The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-05
RAISES DOUBT
ON DEATH OF
GEN STULTS
Counsel for Murder Accused
May Call Medical
Experts.
SWEETHEART TO SPEAK
South Bend Man viii Bare
Four Year Love
Affair.
SWEETHEART TO SPEAK
BY ARCH STEINEL,
Times Staff Correspondent

ELkHARI, lnd., Jan. 5.-IS Mrs.
Genevieve Stults alive? Slowly, bit
by bit, that question is registering
in the minds of jurors who are try
ing Harvey L. Smith, circus banker
and former private detective, on a
charge of Staying Mrs. Stults,
MiShawaka coSmetician.
With weekend vacation grant
ed the farmer-jury Friday, members
of the panel nulled in their homes
today over the doubt instilled by
Robert E. Proctor, defense attorney.
With agile objections to introduc-
ton of testimony regarding per-
sonal articles found in the lime pie
grave Of the love flame of Charles
Reyher, South Bend real estate
dealer, Proctor raised the mental
query as to whether the torso buried
as Gen" Stults is she. He further
raised the question by cross-exami-
nation of witnesses, whether the
torso is that of a human being.
Today Proctor questioned several
state witnesses in South Bend. He
left later for Chicago. His mission
to that city, it is believed, is to
confer with experts in decomposi-
ton of bodies and clothing under
the chemical action of lime.
Experts May Be Hard
Possibility that expert witnesses
on decomposition might testify for
the defense and that learned an
atomists would be brought to Elk
hart in an effort to cast doubt on
the torso being that of ahuman
is expressed.
While Proctor creates a mystery
drama out of the lime pit grave-a
mystery without a key-the state
will place Reyher in the front line
legal trench Monday when he is
asked to identify a wrist watch
found near the alleged body of Mrs.
Staults, his four-year- -paramour.
Reyher will for the first time face
a barrage of questions regarding his
illicit relations with the beauty par
lor operator. Reyher admits court
ship of Mrs. Stults while married,
but has never publicly been called
to account in detail Of his and her
actions in his love-blind days.
Reyher will explain, Monday, the
chow come" that he took Mrs.
Stults' wrist watch a watch given
her two months before she met
Reyher by Trim Barterness, La
{e% -
jeweler for repair on two occasions
in 1927.
The defense will have its second
opportunity to delye into Reyher's
marital deliquencies when he is re-
called to the stand to tell of his
deal with Smith to obtain love let
ters and photos from tae apart
ment of Mrs. Stults. SIN tn says he
stole the letters and returned them
to Reyher.
Smith Quieter
AS both sides prepare for Mon
days day of objections and excep-
tions to testimony the defendant,
more subdued in manner as the
trial progresses, sits, in his cell to-
day nlunching egg sandwiches. A
stomach ailment has caused Smith
to take to a diet of milk, soups and
egg sandwiches. Visiting with his
wife and father, Thomas T. Smith,
and reading his Bible are Smiths
major occupations to while away
his jail hours.
In the meantime Elkhart, home
of the brass bandit has more fac
tories making musical instruments
than any other city in the world
has forgotten the Boom-tiddy-ah-
de-boom ?tiddy-a,' of brass horns for
the Hear ye" of the court bailiff.
Prize Courtroom Seats
Wives of cornet makers, sisters OF
flute tuners and sons and daughters
of trainmen for the New York Cen
trail pack thermos bottles and
lunches to hold seats in the court
room during recesSes.
Curious youth-children hi-y boys
form portion of the crowd that
stands in Railways and gawks into
the room.
After Fridays episode of a class
of high school students taking front
row seats during the exhibition OF
the glass-encased skull said to be
Mrs. Stults. Judge William B. Hile
averred today that although he
could not play parent for all the
children of the city he would if
necessary ban them from the court
room when evidence is introduced
which he deems unfit for immature
minds.
The judges chance, it is believed,
will come next ensuing week when
Reyher is forced by the defense to
drag out his love for Gen" Stults
before a public thtat hungers for
Salo riof,e y,norcal