Evening star., 1939-10-29
Flyer
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related that Pletch took an aviation
plotting lesson in Indianapolis about
two weeks ago and gave a fraudu-
lent $40 check in payment for it
Coroner C. w. Musgrove of Ma
con, Mo. said an inquest will be
held tomorrow or Monday. The
body was taken to Shelbyville, but
will be returned to Cherry Box for
the inquest
Pletch. Capt. Ramsey said an
swered the description of the flying
Lochinvsr' who proposed marriage
to an Illinois girl after a wild fight
last summer.
Police at Hannibal Mo. an
nounced they took into custody this
afternoon a woman who said she was
married to Pletch at Palmyra, Mo-,
September 81. Sergt. w. R. Marks
said the woman, who is held with
out charge, denied being with Pletch
the last "a hours.
Sergt. Marks said Pletch married
the woman when he was here with
carnival and the two left Missouri
when the show closed She re-
turned to Hannibal a week ago and
Pletch returned to Hannibal last
Wednesday. Marks said it was un-
derstood he made inquiries about an
airport In the vicinity.
Workers See Plane Land.
Officers found the body near
spot where Rural Electrification Ad-
ministration workers, erecting
power line, said yellow monoplane
landed yesterday afternoon.
The workers said there was only
one man in the plane then. The
pilot sent one of the workers to
Cherry Box for a gasoline truck and
when the truck came he filled up
his tank and took off. Supt. Silver
said Pletch's plane was not damaged
in landing. and quoted Sergts. Frank
Gray and James Watt, who assisted
in apprehending Pletch, as saying
there are blood stains on the front
seat of the plane
Brought to Indianapolis tonight
from Bloomington, the 29-year- old
flyer was quoted by Supt. Silver as
saying Mr.. Bivens cleft the plane
when we landed in Springfield. Ill,
and when he did not return 1 took
off without him"
Supt. Silver said Pletch was armed
with a .32-caliber pistol and that
box of cartridges was found in the
yellow monoplane.
Sheriff w. j. Schneider of Marion
County disclosed that plane be-
lieved the one used by Mr. Bivens
and piloted by young man wearing
blood stained" coveralls landed on
the Gilbert Spratt farm near Mel
sonville. Mo-, last night.
Borrows Overalls.
The stranger stayed overnight at
the Spratt home, the sheriff said
and took off again this morning after
borrowing a pair of blue overalls.
He carried the bloodied uniform
away with him, but it later was
found on the field where he took of.
Mr.. Spratt told Sheriff Schneider
the flyer explained the blood stains
by saying he flew too high and
had the nose bleed
The pilot introduced himself as
Charles Jackson of Chicago. Mr..
Spratt added, however that the
name Larry was on the shirt OF his
coveralls.
Officers Immediately linked this
with Police Chief Ed CAROLS re-
port that a drivers license found
in the automobile driven here by
the passenger had been issued to
Larry Pletch.
Charges Follow Romantic Flight.
Plane theft charges against Pletch
grew out of his romantic flight with
pretty Goldie Gehrken of Vernon,
ILL.,. last July.
She rejected his pleas of mar
riage and they finally were sepa-
rated at Charleston, Mo-, by officers
attempting to catch the pilot. He
fled and was arrested a few days
later in Mississippi. Goldie married
her local sweetheart . few weeks
ago.
The yellow Piper Cub mono
plane in which Mr.. Bivens left bore
the number NC-24796. Capt. RAM
sey said his informers were Ger
tain" the plane that landed on
the Spratt place had the same
number.
A ship answering the same de-
scription was reported sighted over
Pletch's home at Bowling Green,
Ind, late today.
His mother, Mrs. Guy Pletch, told
police she was positive" the man
plotting the plane was her son.
She related he flew very low over
our house and waved to me-" The
plane then disappeared to the east.
Mr.. Bivens had taken his myster-
ious passenger up for flying
lesson" and they were last seen
headed southeast over Brookfeld
about 4::30 pm. Friday. They had
fuel for only about two hours
flying.