were apparently no nearer Sc
luton of her death than when her
body was found.
Who is the murderer? Wat was
the motive? These questions are on
every tongue here.
Eve detail obtainable in the
private life of DR.. Knabe was thor
oughly investigated. said Captain
of Detectives Holtz, in charge of the
investigation today. The case has
developed into a most extraordinary
one and am satisfied that only by a
continued search OF the private life
OF the dead woman will we be able
to solve the mystery Of her fate.
That Dr.. Knabe had offended many
persons in recent years. owing TO her
arratic temperament and blunt di-
rcctncss Of speech, is information that
the police have secured. The name
of many persons, some of whom are
said 10 stand high in professional and
social life in Indianapolis, have been
given TO the police. said Captain
Holtz today
The skill with which The throat Of
the dead physician was cut and the
apparent completeness OF the pre-
cautions taken by the slayer 10 avoid
leaving any evidence that would lead
to apprehension cause the police TO
believe that the murder was commit
ted by person OF more than ordin-
ary intelligence.
The authorities also believe that
The murderer was familiar with the
surroundings under which he worked.
Miss Augusta Knabe, cousin OF the
dead woman. late yesterday filed
bill OF sale in the probate court
which disclosed that all the dead wo-
mans possessions were in her name.
Financial reasons" was given by
her today as an explanation.
Il had loaned my cousin large
sum Of money, the exact amount or
which I do not care to state she
said today. Il knew that she would
pay it back whenever she found her
self able
Criminal assault. robbery, revenge,
Il quarrel over money matters and
jealousy are the possible motives that
are thus far offered as solution of
the murder mystery. Robbery, the
police say, is practically eliminated
By the fact that DR.. Knabe was COM
Daratively poor and that her jewelry
was not molested. Her enemies, the
police say, were largely professional
persons, who had become aggrieved
at her remarks. yet it is Uncomfortable
that they would have sought her life.
No love affair or other entangle-
ment has yet been discovered, no
basis for a jealous motive as far as
the authorities have been able TO
find No indication of an attempt at
criminal assault have been discovered.
As it was known that the physician
was in financial straits, money mat
Iers loomed large in the eyes Of the
police. Coroner Durham announced
today that he hoped to complete the
autopsy so that the burial of DR..
Knabe could take place tomorrow.
The city has deferred action in of
fering a reward for the apprehension
Of the murderer.