The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-10
WIFE FORCES
MATE TO FOIL
MURDER PLOT
One Gunman Is Slain, Two
Captured When They
Walk Into Trap.
ASSASSINS ARE HIRED
Woman Held on Charge of
Trying to Get Husband
Shot Down.

Shot Down.
BIZ United Press
DETROIT, Jan. 10.-Fear of a
Young wife that her husband was
taking his first wrong step saved
Ralph Wood, 35-year-old construc-
ton company head, from death at
the hands of assassins hired by his
wife, Mrs. Grace M. Wood, 80, police
said today, as they untangled the
plot which cost the life of one gun
man and resulted in arrests of two
others.
The young wife is Mrs. Cecil Holt,
Is, whose husband was inveigled to
join the murder plot by Mrs. Wood,
Paul Buckley, assistant prosecuting
attorney, said. Holt feared to ex-
pose the scheme until his VS.
threatened to tell authorities herself
If he did not.
So last night when Holt and three
other men went to Woods office in
Wyandotte, suburb, fourteen dep
uty sheriffs and detectives were hid
Gen about Office premises. Wood,
who had been warned, was waiting
and ready, too.
Reporters and photographers were
stationed in nearby houses. Wood
lost his right hand in an automo-
bile accident several years ago, but
rs he walked from his Office his left
hand held a revolver in his oyercoat
pocket.
Thugs Lay in Wait
Holt and William Haggerty, q,
were waiting outside the small Office
building. William Thompson, %,
and Taylor Pierce, %, were waiting
nearby in hired automobile. AS
Wood left the Office, Haggerty
struck at him with blackjack, but
his blow was stopped by the roar
of guns. The detectives and Wood
opened fire simultaneously. Wood
believed he killed Haggerty, but the
dead mans body bore five bullet
wounds.
William Dunnigan, a deputy, was
wounded, but is expected to live.
In the excitement, few of the par
Elephants we're able to distinguish
clearly what happened and even the
newsp aper photographers were I'M
able to get pictures.
Pierre and Thompson escaped
after exchanging volleyS with the
deter ives, but were arrested later.
They confessed their parts in the
plot and implicated Mrs. Wood, but
she has refused to talk except to
deny any part in the scheme. She
and her 70-year- mother, Mrs.
Mary C. Baumgartner, are being
held as material witnesses.
Separated Year Ago
Wood and his wife separated a
year ago, after two years of domes-
tic wrangling. Last month Wood
filed suit for divorce. charging
cruelty. He stated that his wife
interfered with his business, even
calling on his real estate prospects
and disparaging his private and
business life.
At the time of the separation,
Wood settles; on his wife $4,000
cash, two houses, and the titles to
twelve lots.
Holt lived in one of the houses
transferred to Mrs. Wood and he
had difficulty in keeping up the
payments.
When he was injured in an auto
mobile accident, Mrs. Wood sent
him flowers and visited him fire.
quently Finally, Holt said, Mrs.
Wood barred the alleged murder
plan, offering him the deed to his
home and an adjoining house if he
would aid the conSpirators. Holt
said he ostensibly joined the plot
because he was afraid to disagree
with the men Mrs. Wood introduced
as her helpers.
Plot Is Revealed
AS the date for Woods murder
drew near. Holt became panic
stricken and told his wife. who
made him go to Herbert Sullivan,
Woods business partner. Sullivan
at first could not believe the plot,
but after police confirmed some of
Hollis statements, searching in
vestigation was made of the entire
plot. ~
At first, Holt said the only plan
was to kidnap Wood and take him
into the country while Mrs. Wood
obtained deeds to other property.
Later it was decided to kill Wood.
The plan was to kidnap him from
his Office and drive into the coun-
try. where he would be killed and
his pockets filled with drugs. Evil
dence was to be left near the body
to indicate that Wood had been
killed by dope ring.
Yesterday afternoon and early
evening, the conspirators met and
rehearsed their parts. Mrs. Wood
joined the men for a time and was
intoxicated but was taken to her
home shortly before the four men
went to Woods Office, Holt said.
According to police information,
she kept up the payments OF a
100000 insurance policy on Wood S