The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-06
Thugs Bind Banker and Family Kidnap Daughter, 10
FIND 6 COPS GUILTY IN BOOZE PLOT
No CZezO,s
on Death
in Alley

m ALIev
Juggling theories Of murder and
suicide, police this morning con-
fessed they were no less baff1ed now
by the death of Clarence Edward
Whitaker, 26, of 421 North Wallace
street, than when his body was
found in south side alley at a. m.
Friday.
Coroner c. H. Keever called six
witnesses for an inquest Friday aft
ernoon, but said he obtained little
material evidence from them.
Today, while not releasing form
al verdict, the coroner laid he be-
lieved Whitaker took his own life,
contradicting previous statements
of Deputy Coroner o. H. Bakemeier,
who performed an autopsy and in
formally declared the victim prob
ably was murdered.
Murder, Say Relatives
Obvious circumstances relative to
discovery of the body point towards
murder. in the opinion Of Detective
Chief Fred Simon, but he refused
to make a definite statement until
his men have completed their in
vestigation.
Relatives are adamant that Whit
aker was murdered, probably with
robbery as the motive.
When he left the home of his twin
brother Harold, of 2107 North
Pennsylvania street, about 10
D. m. Thursday, he is believed TO
have had some change on his per-
son, loaned him earlier in the
evening by his sister, Mrs. Arthur
j. Baron, with whom he made his
home.
No Money in Pockets
When the body was found by Mr..
and Mrs. Earl Ponsler, behind their
home at 1884 Olive street, there was
no money in the dead mans peck
cts. A scrap of paper bearing his
and his brothers addresses, a Bible,
and box of matches we're found
on the body.
Facts tending to block the suicide
theory, summed up by investigators
today we're:
Powder burns on the left hand
indicate the VICTIMS hand was over
the muzzle of the gun, probably a
.38-caliber revolver, when it was
fired not more than six inches from
his left breast.
Trace Bullets Course
The bullet, entering between the
third and fourth ribs, penetrated
the lobe of the left lung, pierced the
heart, and ranged downward to
lodge two inches to the left of the
spine, between the eighth and ninth
ribs. Had the gun been held by
Whitaker, medical authorities say,
the muzzie probably would have
ben pointed, or would have de-
fected upward, and would have
ranged from right to left.
Entering the victims heart, the
bullet would have rendered him
instantly out Of muscular control,
physician has said. He would haAs
crumpled forward on his face.
No Gun Is Found
When found, the body was out
stretched, face upward, with arms
outflung. Although they searched
the entire neighborhood carefully,
police were unable to find gun.
The shirt Of the victim was torn,
his vest and coat open, indicating a
struggle. The most prevalent the
DRY today was that Whitaker was
murdered and the body taken to the
spot where it lay as the headlights
of an automobile fell on it when
Ponsler backed out of his garage.
Nevtheless, Coroner Keever this
morning said he believed Whitaker
took his own life.
Find the gun and the case will
be solved" he advised.
Search for Revolver
Chief Simon said it looked as
if the man was brought there after
he was killed, but of course, I won't
say anything about that until our
investigation is completed"
He admitted there was search be-
ing made for a missing gun, said TO
have been in possession of the FAM
lily. 1t was also said the gun was
of .38-caliber, the same as the pul-
let taken from Whitaker's body.
Harold Whitaker said his brother
at dinner at his home and planned
to stay all night Thursday. When he
returned home after escorting his
wife to work about 10 p. m, Clar-
ence was gone, he said.
In their Investigations today po-
lice also we're probing possibility
that Clarence may have been the
victim of mistaken identity.