The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-05
RHETA'S BODY
EXAMINED BY
TWO DOCTORS
PathologiStS Seek to Learn
Whether ChIoroform
Killed Girl.

Two Chicago pathologists, Dr. J.
G.. Frost and Dr.. Gerome Kearns,
exhumed the body Of Rheta Gard
ner Wynekoop. 23-year-old victim
Of a greWsone Chicago murder mys-
terry at the Crown Hill cemetery
late yesterday.
Shrouding their movements in the
utmost secrecy, the two physicians,
acting on the authority of the Cook
county coroner, removed the body of
the former Indianapolis girl from
its grave, made their examination
and prepared to return to Chicago
today.
Located late last night in a down
town hotel, the Chicago physicians
refused to discuss the purpose for
which the body was examined.
Examination Almost Ended
DR.. Frost refused to confirm a
rumor that the original autopsy was
bungled in Chicago. He did admit
however that the autopsy performed
yesterday practically completes the
investigation here into the murder.
The two physicians were said to
have told Judge Frank P. Baker of
the Marion county criminal court,
that they sought TO learn from the
examination here whether there was
sufficient chloroform in the girls
body to have caused death.
hGpnFrifF1rr 10 Tffdo tn
pathologists also had been instructed
to determine by an examination Of
Rheta's brain whether there was
any indication of insanity. This
phase of their examination was
. loked upon as an obvious effort to
refute possible claims by the de-
Tense that the girl might have COM
mitted suicide.
Trial Date Set
While the physicians were COM
pletlng their autopsy here, DR.. Alice
WynekOop, mother-in-laW of the
girl, was ordered held for trial in
Chicago Jan. 4. In setting the date
for the trial Of the elderly woman,
Judge Joseph B. David banned the
issuance of further public state
mentS by state and defense attor-
neys on the case.
DR.. WynekOOp's illness and the
desire Of the court to remain I'M
prejudiced until the trial will keep
the woman physician a prisoner I'M
til she appears to testify for her
life.
Several hours after Rheta's body
had been exhumed and examined,
Frank Tyrrell, attorney retained to
defend DR.. Wynekoop and her son,
asked Judge Baker and Herbert
Wilson, Marion county prosecuting
attorney. to be allowed to have
physician present while the autopsy
was being performed.
Father Refuses Comment
Mr.. Wilson said that he told the
defense attorney that no such per-
mission could be granted except
upon the authority of the Cook
county coroner.
Still viSibly affected by the horror
OF his daughters death, Burdine H.
Gardner refused to discuss the
elimination last night.
There has been enough publicity
in connection with this matter"
said Mr. Gardner. The exhumation
was supposed to be confidential.
Others have called me concerning it
and I have told them that I would
say nothing
Denies Permission Granted
While Mr.. Gardner denied that
he had granted permission for the
elimination. attaches of the office
of Philip Lutz, encouragement,
indicated that the pathologiSts
were armed with a statement per-
hitting the elimination, said to
have been signed by the girls
father
Rheta Gardner Wynekoop spent
her girlhOod in indianapolis and at
one time was a teacher in the Irv-
ington School of Music. Her body
was returned to Indianapolis, Nov.
"a. Last rites were held here for
her Nov IS.