Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-26

ritcly. From the time the two girls
left Atlanta for Texas the trail leads
into the vast realm of speculation:
yet according to the prosecutors who
later brought Innes and his wife
back to Atlanta and convicted them
of larceny after trust, in connection
with the Nelms "in'estments, -"
traces were found of them at Biz
Minis CHAM, and at New Orleans, and
then at San Antonio.
Even at a little cottage on Wilkins
avenue, San Antonio, rented by
Innes and his wife, where the Nelms
sisters were seen, and seen again
and then seen no more; and
not seen these last ten years.
So goes the story, as scomp-led by
an exhaustive search lhstigated by
the suffering mother and brothes
and able counsel and helpers.
Theory Advanced
The theory of the girls disappear
ance, which never was allowed to be
adduced in a court Of law, is known
to be substantially as follows:
That Beatrice and Eloise helms
went to San Antonio and to the
house rented by the Illnesses. That
they were poisoned, and their bodies
dissolved in a bath tub containing q
solution of lye-a bath tub equipped
with a glass stopper and not a rub
. Der stopper. That the bones were
| boiled clean and ground powder
in u large grinder, later found in
Oregon, whittier it was shipped from
San Antonio labeled books" That
the remains from both, operations
were scattered about the yard and
| flushed into the cesspool
And then there was the Texas
| law, about the Corpus Deficit" the
| theme of q story written not long
! before this time by Melville DAVIS
/ son Post, alfd printed III. a well
! known magazine; the provision OF
| Texas law that to prosecute for
murder, death must be shown by
! the production of the body or a part
| thereof sufficient to establish the
| fact of death.
! And the case in Texas fell down;
| and the old mother of the missing
! girls devoted the remainder of her
| life to two purposes-to solve the
| mystery of the disappearance Of the
| girls, and to the prosecution of Vic
tor Innes and his wife, whom she
always held guilty of their murder
Of investigation; and presently came
letter bearing the San Francisco
| postmark, addressed to Mrs. helms
and purporting to be signed by Eloise
! Nelms Dennis, saying the mother
never would hear from them again. -
! A copy went to Walter Dennis, for
mer husband of Eloise, at New York.
And the letters set new wheels i'll
motion; but it never was shown tina
the missing girls ever had been in
| San Francisco. So far as ever was
established, San Antonio. Texas, was
| their earthly terminus ad quem."
Tried in Atlanta
J And later still the Illnesses, hus-
band and wife. were brought to At
: lanta and tried on the only charge
| that could be brought against them
| in this state, larceny after trust; and
, investigators went to look for the
properties in which Elo:se Nelms'
! money was invested, and they could
! not be found. Judge James K. Hines
and Judge John S. Gambler were re-
! tanned for the defense and Hugh Dor
! sey and Reuben r. Arnold were as
! sociated in the prosecution, and there
! was a great combat of legal talent,
/ with Victor Innes steadfastIy deny
ing notwithstanding; former
visit here under another name; the
receipt Of money from Eloise Nelms;
the journey of the Nelms sisters; it's
| mysterious terminus.
! Seven years he got for larceny aft
| er trust; seven years he served, with
| 80 days off for good behavior. And
/ as he stood, suave, poised man in
Que oVeralls, in the lobby of the
fu!ton tower Tuesday morning, he
sald IN his smooth, cultured voice:
! An innocent man was punished.
out that's all behind now; with Yes.
| terday's seven thousand years."