Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-10-25
MURDERED During NIGHT
SHE MAD NO ENEMIES, AND NO
ONE KNOWS OF ANY INTIMATE
MAN FRIEND.
slight struggle trace
Was 35-Ycars-Old, strilingIy Atirac-
tive, and Never Married-.-Jani-
tor Declares lie Heard Screams.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 24.-Dr.
Helen Knabe, former state bacteriol-
ogist was found today with her
head almost severed by the slash OF
a knife, and how she came to her
death remains a mystery. jefferson
Haynes, the negro janitor of tho
apartment house, where DIR. Knabe
lives, was detained on suspicion that
he knew something of her death, but
tonight detectives released him after
he had withstood for hours their at
tempts to draw discriminating infor-
nation. They were In the dark, they
said, as to last nights tragedy in DIR.
Knabe's apartments.
The theory of suicide, put aside
earlier in the day, was revived to-
night, but the police declared the
evidence tended to indicate that Of
murder.
The knife with which DR.. Knabe
was killed has not been found, and
the coroner and the police say that
II she herself gashed her throat she
would not have had strength to have
carefully hidden the knife and then
blood stains on the floor of her bed
room save where blood had trickled
from the wound across the bed and
dripped on the floor.
was Terrific Blow.
The blow dealt was a powerful one,
for the knife passed through the mus
Gle tissues and was only stopped by
the upper vertabrae. On one OF DR..
Knabes arms was a slight wound and
blood was smeared on her left leg.
Haynes, the janitor who had known
DR.. Knabe for years, told the police
she went to bed at II o'clock last
night. DIR. Knabe's apartment was
just above his room.
Janitor Heard Screams.
He was awakened in the night, he
said by three screams apparently In
DR.. Knabe's apartments, but he went
to sleep again without investigating.
At s o'clock this morning, he said
he heard footsteps in the room above
his room.
DIR. Knabe's apartment was In a
corner of the building, and its win
dows opened on two streets. None OF
these windows were locked, and sew
eral Of them were open last night.
No One Else Hears Noise.
Haynes daughter slept in room
next to his and she heard no noise
in the room nearby. The family llv-
ing In tho apartment above DR..
Knabe's also said they heard neither
screams nor any other sound from
DR.. Knabe's rooms.
It was S:15 o'clock this morning
when Katherine Mcpherson, DR..
Knabe's assistant, entered the apart
ment and found her dead. The dead
body lay prone on its back, the arms
out stretched. The night dress was
dlsarranged. and across the breast
was pillow. There were only slight
signs Of struggle. and none Of rob-
berry.
Miss Mcpherson called physicians.
They agreed that DIR. Knabe had been
dead about six hours. The coroner
stated that he could find no evidence
she had been assaulted.
Death Is u Puzzle.
Motive for the murder puzzles de-
tectives tonight DIR. Knabe spent
much time in study. She had told
Miss Mcpherson last evening she in
tended to read until late.
She had wide acquaintance. but
no one was found today that said she
had an intimate man friend. Her
resignation from the position OF state
bacteriologist was caused by the pres
sure of her private practice and her
desire to study hygiene, said DR.. ]. n.
Hurry secretary of the Indiana board
% health. under whom she worked In
the state laboratory.
Was Brilliant Woman.
"She was brilliant woman, of a
beautiful character" said Or. Hurry,
and 1--WE regretted to lose her from
the state service"
DR.. Knabe was 35-years-old. and Of
strikingly attractive appearance. She
had never been married. As bacter-
iologist and pathologist, she was
highly respected. She was a member
of the American Medical association
committee on the education Of women
in hygiene. and the pathology Of child
birth. and she was devoted to physical
culture progress among women.
SHE was born In Germany. the
daughter of a civil engineer In the
German army. Coming to this coun.
try as a girl by her own efforts. she
i,ad the experience Of her education.