Tree Branches and a Knife-Blade
| Author | Edward A. Dieckmann |
| Published date | 01 October 1935 |
| Date | 01 October 1935 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X3500800411 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Tree Branches and a Knife-blade
By EDWARD A.
DIECKMANN
Homicide Detail, San Diego Police, California
THE
little town of Roy is situated in the heart of the timber
country, twenty miles from the city of Tacoma, in the
State of Washington.
The
town is a peaceful one, the
inhabitants being engaged in farming or in the lumber trade.
Crime, in its major aspects, is almost unknown in that
peaceful community. A few minor cases of petty theft and
suchlike did occur in rare instances,
but
in a neighbourhood
where everyone knew everybody else even such cases were
rare.Such policing as was necessary was done by sheriff's
deputies from the county seat, which is located in the big
city of Tacoma. Needless to say, visits from this law enforce-
ment agency were seldom made.
Such was the state of affairs in December, 1928, when
an event took place which
put
the town of Roy in the head-
lines of every big newspaper in the United States, as well as
in the various publications devoted to police science through-
out the country.
Gaily tripping along, swinging her school books, pretty
little Betty Hendricks traversed the narrow path through a
patch of woods on her way home from school.
It
was 6th December, 1928, and the little girl's thoughts
were on a Christmas present she was preparing for her
mother. Betty was 12, abright, happy child, and her thoughts
were on the Christmas gift and how happy her mother
would be to receive it, when suddenly she was seized from
behind, and an evil-smelling cloth jammed against her face,
preventing any outcry.
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