The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-01-19

TO satisfy her desire to clear herself
of these terrible charges" Gather
inc said.
The eight words which may send
DR.. Alice Lindsay Wynekoop to the
electric chair if death does not over
take her before that journey can be
completed today we're craven on the
minds of twelve jurymen.
The words were:
81 did it to save the poor dear"
Those words, spoken without en-
phasis by DR.. Harry Hoffman of the
Cook County Behavior Clinic, sent
the ashen-faced defendant into her
worst heart attack of the murder
trial yesterday.
Explanation of why the eight
word sentence assumes paramount
Importance in the solution of the
mysterious Staying of beautiful.
titian-haired Rheta, indianapolis
musician, was believed near.
A half-dozen motives for the slay-
ing of Rheta have been advanced.
None have proven wholly acceptable.
DR.. Hoffman spoke the words as
DR.. Wynekoops answer to his ques-
ton, why did you do it?"
DR.. WyneAoop ragged at his an
swer.
Its a lie" she said and collapsed
in heart attack so serious that her
daughter, DR.. Catherine Wynekoop,
ordered physicians to her bedside
throughout the night.
The state is prepared to present
testimony of DR.. Thomas Dwyer of
the coroner's Office as a clinch-
ing argument to the truth of DR..
Hoffman's testimony - testimony
which provided the only new bit of
evidence which the state has re-
Vealed thus far at the trial.
DR.. Dwyer made the first autopsy
on the body of Rheta. His report
deals with the bullet wound in
Rheta's back, the chloroform found
in her stomach and the minute
quantity of chemicals said to have
been found in certain other organs.
The report also is said to deal,
and this is the important part in
the new theory. with the abdominal
condition of the slain girl. This
condition first was reported by a
physician who examined Rheta not
many days before her sensational
murder DR.. Wynekoop told this
physician she would investigate the
matter.
Body Position Important
In her much disputed confess
sion," DR. Wynekoop said Rheta died
OF chlorofOrm inhaled to ease the
pain of an examination of this abb
dominal complaint.
In this connection it was pointed
out that despite the fact DR.. Wyne-
koop's attorneys discredit the CON
fession," Rheta was said to have
been found lying on her stomach on
the operating table in the normal
position for such an examination.
The bullet wound was in her back
as it would be had she been shot
while in the process of the investi-
cation.
The validity Of this new and first
apparently logical explanation Of
the Staying lies, of course, in &C
ceptance of the states contention
that this alleged abdominal exarfi-
nation by DR.. Wynekoop did, in fact,
take place
Examination Results Sought
1t hinges also on exactly what DR..
Wynekoop believed she had discov-
cred when she examined her daugh-
ter-in-law.
AS a background for the crime, it
was emphasized that Rheta had
lived for four years in what was
essentially an alien atmosphere. The
interests of the intellect had been
paramount in the family of ply
sicians that was the Wynekoop
household.
Rheta was a talented musician
thrust suddenly into the new
environment after courtship con-
Quoted almost entirely by mail.
She was referred to by DR.. Wyne-
koop and others of the family as
dear Rheta" and "the poor girl"
There was an apparent clash Of in
terests. In addition, investigation
has shown that the girls husband,
Earle Wynekoop, favorite son Of DR..
Wynekoop, had for some months
before her death lived almost
entirely away from his wife.
He was interested in other women
and had proposed marriage with at
least two of them.
Rheta, testimony already has
brought out, was considered a hypo-
condriac by the physician members
Of the Wynekoop household. She
worried constantly regarding her
health. She feared death by tuber-
culoSis, it was claimed.
Then, the state claims, came the
final revelation of DR.. WynekOop's
alleged examination and the MUIR
der which the state believes 1t now Z
has solved.