Evening star., 1934-11-30
BABES IDENTIFIED
AS CAL|FORN|ANS
Brother of Dead Father
Will Claim Bodies in
Pennsylvania.
BY the Associated Press.


CARLISLE. Pa, November 30
Positive identification of the man
found dead in the Pennsylvania noun
tairs as Elmo J. Noakes of Roseville,
Calf. was announced today by Harry
L. McElroy, chief of detectives of the
State police.
The man was found shot to death
with a woman near Altoona while
three little girls. believed to be his
daughters were found in the woods
near Carlisle
Identification was made through
records of the Marine Corps at Wash
ington. McElroy said.
Noakes enlisted in the Marines at
Mare Island, Calf, on April 90. 1920,
and was honorably discharged April
10. 1922.
McElroy said Marine Corps finger
prints showed that those of the man
found in the mountains and of Noakes
were identical.
Through todays word from the
Marine Corps the belief of police that
the five bodies were those of Noakes.
his niece and his three daughters, all
Of Roseville, Calf, received addi-
tional weight.
Auto Is Final Clue.
The name of Noakes was brought
into the investigation yesterday through
discovery that an automobile found
abandoned near McVeytown. about
midway between the places at which
the bodies of the girls and Of Noakes
and the woman were found, had been
licensed to Noakes.
Meantime. caskets arrived at the
morgue and the three little bodies
were placed in them, dressed in white
clothing. Banked around the caskets
were many flowers, some of which
were sent by the children of Carlisle.
who also contributed toward the cost
of the casketS.
Preparations had been made for fu-
nerals of the girls tomorrow. but they
were postponed by Haegele. pending
arrival of Noakes' relatives from Cali
fornia. No plans have been made for
funerals for the Duncansville couple.
Also aiding in the identification
was the fact that the niece was de-
scribed as having a deformed foot
similar to that of the woman found
shot to death at Duncansville.
Strengthening the chain Of clues
pointing to the California family
we're five sets of initials scribbled in
childish hand on mirror found in
the abandoned automobile.
Initials Correspond.
These initials were: IN S. N" &C.
N" wv. p" e. J. N" and ID. N"
corresponding exactly with the initials
of Noakes, his niece and his three
daughters.
Another bit of evidence supporting
the identification was the name
Norma" ScraWled on page of a
book found in leather bag picked
up on the wild mountainside where
the three girls, suffocated, were
found.
The family disappeared from home
two full weeks before the babes in
the woods" were found. and in ample
time to reach Waynesboro, where the
rowing mystery family was first seen
on November II.
Noakes' brother. r. u Noakes, said
in Roseville today he was convinced
lIle DOultS Wclc IllOoe VI 4lIo VI OlllCA
and family.
Brother Puzzled at Motive.
The brother said he knew no rea-
son why Noakes left home so sudden
ly, as he had seen him only day or
two before ne left town and Noakes
had said he had nothing to worry
about"
The disappearance of the niece was
reported at the time by her brother,
Russell Pierce, who, like Noakes'
brother, said he had received no word
from the family.
Pierce disclosed that for some time
after the death of Noakes' wife in
Salt Lake City two years ago, Mrs.
Hugh Pierce, mother of Winifred,
had cared for the three children.
Last Summer Winifred began keeping
house for Noakes, quitting high school
after two years