The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-07-09
REYNOLDS FRIEND
JAILED AS WITNESS
in SUICIDE MYSTERY
Flying Companion Of Dead Mil.
'ionaire Held by Police
Pending Probe
Winston Salem. N. G.. July 4.-LE-

Winston Salem, N. c., July 9.-(F-
The late Smith Reynolds flying
companion. Albert Cab, Walker. was
held in Jail as material witness Sat-
urday while authorities tried to clear
up the tobacco heirs death by bull
let last Wednesday.
Mrs. Reynolds also was detained UNI
der guard at the Reynolds estate as
witness IN the investigation.
This development Wed for interest
With testimony given at a secret in
quest Friday by the boy millionaire S
widow, the former Libby Holman,
whose singing of "Moanin' Low" rails
ed her to the top ranks of Broadway
blues singers.
Lying dlstraught and Ill In her bed
in Reynolds. a huge estate, the black
haired singer told a coroners jury
grouped about her that her mind
contained a 40-hour blank, broken
only by flash"
In that flash. she said. she awoke
from her strange mental lapse to see
her 20-year-old husband press a pis-
tol to his head. He called Libby
and pulled the trigger. That was
about a. m. He died at 5:25.
Miss Holman, who became the Sec
ret bride of the heir to $25 900 900 of
the r. j. Reynolds tobacco fortune
only few months ago, swore she
could not remember anything else
that happened from II p. m. Monday
Till wednesday afternoon.
Gives No Explanation
She testified. according to a for
NAL announcement of the inquest
proceedings, that She had not been
drinking, that she took no medicine
and that she had suffered no acci-
dent which might affect her memory.
She was described as offering no ex-
PLANTATION for the mental lapse.
Walker, who is 10 years old, was
taken into custody at the request of
the coroner. Authorities said they
wanted to keep witnesses from COM
municating with each other.
1t was Walker who gave the first
version of the tragedy to the public,
indicating it was a clear case of sui
eide. He said he heard the shot,
rushed upstairs and found Reynolds
dying on sunporch adjoining the
young couples bedroom.
Weeping bitterly, Miss Holman at
tended her husbands quiet funeral
Friday. She was clad in black and
was supported by her father, a Gin
cinnati attorney. After she returned
home she broke down again. Dur
ing the inquest, she lay with her eyes
closed. the formal statement said.
The testimony of three other wit
nesses was not disclosed, They were
Walker. DR.. Fred Hanes, who attend
ed Reynolds, and Blanche Yurka.
New York actress, guest of Miss Hol-
man at the time of the shooting.
Details Expected
She was expected to relate details
u gay party which broke up only !
few minutes before the shooting. /
The party, it was understood, was in
lonor of the 2lst birthday of C. H,
Hill, of Winston Salem. Walker. Miss
furka and G. Raymond Kramer, of
flushing, l.. l.. were among the guests
Who had not left the house before the
hooting. They, along with the other
'.estS, are under subpoena, and Of
lclals said efforts were being made
o prevent any accommodation.
The coroner's jury is to resume its
learlngs at 8 p. m. Saturday.
coroner Dalton, Immediately after
ne death. called 1t a suicide, but
Sheriff Transou Scott, failing to find
motive, refused to drop the invest
CATION.
The only possible suicide motive
'dvanced so far has been the rumor,
ccording to the coroner, that Rey-
lolds and his wife had a marital rift
few days ago when Reynolds learn
q she was Of Jewish extraction,