South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-05
Arrests MomentariLy Expected in
Mystery Murder of Local Merchant
Police Confident of Apprehending Slayer of John Kolaks
Place Credence in Theory That Woman Had Important
Part in Staying Probe Several Clues.

With arrests momentarily expect
ed. the Mishawaka police are con-
fident that they will be able to clear
up the mystery surrounding the muir
der of John Kolakis, local Greek
merchant, whose body was found
Monday afternoon on the bank of
the St. Joseph river about three
miles east of this city. In addition
/ to the investigation being conducted
I by the local police, the crime is be-
/ ing investigated by the sheriffs office,
with Deputy Sheriff Ora Taylor con-
Quoting the investigation.
The important development Of the
| day was the cradence officials place
in the theory that a woman had an
important part in the murder Of Ko-
lakis. and this angle, together with
several other angles are being thor
oughly investigated
The theory Of the murder that is
generally accepted is that Kolakis
met his death. not at the hands of
party OF holdup men, but rather
at the hands OF parties who not only
we're acquainted with KOlakis but
who knew also that their victim was
Of money on his person. 1t is point
ed out that II he had been waylaid
! by highwaymen whose only motive
was robbery. they would have taken
no pains to make away with the
body, such as were taken by the
murderers.
Two Theories.
AS 10 the actual commission OF
the crime there are two theories
one that Kolakis may have been
| lured TO the outskirts Of Mishawaka,
possible TO the place near which his
body was found. and then shot, his
money taken from him, and the
| body pushed TO the bank OF the river.
The other theory Is that he was
murdered. probably in Mishawaka,
and after nightfall the body was
taken and thrown into the river,
either near the point where II was
found Monday or from the County
Line bridge about two miles east Of
the place where the body was recOv-
cred.
In the reconstruction of the events
( of the crime. the second theory pre-
sents more difficulties than the first.
Ii would be quite possible for the
murderers 10 have taken the body TO
the place where 1t was found, with
out much fear of detection. as there
is a road. little travelled In winter
time. branching of the Lincoln high
way leading TO Eagle Point. and Il
would be a matter of little difficulty
for two or more men 10 carry the
body from that road TO the river
bank. However. II this is actually
what happened. It is difficult TO ac-
count for the fact that the body was
not washed away during the recent
high water in the river.
On the other hand. II the body
was thrown into the river from the
county line bridge. it is difficult 10
account for il being washed ashore
at the point where II was found.
short distance east OF this place
there is a very sharp bend IN the
river at Eagle Point. and some think
the body would have been washed
ashore near Eagle Point If it was TO
be washed aShort at all. and that II
IL was not washed ashore at Eagle
Point. Il would not be likely 20 leave
TIE current IN the center OF the
river and be washed ashore at a
/ point where the course OF the river
Is straight, inasmuch as the river
has been very high for several
weeks past
Find Woman's Picture
officials investigating the crime
are giving consideration 10 every
possible angle that has thus far de-
veloped. and the belief that a wo-
man had hand in Turing Kolakis
10 his death is more or less gener-
ally accepted. Probing into the
dead mans acquaintanceship with
women, the police have made
number OF important discoveries
ore OF which the finding o. a pic
ture OF woman in the dead mans
room, is considered 10 nave an i'm
portant bearing on the case The
angle that Kolakis may have been