The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-28
PRISON MATRON'S
SLAYER HOPES TO
KNOW FAE SOON
Gladys Ellis Asks Sheriff to
Keep Visitors From Her
Jury Investigating,

murderer of Miss Louisa Richards. 20,
tea acher-matron at the Indiana State
Woman's Prison, today sat in county
. Jail and wished officials would hasten
Nthe determination of her fate.
The county grand jury started in
vestigating the murder. Subpoenas
were issued for several persons with
knowledge of tke case.
The girl helped speed up the case
by waving examination before City
Judge Delbert o. WiImeth late on
= Wednesday. She was held to the
grand jury then.
Evidence Is Held
Articles taken from the room Of
the victim were to be shown to the
grand jury, it was understood. In
spector OF Detectives Mullin, who
with other officers captured the girl
at Henry and Illinois SITS. Tuesday
evening. took to headquarters such
evidence as blood-stained covers from
the matron's bed and hair which the
Girl cut from her own head and ar
ranged upon her own pillow to delay
prison officials in discovery she had
escaped.
The girl has admitted she picked a
lock and went from her solitary cell
to the matron's room across a cor
ridor Monday evening. There she hid
until the matron had retired. In
attempting to leave she awakened the
matron and in a. struggle struck the
matron on the head with the matron's
heavy bunch of keys. The matron's
skull was fractured.
Spent Day in City
Taking the matron's money, keys
and some of her clothing the girl went
to a hotel at East and Washington
\ SITS, stayed all night and walked
3about the streets and the hotel un-
u1olested Tuesday. She was captured
when she went to the home of her
father, Daniel Ellis, 81 W. Henry ST.,
Tuesday evening.
Worn out by the ordeal of question
ing by detectives and reporters Tues
day night and Wednesday, Miss Ellis
today desired to be alone, Sheriff
George Snider said. She asked that
he permit ozone to see her.
In further statements to detectives
and reporters. the girl blamed her
mother, who committed suicide when
Gladys Ellis was . years old, for her
downfall The girls life since that
time has been filled with thefts,
corgeries, prison sentences. paroles
and escapes.
Offers No Excuses
She said her father had been good
TO her. She did not attempt to miti-
gate her conduct.
The father said he could not under.
stand why his daughter had taken
the wayward path because he never
had let her want for food or clothing
and had severely reprimanded, her
when occasion demanded.
Coroner Paul F. Robinson COM
pleted his inquest with examina-
ton OF Hiss Mary b Allison, nurse,
who told of her discovery of Miss
Richards in bed, Of calling for help,
and learning that Miss Ellis was
missing. Condition of the body on
discovery was portrayed. When the
coroner and police arrived some of
the bed clothing had been removed.
prison authorities said, because they
III 4OL hA4ON hllSLlGCI AhlSS IblCHdTOS
. was dead.
Miss Grace Lands, matron who
served supper to Miss Ellis at 5:45
p. m. Monday night in her cell, said
doors were locked.
The State board of charities an
nounced that it would investigate the
murder. Prison trustees are investi-
eating. Prison authorities said they
doubted the girls story that three
of the four doors separating her from
the n1atroh's room were unlocked.
They said that the girl might have
called to Miss Richards and when the
matron responded struck her on the
head in the cell. Then the girl might
have carried the hnatron back to the
matron's room, the officials said.