The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-08
KILLS
RICH HUSBAND
WITH HAMMER
-Year.0Id Wife Calmly
Tells of Brutal Staying,
Putting Cigaret.
AT PARTY AFTER CRIME
Mates Body Found in
Home, Terribly Beaten;
Is Strapped to Bed.
BIZ United Press

BIZ United Press
PAINESVILLE, Onlo, Dec. g.
Trim, Smartly dressed, blue-eyed,
beautiful Mrs. Velma West, 81,
daughter of a prominent East Cleye-
land family, awaited arraignment
today for the hammer murder of
her husband, Edward.
The woman might have passed
for a coed or society debutante as
she sat in her cell in county Jail.
Her blue eyes, looked out from un-
der trim eyelashes, contrasting with
the carefully redeemed lips and
rouged cheeks.
She seemed tired, but showed
little concern over the death of her
husband.
With cigaret tilted between her
lips, Mrs. West told her story to
County Prosecutor Seth Paulin.
Hits Made With Hammer
II accompanied my husband to
the family physician late Tuesday"
she declared. He had been sick
and was not feeling well. When we
got home we broke into a quarrel
My husband said something I
didn't like.
II saw the claw hammer living on
a shelf. 1t riled me. 1t cut me to
the bone, the statement he mad T
struck him on the head-once, per-
haps many times.
Then ] strapped his body to the
bed and tied his hands and feet.
The blood was streaming, but vent
into the washroom and car.tully
obliterated the stains, later chang
ing into smart party dress"
When first questioned by author
tiles, Mrs. West had maintained a
steady alibi. She was not at home
Tuesday night and knew nothing of
the murder. She had attended a
bridge party in Cleveland
Breaks Down Suddenly
"But why did you leave the back
door open?" the prosecutor sharply
queried.
With the simple question she
broke down and admitted the muir
der, afterward calmly asking for a
cigaret as she related the happen
ings Of the previous evening.
I went out the back door and got
out the automobile" Mrs. West con-
tined, between puffs. IT drove to
Cleveland and there attended a
bridge party with twelve other girls.
/ won in bridge, but occasionally re-
greet came over me and I went to
the piano to play Blue Songs"
Body Terribly Battered
West, wealthy nurseryman, was
found murdered in his home. early
yesterday. His body was battered
almost beyond recognition. A deep
cash was on his forehead.
Mrs. West was found in her
mothers apartment in East Cleve-
land yesterday afternoon.
She went shopping with her
mother yesterday morning and
bought dozen handkerchiefs as a
Christmas present for her husband.
HE needs them, and ties, and a
scarf" she told her mother.
She saw gaudy scarf on a dis
play table.
Shrieked at Picture
'cEddie would 60 crazy about
that" she said, "I wish had the
money to buy it."
The father, B. L. Van Woert,
wealthy East Cleveland salesman,
believes that only insanity could
have caused his daughter to COM
NIT the act with which she undoubt-
edly will be charged by county
authorities.
Mrs. Van Woert, prominent East
Cleveland society woman, said she
didn't believe that Velma committed
the murder and although suffer-
ing partly from collapse from the
shock of having her daughter in
jail, helped her husband in arrans-
ing for counsel.
Not Socially Popular
Neighbors and residents of Perry,
acquainted with the girl, said Mrs.
West. although vivaciouS, personally
attractive and a good mixer, was
not socially popular iii the town.
Her husband was the youngest
son Of T. B. West, was well liked,
and was considered socially pronai-
nent. He was associated with his
father in the tree nursery business
in one Of the richest farming dis
tricts in the United States.
The Vests were said to have been
tight-lipped about the bride Of their
youngest son since she was brought
to their home as a bride. She had
citified ways, she smoked, and a
gulf appeared.