The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-12
NO EVIDENCE OF
CRIME IN DEATH
MAUDE GILBERT
Miami Tragedy Is Ex-
planned by E. F. White,
Companion of Girl
Drowned In the Tamil
ami Canal While On a
Joy Ride Wednesday
Night


Miami Fla. Aug 12-No evidence
CT foul play in the death of Maude
Gilbert, %, whose body was, late yes
terday. found in the Tamiami canal
following a report made to the au-
thorities by f. F. White. her compan.
ion on ar automobile ride the night
before, has Leen found by the sheriff's
Office, it was reported at that office
this morning.
County Coroner Okell will hold an
inquest at o'clock but he said this
morning he believes White, who is be-
ing held at the county Jail without
bond. will be released after the in
quest. The condition of the body in
dicates, the authorities state, that the
girl was drowned.
( According to the story told the au-
thorities by White, he and Miss Gill
Gcrt went for a drive over the high
way along the canal late Wednesday
night. The girl was driving and sud
denly the car went into the stream
White said he could not find his com
panion after swimming around in the
canal, and then walked more than
two miles through saw grass to the
home of a farmer who brought him To
the city early yesterday morning
White then conducted police and
deputy sheriflS to the scent of the
tragedy, where the car was found in
the canal together with various un-
dCrgarments worn by the young wo-
man When the body was found about
dusk. ii was clad only in street dress.
Whites wife and children left here
three hours before he went riding
with Miss Gilbert He first said they
had gone to South Carolina. later that.
they went to Savannah. but this morn
ing said he did not know where they
lad gone.
Whites Story
Miami. Aug. 12.-The body of Miss
Maude Gilbert. twenty-nine was taken
from Tamiam canal near here hy
divers late Thursday afternoon at the
point where the touring car in which
she was riding with +. f. White We'd
ncsday night is alleged to have plung
ed into the water. Her body was only
partially clothed White is being held
in the county Jail without bond.
White early Thursday morning
walked into the sherff's office and
calmly declared that his automobile
Htt SOllt lliNO tllG Ntlllll anu tuN Siii
VINO he said was driving it. had been
drowned. County officials at first
doubted the man story. as his cloth
ing was neatly pressed and bore no
evidence of his having been submerg-
ed He insisted. however. that he had
gone to his home first and changed
clothes after walking for about seven
miles. then begging Il lift to town on
Il farm wagon.
Deputies were dispatched to the
canal and located the machine. When
ii was pulled out of the water by q
derrick, articles of feminine apparel
were found in the car. including a
corset and underwear. Divers worked
for hours, finally coming upon tho
body about ) O'Clock.
White told the authorities that he
Fad CHANGED upon Miss Gilbert late
Wednesday night while she was wait
ing for a jitney and asked her to go
fer ride with him, both being ac-
quainted. White is an employe of the
Southern Utilities Corporation here,
and Miss Gilbert. who came to Miami
in October, 1920. from Bridgeport,
Conn, formerly having been with the
same corcern. White is thrty-one
years old and has wife and two chill,
dren who left the city Wednesday 70.
South Carolina.
White declared that after they hal
driven about ten miles out on the
Tamiami trail, which runs along the
canal into the Everglades, Miss Gill
bert told him she was learning to
drive and asked him if she might
drive his car. to which he assented.
He was unable to give clear expla-
nation of how the car plunged into the
water. He said that suddenly the car
swerved, and dashed into the water.
He eXtricated himself and swan
ashore, but was unable to locate his
companion he claims
| Miss Gilberts landlady told the au-
thorities that the girl had returned
to her home at 1880 o'clock Wednes-
day night after dining out with anoth-
er man friend. Miss Gilbert inquired
! if Mr.. White had phoned for her and
when told that he had not, said IL
was getting late and she must hurry
to meet him.