Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-14
MYSTERYDEATH
OF WOMAN, Il,
BATTLES POLICE
Mrs. Selenia Henderson of
20S 1-2 East Norwood Street
Found Dead in Bed.
BODY BADLY SCRATCHED

While the police today are inves-
tigatfng the theory that Mrs.
Selenia Henderson, 81, who was
found dead in bed at her home. 2OS1s
Eas%Norwood street, was murdered.
~ was learned that she had made at
least three attempts to buy poison
last night.
It was learned that the woman went
to a South Delaware street drug store
and attempted to buy strychnine, which
she said she desired TO use to kill rats.
She was crying at the time.
When the druggist refused to sell
her the poison she said she intended
to go TO a store on South Meridian
street
Later she returned, still crying, to
the Delaware street store and attempted
to buy carboIic acid. This was refused
and she returned again in half an hour,
making another attempt to buy poison.
the request being again refused.
CLOTHING TORN.
BODY SCRATCHED.
Torn clothing and deep scratches on
the body, together with the finding of n
broken dish on the floor Of the room
an assailant and police and detectives are
attempting to learn who was the last
person with her.
According to the girls father, Enoch
s. Martin. with whom she lived, she had
j sweetheart, whose name he does not
know, but who called on her frequently.
The police are seeking this man.
Death evidently came some time be-
tween midnight last night and 8 O'Clock
this morning.
The father came home at 1880 last
night and found his daughter standing
on the stairway singing.
REPORT OF
A QUARREL.
Later, nelghbors say, she had a vio-
lent quarrel with Mrs. Cora Collee, who
occupies an adjoining apartment.
When told Of Mrs. Henderson's death
Mrs. Collee tainted.
Martin says he was at home from Z 80
O'Clock last night until midnight. but
Mrs. Jesse Hart, $40 Harmon street, dis
putes this statement
She told the police that she took Mrs.
A9enderson's 15-months-old son, who she
w. keeping while Mrs. Henderson works,
to her at $50 o'clock and that the woman
vas alone and 'raving like she was
crazy"
Mrs. Hart said she left Mrs Henderson
in this condition and returned home with
the baby.
Ny daughter seemed well early in the
evening and had smoked a cigaret be-
fore going to bed" said Mr. Martin.
"She called me at midnight and said
she was i'll.
Il went to the telephone to call the
dispensary. but they said they could not
send a physician before Monday after
noon.
I went to bed and my daughter called
me again at $50 O'Clock.
I again went to the telephone to call
the dispensary and when returned she
was dead"
Martin said Re did not see the scratches
on his daughters body.
CORONER Is
BAFFLED.
DR.. George R. Christian, deputy
coroner, said the woman could not have
placed the scratches there herself
He was at a loss to determine the
cause Of her death and an autopsy was
ordered. p
MEF Henderson was separated from
Husband who is believed to be at
Norman Station, Lawrence county, In
diana.
A 3-year-old daughter of Mrs. Hen
derson is with the dead woman's mother
in-law. Mrs. Alice Susan Broden Of Bed
ford, Ind
Lieut. Jones and Sergt sheehan headed
the police emergency squad which in
vestigated.