Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-17
POLICE INQUIRY
FAILS TO FIND
HANGING CAUSE
Continued From Page OneJ

4nan. Tompkins -3ade as home with his
sspcle's family since he came TO Indian
I'll lolis two years ago, from Frankfort,
IS r. his birthplace.
NAYS PARENTS
j rs ERE UNMARRIED.
Tompkins, according 10 smith, was the
son Of Laura Basey. now dead. and Viii
liam TOmpkins. Smith said William
TOmpkins and Laura Basey never were
married. Smith said the Basey. woman
died seven years ago. George TOmpkins
had made his home with Smith since he
was nine months old. Smith moved to
Indianapolis three years ago and Temp
bins came here two years ago. Smith
has been seriously i'll for fourteen
months, and said Tompkins was the chief
support of his family since his Illness
Smith has a wife and four children
The oldest child is IS years old and the
youngest 6 years old
Tompkins was employed at the Fair
mount Glass Works since early IN No
vember. About ten days ago he told
Smith he was tired OF work and was
going to Clay of" He planned to 90
10 work Wednesday Of next week. it
was said. While on his vacation Temp
Eins was in and out Of his unclc's home
Y
morning, when he left home at o'clock
and did not return. Both Mr.. and Mr.
Smith declared they know Of no reason
why TOmpkins should have gone to
Riverside Park. They said the young
man had no enemies, and also asserted
he never had trouble with any person.
"He was 4 quiet sort Of young man."
said Smith. He had no love affair with
any colOred woman, and I am sure be
was not the kind OF man to make i'm
proper proposals 20 white women or to
insult any white woman. He never was
in trouble and ne-er arrested. I am at
4 loss to know any reason why any per-
Fson should murder my nephew"
Theories advanced by detectives prove
the police are baffIed in their efforts to
determine the reason for the murder.
That it was impossible for Tompkins to
have committed suicide is evident from
the way in which his hands were tied.
Smith declared there was no reason for
his nephew TO have committed suicide.
LIMBS CUT AWAY
TO MAKE ROOM.
The murder was deliberate. for those
who committed It cut three branches
from the lower part Of the sapling TO
make room for the body. Some officers
believe it is possible the murder was
committed elsewhere and the body was
brought TO the park in an automobile
in an effort 10 conceal the scene of the
crime However. little credence is given
this theory, as Jacob Seller. who lives
on Cold Springs road, saw negro he
believes was the one whose body was
found in the park later. shortly before
noon about a half mile from where the
body was found. Elmer Miller. a park
nO1fccmqD paSSpd the scene where thA
body was found at $50 a. m. and no
body was there at that time
4 piece Of newspaper published in a
foreign language. which was found near
the tree. may prove to be a clew of some
kAportance. Still. it is admitted. this pa
:5Sr may have been dropped there by some
s5Aer person than the murderer.
There were no signs OF a struggle near
the tree. A wagon or automobile path
passed through the woods near the scene
NJ the murder. but several vehicles evi-
IDENTIFY had passed that way and left
marks in the soft ground.
FEET BARELY
CLEAR THE GROUND
Detectives Rarnahy and Niarren. who
were the first policemen TO reach til
scene. said Tompkins' body was Sus-
pended from the sapIing by a hemp rope
about two and a hslf-feet long and the
Eegro's feet rested on the ground in such
way his knees were bent slightly. They
say the handkerchief that fastened the
mans hands was not tight around his
wrists, but it was tied in a hard knot.
Another theory of the police is some
person may have found TOmpkins there
in company with 4 woman. either white
or negro. and this woman NAV have been
the cause OF the murder