The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-03
Store BLAST
WITNESS
HINTS FRAME
LiboWitz, Burned Badly in
Traugott Explosion, Re-
ported Sinking.
CLAIMS D0UBLE-CR0SS
Officials Are Unable to
Uncover New CIeWS in
100000 Mystery.
CLAIMS DoUBLE-CRoSS

VIUU,UUU MySlGTys
A sudden turn for the worse in
the condition of Harold Libowitz,
%, of 80 N. Jefferson Ave, regarded
as the key witness in the Traugott
Clothing Store explosion, today
held attention of city police, State
fire marshals and city fire preven-
ton officials, investigating the $780,
900 blast.
Fear that Libowitz might die
grew just as detectives were at
tempting to make something out of
the declaration of Libowitz late
Saturday that II have been double
crossed"
Libowitz is held in the detention
ward Of city hospital with terrible
burns suffered in the blast. He was
found Sunday night, Aug. 26,
underneath burning parts of the
rear wall of the Traugott store, 215-
217 w. Washington ST., blown out
in the explosion.
He had key to the front door Of
the store, which he declared his
close friend, Edward Traugott, part
owner of the store, had permitted
him to carry for months.
Under $4,000 Bond
Libowitz is under $4,000 bond on
an arson charge, filed in Criminal
Court by Harry E. Gates, deputy
State fire marshal, and Deputy
Prosecutor John l.. Niblack last
week.
Attorney Ira M. Holmes was in
Criminal Court this morning at
tempting to get Libowitzs bond re-
duced to $4,000 or $4,000. He de-
clared the $4,000 was out of proper
ton to the crime charged, pointing
out that on burglary charges the
bond often is no higher than $4,000.
Collins refused to reduce the bond.
Libowitz has persistently denied
knowledge of the explosion, but from
time to time has made such cryptic
remarks as about being double
crossed" and that he would not talk
until he had seen Traugott.
Detectives constantly in or near
LiboWitzs room declare that Trau-
gott has not talked with Libowifz
since his return Friday from New
York, where he had started before
the explosion, nor has Traugott
made any attempt to see Libow1tz
or get a message to MIN, so far as
they know.
Access to Libowitz has been grant
ed only to his parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Sam Libowitz; his brother,
Bert; and his attorney, and then
only upon permit from Detective
Chief Jerry Kinney, Police Chief
Claude M. Worley or Criminal Judge
James A. Collins. Detectives have
been present at each visit.
The arson defendants condition
became so grave Sunday that the
family provided a night nurse in
addition to the day nurse, upon ad-
vice of their private physician, DR..
r, A. Solomon. DR.. Solomon re-
fused to discuss condition Of the
patient, but city hospital attaches
verified the report he had grown
worse.
Sussman to Be QuiZzed
Meanwhile, the State fire mar
shal's inquiry was in allegiance be-
cause of the Labor day holiday.
No witnesses were subpoenaed to the
arson Office today. Deputy Gates
said the only witness so far called
for Tuesday, when questioning will
be resumed, is Harry Sussman,
partner of Traugott.
/. Sussman was out of the city the
Nday and evening of the fire and says
ne knowsc nothing whatever Of it.
He readily has answered all ques-
tions and supplied all information
and records asked for.
The fire marshals planned to ask
Sussman about a number OF points
which have arisen since he first was
questioned. Accountants still are
exaning books of the Traugott
store, seized soon after the fire.
Sussman had the safe, from which
these records were taken, opened for
the officials.
Traugott has declared he believes
LiboWitz innocent. He has advanced
no theory as to who might have
blown up his store.
All efforts to get from Libowitz
an explanation as to who he meant
mad "double-crossed" him failed
His only addition to his previous
story was that he had been play
ing cards in a place near the store
for about twenty-five minutes before
the explosion and just had stepped
into the alley when they double
crossed me-"
Truck Is Found
1t was disclosed that the truck o.
the Binzer Auction Company, 75(
E. washington ST., in which Libo.
witz transferred merchandise from
the Traugott store to the store o,
Maurice Davis, 249 E. Washington
ST., Sunday before the blast, wal
abandoned by two men on the Ma
; tional Rd., two miles west of Plain
o field last Monday.
A barbecue stand attendant sait
they said they had burned out
bearing.
State police found the truck, re-
porting nothing wrong with It.