The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-13
PURDUE BLAST
VICTIMS Wife
TO Be GRILLED
Detectives Hint Discovery
of Domestic Troubles in
HeidergOtt Home.
NO ENEMIES ARE KNOWN
Authorities Search Injured
Mans Premises for
Explosion CIeWS.


OF mysterious bombing of a Purdue
university professors automobile in
a garage in Lafayette Wednesday,
was to be thrown today upon his
wife, Mrs. Louetta Heidergott, 1917
North Dearborn street.
William F. Heidergott, 81, the
professor, meanwhile was reported
recovering from wounds that AT
first were thought certain to prove
fatal One side of his face was
blown away and his right arm was
paralyzed in the blast.
Look for Material
Police Chief John H. Kluth and
Prosecutor M. Robertson of Lafay-
cite, joined detectives Claude John
son and Charles Gauhn, and Ed
ward Z. Osborne of the state bureau
of criminal identification, in search
of Heidergotts premises here Col
samples of materials Of which the
bomb was made up, acting on a
theory that the explosion might
have been a suicide attempt. Os-
borne is a former Lafayette police
chief, and said he would return 10
his home town to aid in the in
vestigation.
Finding nothing here to evidence
an attempt by Heidergott to end his
own life, the Lafayette authorities
returned.
Before they left. they intimated
they had information that pointed
toward domestic difficulties in the
Heidergott home. Grilling of Mrs
Heidergott is expected to hinge
around that information today.
Mistake Theory Discarded
The theory OF mistaken identity
has been discarded by authorities
investigating the bombing.
No clews point to likelihood that
any one else whose garage was III
the group with the Heidergott auto
could have been the intended VIC
tim, police revealed, hence their at
tention has been directed to the
family and associates of the wound
cd professor.
Nelson Howard of West Lafay-
cite, explosives expert, declares the
bomb which wrecked Heidergott'!
automobile was made of black pow
der, not dynamite, and that it was
set off by flame which could no
have been caused by an electric
spark
This theory would indicate con
tact with the starter of the automo'
bile probably did not set off TIT
explosion.
Two matches rubbing togethe'
would have caused sufficient flame
for ignition of the fuse to the
bomb, Howard said.
Smell Of Powder
Bits of a blanket in the Heider
gott machine bore strong odor o
black powder.
Police found about two and one
half feet of fuse at the bombing
scene. 1t was double-wrapped will
ordinary cord string.
Professor Heidergott, an instruc
tor of practical mechanics. knew o
no enemies who might have beer
responsible; fellow faculty member
said he was a quiet individual ant
popular with the students.
I was starting from my HON
for the university yesterday morn
ing" Heidergott said. in telling o
the blast I entered my garag
and noticed nothing unusual, SAT-
Heidergott.
Just as I stepped up to the doc
of my automobile, the explosion
occurred. I remember nothin
further
Condition Still Critical
Materials in the bomb were no
purchased in Lafayette, authorize
said, and very likely came from
some indianapolis store.
Heidergott'S condition was i'm
proving. although still critical, ant
authorities hoped that he might b.
questioned more thoroughly today o
Friday. Thus far they have queriet
him only briefly because of serious
ness of the injuries suffered whel
the black powder bomb blew ava.
one side of his face.
DR.. E. c. Elliott, president o
Purdue, said the full resources o
the university would be used in at
tempting to solve the bombing
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