South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-24
MYSTERY STILL
SHROUDS DEATH
Of HAZEL BROOKS
Coroner and Police Admit No
Evidence Is Found to Deter
mine Suicide or Murder as
Cause of Death.

The mysterious circumstances sur
rounding the death of Hazel Brooks.
prominent in South Bends under
world several years ago, last night
at 126 y. Main St, were not cleared
Saturday morning.
Suicide, murder and natural death
are three theories which are being
held by the police department and
Coroner T. J. Swartz. The latter said
saturday morning that he was not
yet ready to make public an opinion
and John kuespert. chief of detect
ives declared that as yet any one Of
the three theories might hold good.
No one has yet been aule to un-
cover the identity OF the person with
whom the Brooks woman was alleged
to have had an alteration two or
three days ago. Bruises on the wo-
mans body indicated that blows had
been inflicted.
Her body was discovered by Harry
Booker, for whom the woman kept
house. upon his return from work at
a. local cigar factory. She was lying
in q pool of blood across the bed,
evidently having suffered a hem
orI-hage of the nose. New bruises
on her scalp and probable internal
injuries substantiate the theory that
she came to her death from some
outside cause.
No Sign OF Struggle.
1t has not yet been ascertained
whether the wounds were inflicted by
the Brooks woman herself or by an
assailant 10 sign of a struggle IN
the room was found, and as yet no
motive has been found for anyone
numbering the woman.
The pOst-mOrtem examination con-
Quoted by Coroner T. j. SWantz and
III - oil
showed no internal injuries except a
bruise on the skull. which was not
considered to be sufficient TO cause
death. The examination showed an
enlargement Of the heart and stom-
ach, which might have resulted in
death. No official verdict is To be
given out until further investigations
have been made.
The theory that Hazel Brooks came
TO her death through natural causes
is substantiated by the fact that she
was known to be a heavy user Of
liquor, a partially filled quart bottle
of whisky being found near her body
by the police.
Evidences Of some sort Of a fight
in which the Brooks woman engaged
few days ago, were found on her
body. which contained several wounds
and bruises. The wounds were partly
=
they were sustained about three or
four days ago. Who her opponent
was in the fight IS one of the things
that yet remains to be discovered.
Two of the bruises on her body
might have been made Friday, and
although they were considered by Dr.
Swantz to be insufficient TO cause
death. they were located in such a
position S TO make il appear possible
that the victim might have been tenn
porarily stunned by them.
The room in which Hazel Brooks
was found has been occupied by her
and Booker for the past three years.
according 10 relatives Of Booker 1t
Is located on the third floor, over the
China and America chop suey restau-
rant. Previous 20 the time that she
came TO keep house for Booker the
Brooks woman was at different times
an inmate OF a number Of west end
dives
1t is expected that more light will
be thrown on the possible cause Of
her death by several acquaintances
and by Booker. who claimed last
night that he knew Of no one who
might have murdered the woman.
Detectives Diver. Wolters and Dilin-
ski were detailed on the case Friday
night.
II is not known whether or not
Hazel Brooks has any relatives in this
locality. Her fathers death occurred
about a month aEo in Oklahoma
Funeral services viii probably be
held at the Russell chapel, where she
was taken F'TldaV afternoon