The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-10
CLUB MURDER
IS PUZZLE TO
ILLINOIS POLICE
Lovers Quarrel Is Held as
Only TenabIe Theory in
Teachers Staying.
NAB ECCENTRIC DENTIST
Found Near Scene of Crime
and Has Record for
Insane RACES.

'h {. Nttt0 resi-
ROCKFORD, Ill, Dec. l0.--Pretty
Cordeha E. Gummensheimer may
carry the secret of who crushed in
her skull with an iron pipe to her
grave, authorities feared today as
fragmentary clews in the murder of
the accomplished and popular young
teacher led up strange cul de sacs.
Back through the years investiga-
tors traced the life of the black
haired, f1aShing-eyed girl who had
been head Of the Languages depart
ment at the Rockford high school
They learned she had won the af-
fections Of men readily and pinned
hopes OF solving the crime on the
greWSome aftermath of a lovers
quarrel.
But in each case their efforts led
them against a seemingly impene-
traole wall of mystery. Nothing was
certain except that some one had
Climbed through the window of her
thlrd-fioor apartment last SATURDAY.
night and beaten her to death as
she lay in bed.
Led Odd Life
The eccentric dentist, DR.. Flovd
d. Leech, who gave up prosperous
practice in the Hollywood film COL
ony eighteen months ago to live an
incongruous life in a hoveI with dogs
here, still was in custody, although
authorities had no direct evidence
against him.
States Attorney William D. Knight
said he had received information
from Hollywood concerning Leech's
record.
Il understand that his wife lies
paralyzed in bed as a result of a
beating he gave her. His sister-in-
law declared he threatened her and
his wife with death and was SUBJ
lect to hySterical fits of anger when
intoxicated"
Police arrested the dentist, a
Northwestern university graduate,
because he was near the scene of
the crime. His dental office is with
IN $50 feet Of Miss Gummenshein-
er's apartment.
Dead Mouse in Pocket
He had the body of dead mouse
IN his pocket and the bodies of
three dead dogs and cat were In
his automobile. When told the
teacher had been slain with a piece
OF pipe, he made statement that
at first strengthened suspicious
against him.
That's strange" he said. "a pet
dog OF mine was killed in the same
manner a short time ago and a
length Of pipe was found beside the
body"
His wandering account of his
movements on the night of the
murder tended to convince investiea-
tors that he was speaking the
truth when he denied knowing the
pretty teacher or even having been
at her apartment.
Glen Wiseman, Tarpon Springs
Fla, business man, who had been
engaged to Miss Gummensheimer
notified police here that he would
come to Rockford If they wanted
him.
Search for Cuban
There had been rumors of an
engagement between the teacher
and Nicholas Martinez, also known
as Diaz, Cuban leather goods dealer.
He was reported to be In Havana.
but the police had not been advised
whether search for him there had
been successful.
He left Rockford some time ago.
after becoming acquainted with Miss
Gummersheimer while attending
the night class in English she con-
Quoted
The name of a third admirer, VIII
liam Scrivener, of New York, was
added when letters from him were
found among the many in the
teachers apartment.
If the lovers quarrel theory
proves fruitless, police admitted
they did not know what to choose.
No criminal attack was made, it had
been established definitely, and dis
covery of money and jewels in the
apartment precluded robbery as a
motive