BIZARRE MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1933, Page 2

BIZARRE MURDER

INSURANCE FRAUD ARRESTS WOMAN DOCTOR AND SON United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) CHICAGO, November 23. Upon the arrest of Earle Wynekoop, 27, and his mother, Doctor Alice Wynekoop, 62, to-day, the death of Rheta, 23, the young man’s wife, and a talented violinist, who was found early in the evening, two days ago. with a bullet in the heart, and naked, save for a blanket wrapped about her, on the mother-in-law’s operating table, promised, to develop into the most bizarre murder this city has known for many years.

Insurance policies, one for 5000 dollars on the life of the young woman, with the doctor as beneficiary, and a thousand dollars with Earle and his sister, Doctor Catherine Wyriekoop, as beneficiaries, were taken out a few weeks ago.

Doctor Alice Wynekoop, whose family numbers five doctors, and is herself • ft well-known physician, after extensive questioning,' denied all knowledge of the crime, and Earle, who was taken into custody, following his return from Kansas City, where he was en route with a friend to the Grand Canyon, likewise denied the implication, • The- mansion is of sixteen rooms: The family had a considerable reputation in the fashionable neighbourhood, where' the neighbours recalled that four other deaths occurred in the house in the past four years, including ing Doctor Frank Wynekoop, father-in-law of the slain girl, and a woman patieht who Doctor Alice Wyilekoop was treating for cancer. In the latter connection, there is. a suit for over 200 dollars bank account which both women had jointly. The claim that' Rheta was killed by. a robber is scouted by. ilie police, who allege that the slaying probably : occurred .while tile victim was anaesthetised. ■ ■ . ....