The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-31

border-line case all his life" DR..
Mayer said, adding, when ques-
toned by police, that Powers is
capable of knowing right from
wrong"
Lay Insanity Plea Base
Powers complained of hearing
strange noises, of receiving inward
command" and uncomfortable inn
pulses, police said. They believed he
thus was attempting to lay the
groundwork for an insanity plea.
His attorney, j. Edward Law, in
dicated that insanity would be the
principal defense at his clients trial,
date Tor which still is undetermined.
Although police had said they
were convinced there were no more
bodies buried in the same area
where five already have been re-
covered, near the garage, they said
a strong odor emanating from the
we'll caused them to believe at
least one body was concealed in it.
Little significance is attached to
the finding of several sticks of
dynamite and long fuse in the
garage, Detective Carl Southern
said today, although it earlier was
believed that Powers planned to
blow up the death chamber to
destroy evidence of the crime.
Trace Other Cases
There seems no connection be-
tween the disappearance of STAN
atas Sfikbas and the Powers case,
Southern said. Shkbas, operator of
shoe shining parlors here, disap-
peared several months ago, South
ern said, but he has found nothing
to connect him with Powers activ-
tiles.
The detective said he has received
requests to trace at least two miss
Ing women, but names will not be
released pending further investiga-
ton. He found reference to one in
Powers matrimonial correspond
ence, but there was no mention of
the other so far, Southern said.
Picks and sledges pounded and
Clipped in monotonous unison to-
day at the cement floor of window
less mountain garage, as prison chain
gangs hunted bodies Of more sex
starved women believed murdered
by a hill country Romeo.
Dig Around Garage
Outside that garage, in which five
are known to have been hanged or
battered to death, other prisoners
with spades explored the soggy
ground in which five were buried.
Investigators dug late Sunday.
They ordered resumption of digging
today. They believed more names
will be added to those of Mrs. Dor
othy A. Pressler Lemke, Powers
latest revealed victim, and Mrs. Asia
Buick Eicher and her three chill
dren.
Scores have correspondent with
Powers, or Cornelius o. Pierson, as
he called himself in most of the ero-
tic letters so far uncovered. Many
to whom he wrote can not be found.
Some may shun publicity. Some
never may hear of the love-butch-
er Of Clarksburg. Some may have
died a natural death.
Meanwhile, the thorough system
and care Powers used in the execu-
ton o. his crims are being revealed
by his own word, by letters, by word
from relatives Of known victims, and
in women's letters arriving daily.
Tells Grewsome Story
The police version of Powers
story Of the execution Of the five is:
"On Aug. 1, I took all five to
the garage. put the two women
and the two girls in cells in the
basement under the garage, Ieav-
ing the boy upstairs.
That night / went to the ga
rage and hanged the two women.
let the boy watch it. When he
screamed, hit him on the head
with hammer until he was dead.
Then / killed the two girls and
buried them all at once.'
This story and confessions of the
murders were obtained after police
mistreated Powers. according to
Law. counsel for Powers.
He said preliminary hearing
might be arranged for his client
during the day. No date has been
set for return of a writ against
Sheriff Grinny and other police
officers he accused of barring him
as counsel from Powers cell.
Police said the cells in which
Powers had placed his victims were
sound proof. And upstairs he lad