The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-09
REYNOLDS
HELD PRISONER
IN DEATH QUIZ
Under Guard as Material
Witness in Staying of
Tobacco Heir.
QUESTION TORCH SINGER
Libby HOIman's Mind Blank
Before, After Shooting
She Tells Coroner.

OllO viz WI VIM
BIZ ntcd Press
WINSTON SALEM, N. c., July
9.-Albert (Ab) Walker. who found
Smith Reynolds, heir to the Rey-
nolds tobacco millions, dying OF a
gunshot wound, was under guard
today as a material witness ex-
pected to tell the coroner what pre-
coded and followed his chums
death.
The detention of Walker followed
the dramatic testimony of Libby
Holman Reynolds, Broadway sepul-
chral voiced singer, that her mind
had been blank for thirty-six
hours, the hours before and after
her youthful husbands death.
She has been Frustrated ever since
Walker found her kneeling at her
husbands side, screaming in an
guish. She told the coroner Friday
that her mind had been a blank
Tor hours preceding that scene.
The testimony of the singer bride
was the climax Of day of dramatic
developments in the investigation
of her husbands suicide.
Trustees had announced she
would not share in a $4,000, 900
trust fund held for Smith.
COroner's Jury Sworn in
The coroner's jury had been sworn
in within a few feet of her hus-
bands coffin, an incident required
by Carolina law.
The heir to the Reynolds tobacco
millions had been buried that after
noon in simple services the. bride at
tended.
And Libby Holman herself had
been questioned by the coroners
s. jury in the room she occupied the
plight her husband was shot.
The complete testimony in that
investigation was held secret. It
pl obably will be impounded after
conclusion of the Investigation ex-
pected today.
The Broadway star said she had
a brief mental flash" Wednesday
morning-the morning her husband
was Shot-but with that exception
knew nothing of what happened fol-
hours, before and after his death
That left Walker, so far as is
known, the only guest of the lively
party at the Reynolds estate thai
night, who knows what happened
before Smith Reynolds left him
and went upstairs to Mrs. Reynolds
In Coma Before Killing
Walker, so far as is known, is the
only member of the household thai
night who knows just where anc
when his chum was shot, where Lib
by Holman was at the time, where
the gun he used was found. anc
what was done and said prior tc
the wounded heirs arrival at the
hospital, where he died four hours
later.
The strain of the events this week
had left Libby Holman grief
stricken and nervous wreck, anc
for that reason, the coroner or
dered she be questioned while she
remained in bed in her own room
There she was questioned CLOSELY
by Solicitor Carlisle Higgins anc
Earl McMichael, assisting Coroner
w. N. Dalton.
Her story, as far as Solicitor Hig.
gins would repeat it, was about like
this:
She retired as usual about II
p m. Monday night, July 4, anc
from that time until "wednesday
some hours after the shooting hel
mind was blank-except for the
moment the gun was fired.
Remembers Hearing Shot
She remembered hearing her hus.
band call her name, she said. Sht
remembered the picture of the CUR
in his hand. She remembered see.
ing his body fall.
She gave no explanation for hel
mental condition. Although there
had been a party the night before
the shooting. and the day before
that, there had been little or M
drinking, it was said.
Blanche Yurka. another Broad.
way actress, testified just before the
session was adjourned.
Walker, who is only 10, is the Sor
of local business man. He has
been Smith Reynolds constant COM
panion, distraught since his friend,
death.
He collapsed just after Smith
died, and he collapsed again at the
funeral Friday.
Walker and Reynolds were com.
panions on a gay little party at tin
local hotel two days before Smith
was killed. They we're planning, il
was said, TO attend another party
the morning the young heir wa,
killed, just before he prepared tt
leave his wife.
Widow Attends Funeral
Libby Holman, glamorous figure
OF the stage, has the advantage OF
an education in law. And her
father who is here with her, is a
Cincinnati attorney.
She testified concerning her un-
precedented coma after accompany.
ing him to funeral services for her
husband.
There at Salem cemetery she had
stood in the shade before 500 neigh
bors, weeping and sobbing-the gil
who sobbed the throaty strains OF
-Moanin' Low" and Body and
Soul" to score hit on Broadway.