Philadelphia Public Ledger News Index.
Philadelphia Public Ledger
News Index.

Dr. Alice Lindsay Wynekoop:

1870-1952; Chicago and murderer. A longtime prominent physician and charity worker in Chicago, Illinois.

    She was charged with the murder of her beautiful daughter-in-law, Rheta Gardner Wynkoop, whose practically naked body had been found November 21, 1933 lying on a surgery table in the basement of her Monroe Street mansion. Allegedly, Dr. Wynekoop resented Rheta for recently marrying her darling son Earle, whom she had spoiled. Under intensive police interrogation the elderly doctor said the killing had occurred accidently, but later recanted the confession which said she had fatally overdosed Rheta with chloroform. None was found in the corpse.
    While examining her for a "mysterious" pain and then to cover up her professional blunder she had tried to make it appear as if Rheta had been shot by unknown intruders. A jury convicted Dr. Wynekoop of 1st degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Sentenced to life imprisonment, she was later paroled in 1949.

Source:
Dictionary of Culprits and Criminals by George C. Kohn, Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, New Jersey, 1986.

Philadelphia Public Ledger and Evening Public Ledger Headlines:

Philadelphia Public Ledger 1930-1934
and
Evening Public Ledger 1930-1939
Combined Personal Name Index

Microfilm Pos. WHI to ZY
071.4811
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Philadelphia Free Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

According to the Guide to the Philadelphia Public Ledger and Evening Public Ledger Index 1914-1942, the history of the Ledger is as follows:

First issue 25 Mar 1836 first issue of Evening Ledger (name changed to Evening Public Ledger in 1917) 14 Sep 1914. Public Ledger merged with Philadelphia Inquirer 16 Apr 1934 last issue of Evening Public Ledger 5 Jan 1942


