The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-11-30
ROBBERY SEEN AS
MURDER MOTIVE
CONTINUED From Page II

wide gold chain about her left arm
This jewellery with a diamond ring
has not been found. Her pearl neck
lace was found at the northwest
corner of the High School road bridge,
Wednesday morning
The whereabouts of Mrs. WhelcheI
from the time she left her home at
$50 p. N. Tuesday until she was seen
at the Lyric Theater dance hall at
10 p. m was investigated today in an
effort to establish a motive for the
crime If any one who saw her dur
ing those hours is found, detectives
believe they will be on Important
clews.
With every member OF the police
and detective department on the alert,
officers today admitted they were no
nearer solution of the mystery after
the mass Of evidence had been sifted
Friends Of Mrs. Whelchel have added
little to facts unearthed by detectives.
The coroner's inquest scheduled to-
day was postponed until Monday at
ESQ a. m. because John Hennesey,
constable attached to the coroner's
office, has been unable TO subpoena
all witnesses in the case. The
names Of several witnesses have not
been furnished Hennesey. it was said
Motive Stigl Sought
Theories on the motive of the MUIR
der hinge on the whereabouts Of Mrs.
Whelchel early Tuesday evening.
With the motive established, detec-
tives will overcome the first obstacle
IN tracing her aSsailant The matrOn
Of the Lyric dance hall said Mrs.
wheIchel did not come on the floor
until 10 o'clock. Detectives are look
ing for someone who saw her before
that time.
That she was in company with
young man early in the evening. had
repulsed his attentions and had gone
to the dance hall alone is considered
by detectives as possible theory. The
possibility of Mrs. Whelchel attending
a show alone also is admitted She
left home in a cheerful mood Tues
day telling her father, Francis Hager
Jr., that she would be home early"
In a telephone conversation with
Miss Edna Uphaus at $40 D. m she
said she had arrangements for the
evening. Just what her plans were,
none Of her friends know.
Other important angles developed
today include:
A report of Claude Fort, living a
mile west of Glenns Valley that at 3
a. m. Wednesday morning an automo-
bile, apparently a Ford. broke down
on the Dandy Trail near his home.
A few minutes later a second car
drove up and Fort heard the driver
say do you want me TO follow you
Mac?''
Cars Are Separated
The answer was in the negative and
the machines parted, the car under
suspicion going north Detectives say
this car could have gone around the
Dandy Trail to the National road,
then TO Ben Davis and north to the
bridge where the body was thrown
over the east side of the railing.
Discovery of the missing left shoe
Of Mrs. whelchel would be an impor-
tant development IN linking clews. de-
tectives say. The theory that the
slipper was used in striking Mrs.
Whelchel over the head has been ad-
vanced, since one scar on her head
bears resemblance to a heel mark.
Detectives are hoping to get in
touch with Walter Briggs. a former
friend of Mrs. Whelchel, who frequent
~ went with her. Briggs has moved
TO New York He left Indianapolis
last Saturday.
Metal Part Examined
A small piece of glass embedded in
metal was picked up Thursday near
where the body was found 1t is be-
ing held by detectives on a theory that
1t was broken from the automobile
in which Mrs. Whelchel was carried
to the bridge. 1t might indicate Mrs
Whelchel was still struggling when
thrown over the bridge. detectives
say.
''s~ Rerniea Morrison of Economy.