The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-05
SOCIETY GIRL,
GUEST HERE,
KILLS SELF
Daughter of Manufacturer
Fires Shot Into Temple
at Dell Home.
IN TRAGEDY
One Bullet In Head; Police
Unable to Account for
Second Empty Shell.

Miss Margaret Brooks, %, daugh-
ter of a manufacturer at Newton
Mass, shot herself In the
right temple at the palatial home
of her hostess, Miss Dorothy Dell.
%, of 42S5 N. Meridian ST., this
She died at the Robert w. Long
Hospital at 1880 this afternoon.
An extra exploded shell in the
revolver which Miss Brooks used
spelled a mystery which detectives
set out to solve this afternoon.
Miss Dell told motorpolicemen
that she found Miss Brooks in a
closet, unconscious, with the gun in
her lap. When police examined the
revolver they found one exploded
shell in the firing cylinder and an
other exploded shell three cham
bers away from it.
The police had found no evidence
that a second shot had been fired
in the closet where Miss Brooks was
found. Doctors said only one bullet
had entered the girls head.
Police Chief Claude M. Worley di-
rected the investigation. Detective
Lieutenant Simon assigned Detec-
tives Kurrasch and Miller. They
were at the Dell home this after
noon.
SuppoyN-Sg the suicide theory was
picture OF Miss Brooks as a brill
liant young student who broke her
health by too assiduous study, cou-
pied with too many extra curricular
activities at Wheaton College, ex-
elusive girls school at Norton, Mass,
as painted by testimony Of her In
dianapolis friends.
Police, from the story Of Miss
Dell and others Of the household,
believe that Miss Brooks was des-
pondent over Ill health. She suf-
fered a nervous breakdown several
weeks ago and came to the Dell
home to recuperate a month ago.
Miss Brooks and Miss Dell were
students together at Wheaton. Miss
Dell's parents are dead. She occu-
pied the mansion wit han elderly
companion and servants.
Found In Closet
Miss Brooks still was asleep when
Miss Dell arose at $3.50 this morn
ing. Miss Dell went to breakfast
downstairs, leaving Miss Brooks on
the sleeping porch.
About an hour later Miss Dell
went back upstairs. She found Miss
Brooks bed empty. She heard
heavy breathing from a closet off a
sewing room adjoining the sleeping
porch.
Opening the closet door, Miss
Dell saw the holster of a revolver
lying on a clothes hamper. She
pushed aside several dress forms
and found her guest, unconscious,
sitting upright with her back to the
wall and the gun in her lap. Miss
Brooks was in her pajamas.
Girl Taken to Hospital
The frightened young hostess tele-
phoned DR.. j. o. Richey, 6O8 Hume
Mansur Bldg.
DR.. Richey and Miss Dell carried
Miss Brooks back to the sleeping
porch.
DR.. Richey telephoned police
headquarters asking permission to
move the wounded girl to hospi-
tai, Police ordered him to leave
the girl at the home until they ar
rived.
Motor Policemen Fred Brennan
and Joseph Okey gave permission
for the removal. They said they
learned that the revolver, q .32-
calibre special Smith g. Wesson,
particularly suited to woman's use,
had been taken from table drawer
in the room of Miss j. r. Mcclure,
who lives with Miss Dell.
Miss Dell guarded the front door
with a large police dog when re-
porters arrived. She permitted no
one except the policemen to enter.
Busy Life Ruined Health
4N14oO o1OOho was Al1OWl1 dtb 6CllOOl
as Teddy" according to Miss Mary
Margaret Miller, 1888 Washington
Blvd, whom Miss Brooks visited be-
fore going to Miss Dell's. Miss
Miller and Miss Brooks were room
mates at Wheaton.
"Teddy always has been 50 busy
that she ruined her entire nervous
system trying to do so many things"
said Miss Miller.
Miss Miller said Miss Brooks was
forced, by her health, to leave
Wheaton for two semesters. Miss
Brooks was an expert horsewoman.
having been the head of the horse
back riding class at Aloha Camp In
the White Mountains, Miss Miller
said.
During her visit here Miss Brooks
had ridden daily on bride paths
north Of the city.
She had become widely known
among younger members Of socially
prominent families.
Miss Brooks is listed in who's
Who" as the eldest daughater OF
Frank Hillard Brooks, Glenmore Ter
race, Newton Highlands, Mass. She
has two sisters, Miss Priscilla Fair
banks Brooks and Miss Frances