                                                                               
1933
No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. 5 Wyn 1933 WYNEKOOP - MRS RHETA - find woman slain in doctor's office - Chicago 11 22 N 17 7 WYNEKOOP - Six women to be quizzed in operating-room death 11 22 FF 1 8 WYNEKOOP - RHETA GARDNER, Operating table murder. 'Inside Job' police say; Beauty's husband seized - 11 23 N 1 6 WYNEKOOP - EARLE - seize husband in murder on surgery table 11 23 F 1 8 WYNEKOOP - EARLE - seized with - PRISCILLA WITTIE in wife's murder 11 23 FF 1 6 WYNEKOOP - EARLE - says mother had motive in wife murder 11 21 N 1 8 WYNEKOOP - MRS RHETA - wife found slain in office of Kin Chicago 11 22 * 3 7 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE L held in slaying of daughter in law - 11 23 * 1 3 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE Faked 'robbery' to cover slaying DR WYNKOOP asserts in confession 11 24 S 1 6 WYNEKOOP - DR. says girl died in examination 11 24 S 1 8 WYNEKOOP - DR. A L - "WON'T be bothered long" - DR. ALICE says (BOX) 11 25 N 24 5 WYNEKOOP - Note ask dead wife to "Cheer up mother" (BOX) 11 25 N 24 7 WYNEKOOP - DR. A L - EARLE says mother lied to save him in killing 11 25 N 1 8 WYNEKOOP - DR. KATHERINE DEATH QUIZ BORES WYNEKOOP girl 11 25 E 1 7 No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. Wyn 1933 WYNEKOOP - MRS RHETA - Woman Doctor, Son, Girl held in slaying 11 25 * 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR. A L-Will accuse Wynekoop of wife's death 11 25 FF 1 8 WYNEKOOP - Husband held as accessory in wife's death 11 27 N 1 4 WYNEKOOP - held death accessory - 11 27 S 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR. killing is denied by doctor 11 27 F 1 7 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE admits killing son's wife 11 25 * 1 1 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE retains poise in jail, amazes alienist interviewers 11 25 9 m 8 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE devoted life to others friends insist - 11 25 * 9n 6 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE Text of Confession - 11 25 * 9 6 WYNEKOOP - DR. ill death quiz waits 11 28 N 1 8 WYNEKOOP - DR. robber is blamed in surgery death 11 28 E 21 8 WYNEKOOP - EARLE & DR. ALICE, confessions puzzling 11 26 * 1 1 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE - Finding of Drug in Girl's organ drew woman doctor's confession 11 26 * 10 1 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE - "Won't be bothered long" she says 11 26 * 10 3 WYNEKOOP - EARLE Note asks dead wife to cheer up mother (BOX) 11 26 * 10 4 WYNEKOOP - RHETA 5000 view body - buried beside mother 11 26 * 10 4 WYNEKOOP - EARLE Alibi now established in murder - 11 23 * 1 3 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE - reveal knowing son was going with other women 11 27 * 4 5 WYNEKOOP - thousands visit home 11 27 * 4 1 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE - Denies slaying, words put in mouth by Police son reveals buying bullets 11 28 * 1 5 WYNEKOOP - Fate debated by state - 11 29 N 15 6 WYNEKOOP - DR. A. L. - Confession denied 11 29 F 13 8 WYNEKOOP - DR. A. indicted for murder 11 29 FF 1 6 No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. 6 Wyn 1933 WYNEKOOP - DR. ALICE is ill as case is pushed 11 29 * 3 4 WYNEKOOP - EARLE to trial surgery slayer 11 30 N 8 1 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE indicted by jury - 11 30 * 3 1 WYNNEKOOP - Liberty or death for DR WYNEKOOP 12 1 N 43 3 WYNNEKOOP - EARLE loses two pleas 12 1 S 29 1 WYNEKOOP - MRS ALICE Predicts own death - 12 1 * 2? 5 WYNEKOOP - oath of doctors factor in murder -12 2 E 18 7 WYNEKOOP - Loses legal fights for bail and arraignment 12 2 * 5 5 WYNEKOOP - DR too ill to appear in court 12 4 N 1 7 WYNEKOOP - DR trial is scheduled for Jan 4 12 4 F 21 5 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE flaw discovered in alibi 12 3 * 5 3 WYNEKOOP - Witness reveals new mystery in killing - Victim seen in Taxi near home. 12 4 * 1 3 WYNEKOOP - Body is exhumed 12 5 * 4 3? WYNEKOOP - Jury disagrees on sanity of kin of DR 12 8 N 25 7 WYNEKOOP - DR GILBERT relative of DR ALICE sanity questioned 12 8 * 6 2 WYNEKOOP - EARLE cleared in murder of wife 12 11 S 21 8 WYNEKOOP - EARLE freed in wife's death 12 12 * 3 5 WYNEKOOP - DR GILBERT insane 12 13 S 8 2 WYNEKOOP - DR GILBERT, adjudged insane 12 14 * 8 2 WYNEKOOP - DR G insane 12 14 /E 38 3 WYNEKOOP - EARLE in jam again 12 15 F 23 3 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE witness strangely missing - 12 28 * 1 4
1934
