The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-25
COED FOUND
Slain IN WILD
APACHE LANDS
Loses Life in Attempt to
Learn Tribal Secrets =
of Indians.
YOUNG BRAVES HELD
SquaWS Are Suspected of
Jealousy Murder by
Arizona Deputy.
YOUNG BRAVES HELD
By United Press

BIZ United Press
WHITE RIVER, Ariz., July 25.-
Death by violence marked today the
end Of dangerous trail over which
brilliant young Columbia uni
versity coed set out alone into the
Wild country where live the descend
ants Of Geronimo, flercest of a long
line Of Apache Indian chieftains.
Her head battered and her throat
bearing the marks of murderous
fingers, the body of Miss Henrietta
SCHNEIDER, %, was found Friday in
a canyon seven miles from here.
She had been missing seven days.
On the ground about the body
we're marks which indicated that
the eastern girl, who risked her life
in a daring attempt to learn the
tribal secrets of the Apaches, had
fought valiantly against one or
more assailants.
Young Brave Is Held
Claude Gilbert, a young Apache
brave with whom the girl last was
seen, was arrested Two other
Apaches, whose names were not
disclosed, also here held Author
tiles insisted, however, that Gilbert
was held for selling beer, rather
than in connection with the Staying.
An inquest into Miss Schmerler's
death was ordered for today.
The body, found by a posse of
Indians, led by a white deputy
sheriff, George Woolford, was
brought to White Water late Fri
day. 1t was strange procession
that wound its way back to the
town through the rugged pine-clad
hills between here and the canyon.
In the advance were braves,
marching single file along the trail.
One led a horse, over the back of
which the body of the girl was tied.
More braves followed, with the
white deputy at the end of the line.
Keep Clews Secret
Little was known here of Miss
Schmerler except that three weeks
ago she came from New York and,
against the advice of persons bet
ter acquainted with the country, set
out alone to live among the Indians
to learn their habits and ways of
living and, if possible, the tribal Sc
cretS they have guarded since the
days of Geronimo, the fierce old
chief who led the massacre of an
entire company of scouts and SOL
diers in 1872
If authorities had any cleWs to
aid in a solution of the mystery they
kept them secret. One theory dis
cussed widely in the town was that
Miss Schmerler might have been
killed by jealous Indian girl or
by Squaws who resented having a
white woman come among them
asking questions which they consid-
cred personal.
1t was said that Miss SCHNEIDER
had planned to attend a dance last
Saturday night at FIT Apache with
young Gilbert and that the last seen
of her she was leaving the little log
cabin in which she lived on the
east fork of White river. Neither
she nor Gilbert reached the fort.
Studying Under Grant
Gilbert was arrested Thursday
when he returned home for the first
time since Miss Schmerler's disap-
pearance. Authorities said then he
denied any knowledge of the girls
whereabouts. The posse of Indians
started in search OF her under an
order from Governor w. P. Hunt,
who received a plea for action from
Frank d. Fackenthal, secretary Of
Columbia university, in New York.
Miss Schmerler was conducting her
studies under a grant from the uni
versity.
j. B. Wheeler of Phoenix, assist
ant United States district attorney;
sheriff L. B. DivilbesS of Navajo
county and a county physician were
called to lead the investigation.
They expected expert aid from
Woolford, who has associated with
the Apaches for many years.
Woolford indicated he considered
seriously the theory that Miss
SCHNEIDER was killed by women. He
said women of the tribe always are
quick to resent the intrusion of
whites, particularly when the visit
nrs associate with the braves.