The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-01
BLAST PROBED
BY ATTORNEY
FOR TRAUGOTT
Holmes Quiz Along Different
Lines Than Inquiry by
Police and State.
QUESTION STORE OWNER
Proprietor Goes Before Fire
MarShaIS After Return
From East.
(other Details, Page q

VII lCAOka
(0ther Details, Page q
A private investigation of the
blast wrecking of the Traugott
clothing store, 215-217 w. Washing
ton ST., along lines entirely differ
ent than those being pursued by po-
lice and the State fire marshals Of
fee is under way Ira NJ. Holmes, at
torney for Edward Traugott an
nounced today.
Il am causing this investigation
to be made because it appears to
me that the officials, as usual, are
taking the line of least resistance.
What I want to know as the at
torney for Traugott is Who set off
the blast which wrecked that store,
and why?'"
Holmes was proceeding in Trau-
gott's behalf following Traugott's re-
turn to the city early Friday. He
had been absent since a few hours
before the explosion last Sunday
night He said he had been in New
York City.
TraugOtt Is Quizzed
TIaugott and Holmes went to DO
lice headquarters at $40 Friday
afternoon after officers had searched
for Traugott since about 10:45 in
the morning. Chief Claude M. Wor-
ley directed them to the State fire
marShaIS Office, where q subpoena
was waiting for Traugott. He and
Holmes, accompanied by Detective
Harry McGlenn, went Immediately
to the Statehouse.
Refusing Holmes demand that he
be permitted to sit in the conference
the State officials and city detec-
tives questioned Trauugoutt alone.
The State officials refused to dis
close what they learned from
Traugott.
Traugott said he answered their
questions, tracing his movements
from Sunday before the fire until
he returned to Indianapolis.
Hints Surprising Theory
Holmes refused to disclose the
theory behind his investigation, as
serting that at the proper time he
expected to have a 'surpriing"
story to unfold to the public.
He did, however, say that there
were several questions he was try
ing to find the answer to, roughly:
l. If Harold Libowitz, %, Of 80
oil f,.t1 =
Traugott, found terribly burned be-
mind the Traugott store just after
the explosion and now held in city
hospital OH an arson charge, wa- III
the store and set the explosion, why
was he found in the alley outside
underneath parts of the rear wall,
which naturally would be supposed
to have been blown out ahead of
aim?
2. Who was the man who fed in
m Auburn car which a fire truck
had struck at Pearl st. and Capitol
Ave, as 1t pulled up to attach
hose for the fire and why did he
run?
3. Who was the man who off,
Gals have said they were convinced
leaped from the roof of building
adjoining the Traugott store and
fled as flremen rushed to the blazer
Meanwhile the fire farshals and
six city detectives continued the
official investigation, rechecking ole
clews and running down ell straws
Of information which came their
way.
A discovery in the basement OF
the Traugott store Friday interested
Investigators.
A bundle containing several hun.
bred Honduras Lottery" tickets,
announcing drawing to be made ar
French Lick, May /, were found.
With them probers uncovered a
bundle Of printed statements show
ing the winning numbers. supposed
to have been published after the
drawing.
When Holmes was informed about
the discovery Of the lottery tickets
he said. "That has nothing to dc
with the fire. We're not trying to
IOAlCCb llloul dllCC Oll OllCuls
Traugott had nothing to add to
his account Of his trip today, and
professed to have no theories as to
who might have started the blaze
or what the motive might have
been.
II have no theories about that"
he said. II don't know who might
have done it, or why?"
He said he would reopen the
store after stocks had been checked
by the underwriters and the store
room remodeled.
The Traugott fair was the sec
ond big case in which Holmes in
terested himse't Friday, it was
learned when the attorney showed
the sheriff's Office letter from Mrs.
Katherine Ghere of Chicago, asking
him TO defend her son Lawrence
Ghere, now in county Jail, who will
be arraigned in Criminal Court
Monday charged with the murder of
Wilkinson Haag in the Green Mill
barbecue last May.
Holmes was to confer with cihere
in his cell at county jail today.