Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-20
MYSTERY PAIR

oclDICdGII, NCAC olO1ilS LII INC III
vestigation along with A. r. Bledsoe,
deputy marshal. and G. T. Bulware,
deputy constable.
Mrs. w. F. Anderson, a neighbor,
who lives about two blocks from the
Couch home, told officers that on
Monday two negroes came to her
door and asked to be shown the
Couch home. They were driving an
"old" automobile, she said.
The negroes never did appear at
the Couch residence, according to
members of the household.
A filling station operator recalled
that two negroes had stopped at his
place etarly Tuesday morning and
asked the distance to San Antonio.
This pair answered the description
given by Mrs. Anderson, the service
station man said.
Another clue was seen in a report
Of residents that a large a was
parked several hours Monday night
in a vacant lot opposite the Couch
home. Witnesses said they noticed
the car there at 7 D. m. and that it
still was there at 1890 o'clock. Of
ficers believe the occupants may
have been watching movements in
the Couch residence.
The entire Weslaco community
has been in a state Of high excite
mer1t since news of the brutal at
tack spread about the city early
Tuesday.
Little groups form at various
points along the city streets. and a
number of persons waited most Of
Tuesday around the Guaranty State
Bank, on which Nc. Couch is presi-
dent, for any news of changes in
Kelley's condition.
However, there was no intimation
of any violence or disorderlineSs. A
request for state rangers was sent
in, 1t was explained, for any help
they might give in solving the mys-
terry of the attack, and to help safe
guard any suspect that might be ar
rested, in view of the feeling that
has been aroused over toe attack.
Officers centered their investiga-
ton on three lines of approach and
study. One of these is on the tracks
which were found near the house.
Tracks of a man were found leading
from a side of the house, through q
rose garden, and UP to a window OF
Kelley's room. The same tracks
then were traced going away from
the window, and out of the yard by
the same route.
1t is the theory of officers that the
attacker made his way to the win
dow, which was not locked, climbed
in, struck Kelley while the latter
vas asleep. and then climbed hack
out through the window, closing it
after him.
No traces of blood were found on
the window sill. or any other part
of the room except where Kelley
had been lying, and where he ap-
parently walked into the living
room.
Mrs. Short Hears Fall
Mrs. r. G. Short, a sister-in-law
Of the attack victim. and who lives
with her husband at the home Of
her father and mother. Mr.. and Mrs.
Couch, was the only member Of the
family to hear a noise before Kelley
was discovered. Shortly after Q
o'clock she was awakened by what
she thought was a groan. She awak-
ened her husband, and told him, but
he said he heard nothing. Mrs.
Short then went into the room Of
her mother, but found the latter
asleep, and when awakened Mrs.
Couch said that nothing could be
wrong. apparently.
Shortly afterward Mrs. Short
heard a crash, as someone fell to
the floor. She went into the living
room, and Kelley was found there,
lying on his back, with his feet in a
chair. and unconscious.
Physicians and officers said that
Kelley apparently was sleeping on
his left side. at the time of the at
tack, with his face toward a window
in the room. The attacker stole up
behind him, and brought the instru-
ment down across his temple and
the side of his head, shattering the
skull over a section about an inch
wide, and four or five inches in
lenght. Pieces of skull were picked
from his brain. and the brain tissue
was broken in places.
He evidently lay unconscious in
his own blood for thirty minutes or
more, and then regained conscious
ness partly, and walked from his
bedroom into the living room adj
joining. There he collapsed. prob
ably across the chair. which &C
counted for his feet being in the
chair.
Auto in Neighborhood
Officers also were conducting an
investigation of an automobile which
was seen in the neighborhood of the
Couch home about the time of the
accident. or soon afterward. The
automobile was seen to speed rapid
ly away, and at one time it went
into a ditch on a side road near the
city. and stalled. 1t was soon started
again, and rushed on down the
road. 1t is believed possible that
a was occupied by the attacker.
and probably by an accomplice who
drove the car and acted as guard
while one man went into the house
and struck Kelley.
That the attack was planned
carefully, and by a. calculating per-
son, and was not the result of some
hot-tempered difference. is the be-
lief of officers here. They base this
the caution which the attacker
exercised in every one of his moves,
leaving his car where it would make
no track. disposing of the instru-
ment, presumably an iron or metal
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