The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-27

These clews and the statement
of Libowitz, in city hospital with
terrible burns, that he was just
walking in the alley when he was
struck on the head, just before the
explosion constituted a puzzle which
Worlev, Detective Chief Jerry Kim
ney, a dozen detectives, Fire Chiet
Harry Voshell. Harry Gates, deputy
State fire marshal. and John Wills
Criminal Court investigator, were
attempting TO solve.
Worley ordered Libowitz charged
with vagrancy and his bond hXeo
at $4,000 so he could not be re-
moved from the hospital
Seize Firms Books
Meanwhile Worley announced that
the books of the Traugott store
would be seized and held for ex-
animation so no possible explanation
might be missed. Worley also
planned to interview Edward Trau-
pott. one of the owners. as soon as
he returns to Indianapolis. Trau-
gott's family reported he LETT Tor
New York Sunday afternoon. Ell
forts to reach him up to noon had
failed.
Harry Sussman, Traugott's part
ner. was in Union City Sunday. He
rushed to indianapolis soon after
the explosion and talked readily
with police. He insisted that he
knew little about the affairs OF the
store. having been inactive in the
MANAGEMENT for the last six months.
From the best evidence available
Chief Worley adduced that the eX-
plosion resulted from fumes of a
large quantity of gasoline which
was poured onto piles of clothing
in the Traugott store. Apparently
it had been the intention OF the
firebrand or f1rebrands merely to
make sure that the place was
burned but they waited so long
after distributing the gasoline that
the fumes filled the comparatively
small room and the explosion when
the fire was applied was something
like that which takes place in an
automobile cylinder.
Wall Is Blown Down
The blast blew out the rear wall
of the Traugott place and part of
the rear of the Em-Roe store. 1t
blasted down the reinforced plaster
wall between the TraugotL and
Em-Roe stores and flames swept
through both places. Firemen were
able to confine damage to the first
floor and basement of the building.
Plate glass from the fronts OF the
stores and glass from windows IN
upper stories was blown across
Washington st. as far as the
Statehouse lawn.
When Worley and detectives at
tempted to question the suffering
Libowitz at city hospital Sunday
night he said:
st am a victim of circumstances.
Talk to me when I am feeling bet
ter" Then he became unconscious.
Detectives had been at his bedside
since.
Today Worley announced the find
ing of the key in Libowitz's clothes
and that when he was questioned
about it said that Traugott had
given it to him, that he had had it
for some time. He said, according
to Worley, that he travelled quite
bit and Traugott permitted him to
keep a trunk in the store and go to
it, day or night, whenever he liked.
Employees Of neighboring stores said
Libowitz frequently had been seen
around the Traugott store.
Extensive Preparations
Firemen said that preparations for
the blaze were extensive and
methodical. Some of the piles Of
clothing were 50 we'll saturated that
the odor of gasoline was noticeable
far down in the stacks.
The finding of Iibowitz, a human
torch in the alley beyond the wreck