Evening star., 1935-12-18
TODD POISON QUIZ
ASKED BY JURY
Foreman Seeks Thorough
Probe of Actress Death.
Threats Recalled.
BULLETIN,


LOS ANGELES, December Is
R.-May Whitehead, Negro maid
Of Thelna Todd, at the inquest
today disputed the story told police
by Roland West, cafe partner Of
the film actress, that he locked
her out" Of her seaside apartment.
The maid told Coroner Frank
Nance that before Miss Todd left
Saturday evening for a Hollywood
restaurant party she gave her
key to the side door Of the apart
ment. West had previously told
detectives that he waited up for
Miss Todd until about am. Sun
day and then retired, having
locked her out"
BY the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, December ia
George Rochester, foreman Of the
county grand jury, demanded today
that an analysis be made of Thelma
Todd's stomach to determine if poi
son was present.
Rochester's request came as Coroner
Frank Nance opened an inquest into
the death of the blond movie actress,
which an autopsy indicated was caused
by breathing automobile exhaust
fumes.
Rochester said the grand Jury
would leave no stone unturned" to
flx the cause of death.
Atmosphere Tense.
The eleventh-hour statement of
Miss Todds chauffeur that she feared
gangsters created tense atmosphere
for the opening of the inquest.
The coroner's Office was crowded.
Ernest o. Peters, who often acted as
Miss Todds chauffeur, told police that
when he drove her from a gay Holly
wood restaurant party TO her seaside
cafe early Sunday morning. she urged
him to speed the car, because, she
said, she feared she might be slain or
kidnapped by gangsters.
Miss Todd was found dead Monday
morning in the front seat of her auto
mobile in garage she shared with
Roland West, her cafe partner and a
film producer.
Monoxide Blamed.
The autopsy fixed the cause Of death
as carbon monoxide poisoning Police
investigated theories of homicide or
suicide, but held strongly to the belief
the death was accidental.
Among the witnesses waiting in the
coroner's officer were Sid Grammar
theater impresario and one of the
guests at the Saturday night party
Miss Todd attended; West and Nav
Whitehead Miss Todd's colored maid,
who found the body
Some time between am. and 4
pm. Sunday, after Peters returned to
his Hollywood auto livery stand, the
glamorous comedienne died in her
luxurious town car in a garage a few
hundred yards up a steep roadway
from her apartment West told po-
lice he had locked out" Miss Todd.
Alcohol May Be Factor.
A preliminary report by DR.. A. F.
Wagner. county autopsy surgeon, dis
closed the actress blood had rs per
cent saturation by carbon monoxide,
and her brain 013 per cent satura-
ton by alcohol.
Indications we're found that there
had been sufficient alcohol to stupefy
her." DR.. Wagner said. Increased
heart action caused by the alcohol
would have pumped the monoxde
poisoning through her blood in q few
minutes"
He said her heart had no organic
condition which might have caused
death.
Miss Todd was dressed in q scintil-
lating gown of sequins and q mink
rap when her body was found A
small fortune in diamonds. her gloves
and purse were undisturbed.
Lips Bruised.
Blood had trickled from her nose.
Her lips were bruised and a dental
| filling was diSlodged in her mouth.
The ignition key was turned on, the
car battery run down, and the motor
silent. Only two and one-half gallons
of gasoline remained in the 20-gallon
tank.
Tiff With West Suspected.
Police Capt. Bert Wallis said it was
his opinion that Miss Todd and West
had q tiff Saturday night when she
left for the party at the home Of Stan
ley Lupino, English comedian, and his
wife.
II believe he told her to be home at
| 2 o'clock or he would lock her out"
Wallis said
He added that major question
was Miss Todds reason for going to
| the garage.
West, officers said, explained he lay
awake until 4 am, finally going &c
sleep after he heard water running IN
the ladies' lounge of the cafe. which
he took to mean that Miss Todd was
retiring there.
He said he didn't wake up until 10
am, officers related, and when he
failed to see Miss Todd during the day
he assumed she had gone to the home
Of friends.
The actress mother arranged private
funeral services to be held in Forest
Lawn Memorial Park. Glendale, CALI,
at $50 pm. tomorrow.
/ nnza