Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-04-03 | Page 1 | Beach Massacre Tip Found; Sheriff Follows Vital Clue

BEACH MASSACRE TIP FOUND SHERIFF FOLLOWS VITAL CL CLUE Underworld Character Believed Be Be- to Have Led Gang to Scene LEADERS BEING SHADOWED Official Refuses to Comment on Surprise Flight Wash April 3 Three Three men and a sedan today today to- to day figured In the investigation of f the wholesale murder ot of four men and two women after neighbors neigh neigh- hors bors of Frank In whose h home me the killings kUHns took place told police they saw the trio drive ass's awaY from the house Wednesday Luke S. S May Seattle criminologist ogist said he be was convinced at least two and possibly more perSons persons per per- sons committed the crime lie He said he was positive the killers were severely hurt as he be found blood which Ud lid not come from any of the victims I Br Associated Press SEATTLE April Intimating 3 that thatA A startling new clue had been coveTed covered Sheriff D. D L. L Blankenship of Kitsap county made an unexpected airplane flight to Seattle toda today in the investigation of the m mass slayIng of four men and two women in a beach home near Bremerton Wash Blankenship wa was closeted with Se- Se attic police immediately after his ar- ar rival He Hc rc refused wed to disclose any details details de- de tails of his sudden trip other than to st t that a vital clue had been un un- covered Detective Chief Luke S. S May and Captain Ernest W. W Yoris of the Seat Scat tie tle police department were reported watching underworld leaders in the belief that one might have led n a robber g gang n FlIeder's Erlands Erland's Point beach home where the thc killings took place some time last week probably Thursday nIght The six bodies were found in the ransacked house Saturday Saturday Satur- Satur day night Hom Town Home Town Gunmen Now Under Suspicion BREMERTON BREL Wash April 3 UPs UP UPTown Town characters of Bremerton who knew kne of wild liquor parties at the Frank Flieder beach home near here probably will supply solution of the thes s sextet murders authorities believed today Although one asserted character was under surveillance in Seattle Kitsap county officers insist insist- cd local men who knew kne the the of-the vIctims er very likely killed the two women and four men in a homi Continued on Pare Twelve p 5 A f U t. t I F FL L LS L'S S 'S 27 1 wr The bound and gagged bodies of four men and two women wamen were found In the pret pretentious b ach home of Mr and Mrs Frank Flieder at Earland's Point near Bremerton Wash by police pollee The murd murders mur- mur d ders rs police believed took place after a party and the six vIctims were brutally beaten At top top- some of the thc investigating officers at the scene of the crime Lower left Mr and Mrs Eugene Chenevert better r known as Bert and Peggy Vincent vaudeville ville players w who o were two of the Center z Mr r. r and Mrs FlIeder in whose home hoe the murders took place an and right Jordan mother another victim icUm The sixth person slain was Fred Balsom I Associated Press re Photos SHERIFF TRAILS MASSACRE TIP Vital Clue Uncovered He Ad I After Plane Planey y i Flight j Continued from 1 Pue Carl Onel mania during a liquor party part l last t Thursday night I The suspect un unter er surveillance In Seattle was wa said to be a d ot 01 otFred Fred Balcom one of the vIctims who worked In Seattle and Bremerton beer parlors Balcom's l last t job was behind the bar of a beer bee joint which was closed recently Eugene crt nother victim known m at lk t V n t I A alto O 10 cd at nc ic mc bar A gray hat crumpled under Flieder's Flie ders der's body the fireplace ot of the murder house did not belong to any ot of the four slaIn men It was determined deter deter- mined today The name Martin Zeller Zel Zel- ler was vas found written on a piece of paper under the sweat band ot of the hat Police ChIef S. S W. W TrIbble of Bremerton Bremerton Brem- Brem erton made an extensive search in Bremerton and Seattle in an un-suc un effort to establish ownershIp of the hat Ruthlessly Slain Chenevert former pugilist was a powerful man and his saId he would fight to the death U If cor- cor It was considered possible he had incurred the enmity of local men and they went vent out to get him The theory was advanced that former Bremerton grocer knocks at the back door ot 01 the beach house and re realizing the of the Intruders resisted A general fight in whIch the six victims were beaten to death with hammers shots shot blackJacked stabbed and slashed Flieder his wife Chenevert and hIs hi wife Balcom and Magnus Magnus' Jordan caretaker ot of were ruthlessly ruth ruth- lessly slain The Their r eyes eyes eyes' were blind blind- d. d hands ticO and md m mouths taped Believe Deline Slayer Wounded laboratory Investigations at 01 fingerprInts on d death ath weapons and nd furniture made by Luke S. S May Seattle Se Se- attle criminologist revealed that one onci ore orn of the slayers must have been wounded In the terrific death struggle gle that turned the beach home a shambles Possibility that one of the wounded slayers might report for treatment at a hospItal or a doctors doctor's' office held helda a a slight hope for detection A caliber 32 gun gun from which five bullet were fired could not be found in the death house T o b bullets went wen 1 astray two were found in the body of Mrs s. Chenevert and one was removed re re- moved from the bod body of J Jordan