Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-07
GIRL wants PROBE
IN NCAPTA|N'S DEATH
Fiancee and Family OF Charles
SheIdrake Declare Army
Officer No Suicide
HAD ENEMIES At CAMP KNOX

demand tnat tne Wdr DeVurthenI
make an inquiry into the death BY
shooting of Captain Charles sheldrake,
formerly Of Philadelphia, at Camp
Knox, Kentucky. has been made by the
officers fiancee, Miss Beatrice A. Rob.
inson, 5000 Arch street, and his father,
George u. sheldrake, 2008 South Sixty.
fifth street. They both insist the dead
officer was murdered.
Immediately after the death Of Cap
tain Sheldrake a military court Of in
quiry brought in verdict Of suicide.
On the morning of March II he was
working on his automobile in the rear
of a mess hall. opposite his home. A
few minutes later he was found lying
dead in q washroom nearby. bullet
hole through his temple, no powder
marks on his hair, and an army pistol
lying some feet away.
1t Is declared there would be powder
marks on the face IL he had shot him
self, that a bullet at such close range
from 80 powerful q weapon would have
blown the top Of his head of, and
Furthermore, that the bullet took q
peculiar downward course, unusual in
the case Of suicide.
Had No Motive
"Circumstantial evidence points to
foul play, not suicide" said Miss Rob.
inson yesterday. Il know he didn' Z
do it. He had no reason In the world
to take his own life. He had every.
thing to live for. He had no financial
difficulties and anticipated very
happy future. We had intended being
married by September I.
II had been talking to him over the
long distance telephone before he died,
and he was anything but depressed.
The military authorities say he com.
initted suicide because he was depressed
on account of his mothers recent death.
That Is untrue know personally that
Captain Sheldrake felt his mother was
being released from an incurable all
ment that caused her unendurable
agony"
Sheldrake's father and his brothers,
George f., Jr., who is engaged In the
automobile business at Thirty third and
Chestnut streets. and Raymond, assert
that there is something being hidden
by the military authorities. According
to the report of the occurrence sent
out by the military authorities, Captain
Sheldrake died in the hospital at Camp
Knox at 0:15 A. NJ. The report Of the
findings of the Court of Inquiry into
his death shows that the court met al
0 80 A. NJ, fifteen minutes later. How
an inquiry into such n matter could bt
so hurredly conducted and closed the
elder Sheldrake says he cannot under.
stand.
1t is known that Captain Sheldrakt
had incurred the enmity Of several oi
his subordinates by his rigid insistenct
upon the performance OF their duty, ant
that one of these officers had threat
ened Captain Sheldrake's life repeat
edly. Yet a copy of the findings b,
| the court shows no record that thes,
men We're called before it or questioned
No finger prints were taken from tn,
gun, yet Captain Sheldrake's hands still
showed automobile grease on them wher
his body arrived at an undertaking es
tablishment here more than three day,
after his death.
The record of Captain Sheldrnke wa.
Of the highest. He was an honor maj
in his class upon his graduation from
Central High School, and before tn,
war had risen to the position of assist
ant secretary of FELTON,, Siglcy & Co.
Fourth and Cherry streets. In April
1917. he enlisted in the army, was sen
to Fort Niagara. where he won hi
commission as lieutenant in the fielt
artillery, and left for France with tn,
Forty second "Rainbow") Division
There he distinguished himself in tn,
French sector, and was sent back I,
the United States in September, 1918
as an instructor of field artillery a
Camp ekarney, California.
He remained at Camp Kearney unit
March. 1919. when he was discharged
| from the service. He e.entered Tn,
army. and in June of the same year wa,
sent to Camp Knox. where he becam,
camp adjutant and was promoted to q
captaincy.