Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-25
Young Indian, Held After
Finding Body, Denies
Escorting Victim.
EVIDENCE OF. DESPERATE
DEATH STRUGGLE FOUND
Party Finds Corpse in Ravine After
Long Hunt-Student Warned
of Mingling With Tribe.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Assocta ted Press.
HOLBROOK, Ariz., July 25.-Henri-
eta Schmerler, 23-year-old Column
bia University student who ventured
alone into the wild Apache country
here in pursuit of her studies Of eth
nology and anthropology, was found
dead In a ravine near the Fort Apache
Cemetery yesterday.
The body, found by a searching party
which had started a hunt for the girl
after her unusually long absence from
her shack on the edge of the White
River Indian reservation, indicated she
had been strangled or smothered after
a desperate struggle.
The ground where the body lay was
gouged and trampled, indicating vio-
lence.
Secret tribal customs of the Apaches
we're believed by authorities to hold the
key to Miss Schmerler's death.
Convinced Of Staying.
Convinced the young woman was
slain, although the coroner had yet to
make his report, special officers of the
reservation called leaders of the tribe
into conference as the investigation
progressed,
In her studies, authorities believe, she
came upon the guarded secret rites of
the once fierce tribe of the southwest
and in SO doing aroused the emnity OF
its members.
Indians Are Silent.
Working against the taciturnity OF
the Apaches, the investigators obtained
but little information from them. Sew
eral Indians were questioned.
Claude Gilbert. a 25-year-old Apache,
was held on liquor charge and also
for questioning in connection with the
case when it was learned he had plan
ned to accompany Miss SCHNEIDER to
dance last Saturday night. Neither
the girl nor the young Apache ap-
peared at Fort Apache, the scene Of
the dance.
Gilbert denied he had taken the girl
to Fort Apache Saturday night and
said the last time he saw her was
Saturday afternoon. Miss SCHNEIDER
disappeared Saturday.
Ignored Warnings.
Described by Columbia University Of
ficialS as a most promising student, Miss
AAd0 NOAAAC liCAC OAl a oNlAOAoA
ship grant and had lived alone for a
month in an isolated cabin miles from
the reservation. She had mingled freely
with the Apaches. despite warnings that
some of them might misunderstood her
presence there.
Search was started for the girl two
days ago. and the services Of Gov. Hunt
Of Arizona were finally asked by Frank
D. Fackenthal, secretary of the univer-
sity. The finding Of the body soon fol-
lowed
The special officers worked quietly on
their investigation. They we're ham,
pered by a lack Of knowledge of Miss
Schmerlers activities since she came to
Arizona.
Lived Alone in Cabin.
Living alone in the cabin. Miss
SCHNEIDER had assured officers she could
take care of herself. She had mingled
freely with the Indians. and went I'M
hampered about the reservation.
Reports that the purpose of Miss
Schmerler's visit was to obtain data on
secret Apache tribal customs for thesis
were not confirmed.
Officers admitted it was possible Miss
SCHNEIDER may have aroused Ill feeling
among certain members of the tribe. but
they had nothing definite on which to
base their conjecture as the Indians re-
manned aloof.