Evening star., 1935-12-22
TODD DGRANDJURY
PROBE IS PUSHED
Former Husband to Return
to Aid Inquiry, Despite
Official Hypotheses.
BACKCROUND-

DAChOnOGND-
ThetnG Todd, blond and berutt-
fuI HsoDie comedienne, attended d
party last Saturday night. On
Monday, her maid found her dead
IN her automobile, parked IN ga
rage near home.
Autopsy report stated that death
occurred early Sunday morning,
carbon moRoride poisoning being
the instrument. TE0o friends, hotU-
eDeT, claim TO hdUe seen OF talked
to dead t0onan during designated
death hour and time Of discovery.
CoroneT'S jury rendered uerdict
Of accidental death, yesterday Los
Angeles police accepted perdict.
Persistent county grand jury re-
fused to agree Immediately, IS
pressing further investigation.
BIdckHtnl letters of fen months
ago and threats against employe
OF Miss Todd add to mystery.
BY the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, December al
Preparations for grand jury investi-
cation Of the Thelma Todd death puz-
zle went forward tonight although the
murder theory of Foreman George
Rochester was challenged by other
official hypothesis Of accident or sui
eide.
Rochester said he talked by tele-
phone with Miss Todd's former hus-
band, Pasquale De Cicco, in Smith
town, N. Y, and that Di Cicco had
said he would return here Friday to
assist in the inquiry.
The grand jury head, in previously
announcing he had evidence fndicat-
ing the blond film acrteSs might have
been a victim of "monoxide murder"
said he suspected no one particularly.
He said Di Cicco might be able to
throw light on whether Miss Todd
had reason to fear any one.
Jealousy" Angle Considered.
The possibility of jealousy and of
"unrequited love or hatred must be
considered, Deputy District Attorney
George johnson said.
I'VE must consider the usual motives
of murder" emphasized johnson. who
is to aid in the county grand jury's
inquiry opening Monday, "and We
must bear in mind the intrigues Of
love, romance and wealth as they
might touch upon the life Of Miss
Todd; we must consider the possibility
Of jealousy and the further posi-
hilities Of unrequited love or hatred"
Police chemists tonight made tests
of blood stains found on the running
board of Miss Todd's large automobile
to determine if the actress might have
been struck before her car started to
generate poison fumes. Results of the
test will be given the grand jury.
Tom Cavett, district attorneys in
vestigator, said he found the blood
stains
A corps of operatives. armed with
subpoenas. today sought out principals
in the case to demand their presence
before the grand jury. Those sought
include all who testified before the
coroner's jury. 1t returned a verdict
of apparent accidental death, but
recommended further investigation.
Police dropped their investigation,
concluding the blue-eyed film players
death Was accidental from the big
cars exhaust fumes. She was found
dead in the car Monday.
Investigators Experiment.
District attorneys investigators per-
formed a dramatic midnight expert
ment which produced another Incl
dental mystery.
A womtl operative about the size Of
Miss Todd dressed herself in furs,
evening gown and dainty slippers. as
the actress had been attired.
The operative then climbed the 270
STEPS leading from Miss Todd'S side
walk cafe to the cliff-side garage in
which the body was found.
The slippers in the test were more
scuffed than those Of the actress, indi-
eating Miss Todd probably did not
make the long climb as some investi-
gators had theorized.
This left unanswered the question,
how did Miss Todd get to the garage?
c. H Smith, cafe treasurer, who slept
above the garage, said he heard no
automobile motor there early Sunday
morning, when the actress returned
to her cafe from a Hollywood party.
A public chauffeur drove her to q
point a few feet from the apartment
entrance about $3.50 am.