The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-03

based the hit-run theory was given
by Miss Flora Arnold, 2037 North
New Jersey street.
Miss Arnold said that about 4
Tuesday afternoon she was looking
from a window which faces the al
lev in which Mrs. Bertrand sup
posedly met her death.
Seen Carrying Body
Miss Arnold said that she saw an
old Model T Ford stop suddenly in
the rear of 2044 North New Jersey
street, A young man alighted from
the car and ran north in the alley.
A few moments later he returned,
carrying an inert body, Miss Arnold
said.
The body was placed in the car,
and the driver than retraced his
steps. He reappeared a second time
to the car and drove away, she said.
Miss Arnold's story was believed
verified when William KurraSch and
William Stalcup, detectives assigned
to the case, found pool Of blood
at the scene.
The automobile episode occurred
about Ais, Miss Arnold said. 1t
was about this hour that Mrs. Ber-
trand left on the errand.
Returns to Pick Up Ties
When Mrs. Bertrand left for the
cleaners, she carried nine ties be-
longing to j. G. Smith, owner of the
sorority house.
Theory was advanced by detec-
tiveS that the driver of the car re-
traced his steps to pick up the ties
which Mrs. Bertrand dropped when
she was struck. 1t was presumed
the blood splotch was left when Mrs.
Bertrand was knocked to the brick
pavement in the alley.
DR.. Karl Kuhns, who performed
an autopsy on the body Wednesday
evening, said the woman had not
been dead more than six hours be-
fore her body was found.
The driver of the death car had
driven east in Thirty fourth street,
turning north on Wallace avenue.
Body Tossed in Thicket
At Thirty-fifth street, the slayer
headed west, then backed his car
across Wallace avenue to a point
about thirty-five feet north of the
intersection. There he backed the
car about twenty feet off the road,
tossing the body into the thicket.
He then drove west on Thirty-fifth
street
Imprints Of car tires revealed a
distinct tread on the right rear one.
The tread of left rear tire appar-
emily lad been worn off.
Evidence placed the time of dis
posal of the body at about 10
Wednesday morning.
The place where the body was
found is in plain view of the road,
and Charles Gibson, 1922 North
Wallace avenue, declared the body
was not there when he passed about
9. The body was found after noon
by Russell Bohannan, $50 West
Thirtieth street, and Joseph Rowd-
ing, 2202 North Wallace avenue,
DOUn mllKInen.
Little Known of Life
Little is known about Mrs. Ber-,
trand's past. She had been an en-
ploye Of Mr.. and Mrs. Smith about
two years and had made her home
there. She was the widow of Frank
Bertrand, an upholsterer, who died
about five years ago. They made
their home for a number of years
at 1888 Tacoma avenue.
Clyde Lash, 1880 Eugene street. a
cousin who also identified the body
at the morgue, said Mrs. Bertrand
had no immediate survivors, as far
as he knew. There are several nieces
and nephews throughout the coun-
try, he said.
Plans for the funeral have not
been made, Lash said. He said he
had not seen Mrs. Bertrand for
several months, and before that
only infrequently. Mrs. Smith said
the dead woman rarely left the
house and then only On GIRO 1dc