The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-11
GUN-TOTING CAL.
FROM INDIANA is
ARRESTED AGAIN.
Publicity Seeking EIwoOd
Miss Is Retained in
Washington.

-
BIZ Tfmrs Special
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1I.-Indi-
ana. big. bad stamping ground Of
men Who toy-gun their way out Of
prison. battled against the District
Of Columbia police today in the
person Of Isabel Messmer. I9-year-
old alleged gun mol" and male
impersonator. who sought 10 retain
possession Of the weapon that has
gotten her into more jails than she
can name.
Isabel. whose home is in ElwoOd.
Ind. also is cmbroiled with federal
authorities for her attempt to send
a toy gun to Harry Pierpont. in his
Ohio death cell
Babbhng under the limelight Of
photographers flashes and the
questioning Of reporters. she boosted
or her bold sallies into the deep.
dark underworld
But she broke of her accounts
Of what she might have done, had
she been John Dillingers girl, by
referring police TO the attorney she
has hired 10 oppose her eXtraditiOn
from the district and TO obtain the
gun that caused her arrest in
Washington hotel lobby.
What's a poor girl going to do
roaming around the country with
out a roscoe" to get her into and
out of trouble, is Isabels view, and
so she wants that .25-caliber auto
matte pistol back.
You see Isabel likes Washington
and wants to stay here a while"
said her attorney.
Sent Gun TO PierpOnt
Meanwhile, Isabel continued to
recount new features Of her career
in roaming the country in boys
clothing.
She said she was held by the de-
partmCnt OF justice IN Jacksonville,
Fla. after she insured a toy gun for
5000 and sent 1t to the death house
in the Ohio state penitentiary, ad-
dressed TO Harry Pierpont.
L thought it would cheer the boys
up a bit getting a toy gum" wise
cracked Isabel.
You know they get kinda lone
some. No. I didn't know Pierpont.
1 Just thought II would be cute to
send him a gun. she added
She shows clippings from Miami,
Fla. Pittsburgh, Jacksonville. Chi
cagO and Indianapolis of the days
she spent in the "hOOSegOW" because
her gun was a more prominent &C
coutrement than her powder-puff.
Has Own Philosophy
In Miami she merely gave the eve
10 a married man and the nasty. so
nasty COppers, accused her of taking
5000 after locking him in a hotel
room.
A married man who picks up
girl doesn't prosecute. % is her philos-
Ophy
Wearing wigs. carrying guns and
tramping about the country is Isa-
bells life. It's one of her own
choosing. Some girls like to stay
home. wash dishes. mind babies. and
have dates with the home town
boys. But not Isabel. She likes get
ting out in a big city. With a gun
under her belt
John Dilinger?" She wrinkles
her nose. He was swell guy. II
was a lousy way they got him"
Admirer of DiIIinger
Talking TO Isabel about the In
diana bad man Is like talking to a
girl back home about Clark Gable.
If I'd been with him, she said
with a frown, they'd never got
him"
She left home the first time when
she was Is. going TO California. She
stayed away two months and when
she returned her mother didn't
spank her. She said.
L guess you can take care of
yourself"
Since then Isabel has. On her
trips through the country. she al
ways writes home when she runs out
Of money. Her mother sends it to
her.
PLAYED in Stock
She once joined a stock company
playing small Indiana towns. She
played the part Of a small boy. She
liked lt and kept IL up.
She carries a gun for her pro-
lection. but never has shot at any
one. she SAYS. However. she thinks
she could hit any sort of object is
she wanted TO.
Isabel wants that gun. Without
that gun Isabel wouldn't be Isabel.
Anyway that's the way she puts IT,
Furthermore. Isabel wants 10 stay
in Washington She has met so
many interesting men. that It would
spoil the whole show 10 return TO
ElwoOd ard the home town RomeoS.
She hopes to obtain employment
in a show here as an actress.
EIWOOd UnCOnCerned