The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-15
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4, removed to the morgue and shall
make a post-mortem examination
to establish the cause Of death. The
superficial examination does not in
dictate the exact cause, though the
evidence you have given plainly
points to it, The autopsy will be a
mere fornality."
Ut was dawn of beautiful sum-
L mer day before Lena's body was
removed and the disturbed house
hold sought much-needed rest.
Smedley and Sheridan we're pre-
vailed upon to remain at the Wilbur
home and were shown to guest
rooms.
Their rest, however, was broken
a few hours later by the arrival of
a reporter. The other newspapers
had contented themselves with the
coroner's report, but the city editor
of The Times had scented a STORY"
The first edition of The Times
carried the following article:
DEATH REVEALS
INVENTION
Housemaid in Hyde Park Home Is
Accidentally Electrocuted.
Through a tragic accident
Wednesday night in the Maple road
home of William o. WILDER, presi-
dent of the WILDER Electric Com
pany, was revealed an invention
which, it is said, will revolutionize
the electric lighting industry.
Lena Swartz, 38, housemaid, was
killed instantly when she meddled
with heavily charged wires attached
to an experimental lighting device
in a private laboratory in Wilber's
home.
The device, still in crude form
and as yet without protective in
sulation, had been demonstrated by
WILDER earlier in the evening for
Representatives of the Demorel Elec-
trio Co., OF Utica, N. Y, who have
entered into tentative agreement
with WILDER for its manufacture on
large scale. 1t is a new lighting
device which is said to produce
higher illumination at lower current
consumption than bulbs in present
day use.
Joseph Smedley, assistant coun-
ty prosecutor, who was q guest at a
dinner party given by WILDER for
the Demorel experts and who was
one of those who found the maid
dead in the laboratory, said Thurs
day:
Just how the accident occurred
no one knows. The girl was IA
miliar with the rooms contents, but
never had seen the invention in OPP
Grafton. She had been warned not
to touch it.
"She must have thrown switch
which turned on a high tension cur
rent and then ignorantly, or acct
dentally, grasped the device. DR.. E.
r. Race, who was called In imme-
diately the body was found, said
death was instantaneous.
Lena Swartz was unmarried and
had no known relatives. She had
been in Wilber's employ for a num-
Der of years.
BREAKFAST and luncheon were
- combined at the Wilbers that
day. Sheila prepared and served
the meal, the cook still being dis
traught. WILDER had telephoned for
the first issues of the afternoon
newspapers and The Times layout
spread on the dining table. Sheri-
dan read aloud the printed version
of Lena'S death.
THE young man who tumbled us
all out of bed this morning got his
story" Sheridan commented with a
faint smile. Your invention has
turned the spotlight upon you, Mr.
WILDER, and away from the acct
dent, which is all to the good. Now
We can go ahead with our own in
vestigation. I think the incident is
closed. so far as the press and public
are concerned"
When they left the table. sheri-
dan led the way to the laboratory.
WILDER unlocked the heavy grills and
opened the windows wide, flood
ing the room with the MONDAY sun.
There was nothing to suggest the
tragedy of the night before ex-
cept the empty clips on the bench
and the little gray cylinder lying
where it had fallen from Lena's life
less hand. Sheridan picked up the
cylinder and handed it to WILDER.
Examine 1t carefully" he said.
do you notice anything different
about it?"
WILDER turned it over and over In
his hand, Moo" he said slowly. II
see nothing wrong with it."
Here" said Sheridan. taking the
cylinder from wiiber, Il win not be