The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-04
MOBILE man
STILL ALIVE,
Wife BELIEVES
Sweetheart Also of Opinion
Schroeder Did Not Die
in Torch Car.
BY HEZE CLARK
Times STAFF Correspondent


MOBILE, Ala, June "A wife
and a sweetheart today united in be-
lief Harold Herbert Schroeder, 35,
Mobile radiator dealer, is not dead,
but has disappeared after burning his
car at Indianapolis, believing his
insurance would be paid his wife to
educate his two children.
Mrs. Leah Schroeder, 40, his wife,
declared she would make no attempt
to collect the $4,000 insurance on
his life until "it is positively estab-
lished the mans eharred body found
in my husbands burning car at In
dianapolis is that of my husband"
"po you love Schroeder" was the
question asked Miss Gertrude Kit
rell, 49, his sweetheart.
Il hope to tell you I do" was her
free admission.
Bewildered, the wife declared she
had no intimation her husband
planned to disappear.
On the other hand, the girl, of
whom Mrs. Schroeder had COM
planned to Mobile police before her
husband disappeared admitted she
knew of his desire to drop out of
sight.
Worth More Dead"
"He told me, I am worth more
dead than alive several times" Miss
Kitrell declared. "T1e said, If am
found dead, my wife would have
what she always has wanted-the
money from my insurance
Il would like to disappear COM
pletely," she quotes him as saying.
"She could educate my boys and
send them to college if she collect
ed my insurance"
Her evidence to Coroner @. H.
Keever and Sheriff Winkler OF In
dianapolis, who interviewed her to-
day, indicates Schroeder laid de-
liberate plans to carry out his dis
appearance on his trip to the Speed
way race.
That his plans may have includ-
ed participation of two men and a
woman with whom he was seen in
heated argument May 20, the day
before he left Mobile in his car, is
belief of Mobile police and Of the
Indianapolis authorities.
Miss KitrelIs evidence proved, In
dianapolis Investigators declare, that
Schroeder had laid plans for dis
appearance befor he left Mobile.
Had Fight at Home
Harold told me he had a fight
with his wife end with Ray McMa-
hon, his shop foreman and boarder
at his home, the night he left Mo-
bile" Miss Kitrell declared. HE
begged me to go with him. I did
leave Mobile two days later, but
went to New Orleans and die not
meet him."
Identifying the coat found at the
scene of the torch murder at Indie
annapolis, Mrs. Schroeder and Miss
Kitrell both declared cloth taken
from trousers of the charred corpse
found in the car was not similar
to anv worn by Schroeder.
They also declared the belt buckle
and scrap of shirt found with the
corpse were not Schroeder's.
Denies He Owned Rosary
That's not Harold's. He was a
Baptist" Mrs. Schroeder declared
when shown a rosary found in
scraps of the burned clothing. Miss
Kitrell also declared he did not own
a rosary.
Mrs. Schroeder is a slightly-built
woman with long blond wavy hair.
She wore black dress with white
lace collar and a necklace Of green
stones when interviewed.
will you claim the remains?"
she was asked.
mo, if it is not my husband" she
declared. 81 will not claim the in
surarce until it is established my
husband is dead. I know nothing
Of his finances and little of his in
surance."
Heated Argument
Schroeder engaged in a heated
argument with two men and a
woman the day before his depar-
ture, investigators have found. The
two men and woman attempted to
purchase car and met Schroeder.
after a telephone call, two blocks
from his radiator shop.
Schroeder seemed nervous as he
talked to the three, witnesses told
Mobile police.
IF you come here to see me you're
going to ruin everything" he IS
quoted as saying. He talked to one
Of the trio who called himself Jack
Snider. They argued heatedly, wit
neSsas said.
~Well, you can't do anything
without an automobile" the third
man is quoted as saying. Snider re-
piled THE HI I can't"