Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-25
POLICE MAY PROBE
WYNEK0OP DEATHS
Four Other Recent Tragedies
in House Hold Interest
= of Authorities.
BY the Associated Press.

VI HutIIUI ttIcSs
BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, November 25.-Capt
Thomas Duffy Of the Fillmore police
said last night there was q possibility
Of investigations into four other recent
deaths in the gloomy house where DR.
Alice Wynekoop, 81, says she shot her
daughter in-law, Rheta, through the
back as she lay dead from the effects
CT chloroform administered to ease the
pains Of which she complained.
DR.. Alice's husband, Frank. died in
1880, supposedly from heart attack;
their adopted daughter died last March:
Miss Enid Hennesseys aged father died
some time ago in the home and the
fourth death was that of Mrs Kate
Porter, a patient with whom, police al
legged, Dg. Wynekoop maintained JON.
checking account. The body of Mrs
Porter was cremated.
Meanwhile the calm reserve of the
usual family throughout the investiga-
ton into the death of Earle Wynekoops
young wife was evidenced when his
sister, DR.. Katherine Wynekoop, said
at the Fillmore station: Gee, it's mo-
notcnous here! I wish I'd brought a
book"
Holds to Accident Story.
The remark was made casually to
Earle while In an adjoining room the
gray-halred mother was parrying words
with police-that although she fired
the bullet into her daughter in laws
back she had not done SO until after
the death had occurred accidently from
chloroform.
Somewhat later DR.. Alice met re-
porters. She was her usual self, cool
and collected
"Rheta was quiet little mouse Of a
thing" she said Il loved her as my
own daughter, and I am sure she loved
me as her own mother. I'm confident
Of that"
OF her present position, she said it
was a matter she was unable to discuss
at the moment.
Il did the only thing there was to
do-the logical thing" she said. 81
have taken the only step I can take
and you will understand it is difficult
for me to say anything further"
Emotions Firmly In Hand.
No show of emotion, no hysteria OIL
tears on her part. Only once, when She
/ said food had been offered her. but she
had been unable to swallow a bite
since noon on Thursday, did she give
! even the slightest intimation of the bat
tie she might be fighting with herself
She was perched on desk and hel
feet swung. She wore her green velour
coat and her hands were folded in her
lap.
While DR.. Alice admitted that pos
sibly toward the last" her son anc
his wife had grown apart and had seer
less and less of each other, she woulC
not give In to the suggestion that there
had been an arrangement.
you know she said, the Worlds
Fair earle worked at the fair), we
was a fast whirlgig 1t whirled lis
around and about and before We knew
it. many Of our yourg people had lost
their bearings somewhat. I think we
can see that more and more clearly.
Met Two Girls at Fair.
Both OF the young women drawn
into the case as friends Of the son told
police they met Earle while working
at the fair.
Suddenly, the mother saw her
daughter, DR.. Katherine. on the other
side of glass partition and expressed
a desire to talk to her. But at the
moment, the other turned and COM
menced conversation with Earle and
the scene was shifted.
Earle was busy clipping newspaper
accounts Of the case. Occasionally he
made comments on an article or a
photograph.
Ma looks like a hyena in this pic
ture," he said as he passed over a
photograph to his sister. And isr t
this lousy picture Of me?"
The brother and sister were taken to
different restaurants for dinner. Upon
returning DR.. Katherine said to Earle:
Compare Notes on Food.
Il had lamb chops. What did you
have?"
Somewhat later she became absorbed
in accounts of an airplane crash and
expressed concern over the possibility
that another brother, Walker, might
have been involved But Earle said
his name wasn't listed among the VIC
Tins
Earle persisted, despite his mothers
confession, that he wanted ito con-
fess all" Police scoffed at the idea
that he had anything to confess. They
added. however, that he would be
questioned further. particularly why he
recently purchased bullets for the death
weapon and why he assertedly taught
his mother to use the revolver.
Curiosity seekers crowded about the
home last night to such an extent that
police asked that another squad be sent
to help keep the crowds in order.