No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. 6 Wyn 1934 WYNEKOOP trial opens tomorrow 1 3 E 2 2 WYNEKOOP - MRS trial delayed for week 1 4 N 1 6 WYNEKOOP - DR A state to react version of murder 1 5 P 21 2 WYNEKOOP - DR A L - state seeks execution 1 11 N 1 8 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE trial opens in rioting - court packed - 1 12 * 3 1 WYNEKOOP - DR; trial is dreaded by Doctor 1 12 N 1 5 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE L Jury is selected - court bars mobs - 1 13 * 1 5 WYNEKOOP - DR A - fight confession 1 13 E 1 7 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE stricken in jail 1 14 * 3 4 WYNEKOOP - DR wheeled in court as state opens 1 15 E 1 3 WYNNEKOOP - DR wheeled in court as state opens 1 15 E 1 3 WYNNEKOOP - called killed in cold blood 1 15 S 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE says "I am dying" - 1 15 * 1 5 WYNEKOOP - ENID HENNESSEY - teacher on stand in WYNEKOOP CASE - 1 16 N 1 6 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE - Odd job worker is mystery man in Wynekoop case - 1 16 * 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE - is cool in 'Deathbed' test - 1 16 N 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE - 3 Exhibits cause DR WYNEKOOP to blanche at trial - she covers face - 1 17 * 1 6 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE - to die any minute counsel says - 1 18 * 1 5 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE counsel fights confession 1 18 N 1 6 WYNEKOOP - DR Dual edged use given confession - 1 19 * 1 3 WYNEKOOP - DR janitor - J VAN PELT accused in case 1 18 FF 1 5 No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. 7 Wyn 1934 Illness of DR WYNEKOOP - delays trial until Monday 1 19 N 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE illness certified - 1 20 * 1 3 WYNEKOOP trial up to physicians 1 20 E 2 1 WYNEKOOP - DR shows signs of improvement 1 20 F 22 7 WYNEKOOP - DR defense ready to push trial 1 20 FF 1 6 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE Trial demanded - hits delay - 1 21 * 3 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE - ending of trial up to DR ALICE 1 22 N 1 6 WYNEKOOP - DR A low from new attack 1 22 E 17 2 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE asks ending of trial 1 22 S 1 6 WYNEKOOP - case - Court - mistrial ordered - 1 22 F 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE suffers stroke - 1 22 * 1 3 WYNEKOOP - is 'better' after trial is called off 1 23 N 17 8 WYNEKOOP - DR bail to be sought next week 1 24 E 2 2 WYNEKOOP - ALICE AND THE WYNEKOOP TRIAL WAS OTHER - Photo of signature (No date or edition given) WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE death threat halts her trial - 1 23 * 1 3 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE bail to be sought - 1 24 * 3 3 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE court order makes doctor ill - 1 28 * 3 3 WYNEKOOP - DR declared to have Tuberculosis 1 29 E 1 8 WYNEKOOP - EARLE Found living under an alias - Milwaukee - 1 31 E 28 3 WYNEKOOP - DR Found Tuberculosis sufferer - 1 29 * 5 8 WYNEKOOP - EARLE - Found under an alias - Mil. 1 31 * 9 4 WYNEKOOP - DR improves 2d trial set for Feb. 19 2 6 N 21 7 WYNNEKOOP - trial set - Feb 19 2 7 E 2 2 No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. Wynekoop - trial on Monday 2 17 S 24 1 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE eager for Trial - 2 18 * 3 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE new jury faced - by 2 19 N 2 2 WYNEKOOP - Death trial opens 2 19 S 17 3 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE new trial begins - 2 20 * 3 3 WYNEKOOP - jury is completed - 2 21 N 23 7 WYNEKOOP - DR changed stories - 2 23 S 23 5 WYNEKOOP - Undertaker hits WYNEKOOP case - 2 24 N 22 6 WYNKOOP - open door Cited in WYNEKOOP case - 2 24 * 8 1 WYNEKOOP - lose move to bar Wynekoop story 2 26 S 17 6 WYNEKOOP - DR airs money woes - of DR WYNEKOOP 2 27 N 2 3 WYNEKOOP - Confession heard by DR WYNEKOOP - 2 27 * 4 8 WYNEKOOP - Defense started in DR A L WYNEKOOP case - 2 28 N 2 2 WYNEKOOP - death traced to money - 2 28 * 3 1 WYNEKOOP - DR set to tell her story 3 1 N 1 2 WYNEKOOP - Suicide - threat of RHETA bared daughter of DR WYNEKOOP testifies slain relative was distressed 3 1 FF 1 4 WYNEKOOP - WALKER assails Police 3 1 * 6 1 WYNEKOOP - DR aided by daughters's story - 3 2 * 3 1 WYNEKOOP - DR A L - carried to witness box - 3 2 N 1 5 WYNEKOOP - Furnishes alibi for DR WYNEKOOP - undertaker - S E CLEVELAND 3 2 E 2 2 WYNEKOOP - DR near collapses in telling about death scene 3 2 S 1 1 WYNEKOOP - DR 'I Confessed to save son', says DR ALICE 3 2 FF 1 4 WYNEKOOP - DR denies murder has breakdown 3 3 * 1 6 WYNEKOOP - ALICE L - DR breaks on witness stand 3 3 N 1 3 No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. 7 Wyn 1934 DR ALICE WYNEKOOP defense rests death case - 3 5 N 1 2 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE denies killing kin, hysterical in jail 3 4 * 1 4 WYNEKOOP case ready for jury 3 6 N 1 2 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE Hears plea for mercy 3 6 S 1 5 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE given 25 years in pen 3 7 N 1 3 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE Charges heaped on 3 6 * 5 1 WYNEKOOP - DR MRS L COLL - DR S DEAN - justice is seen in convictions of Women slayers - 3 8 N 2 3 WYNEKOOP - DR turns to bible for comfort - 3 8 P 1 8 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE guilty jury finds and fixes 25 Yr prison term 3 7 * 1 5 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE Shuns visitors 3 8 * 3 4 WYNEKOOP - DR A asks god to forgive 'erring' jury 3 10 N 2 6 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE decision decried - 3 10 * 3 5 WYNEKOOP - DR Loses plea for retrial in slaying 3 24 S 24 8 WYNEKOOP - DR denied new trial - 3 25 * 3 4 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE LINDSAY - sees last of world - Chicago 3 29 N 6 3 WYNEKOOP - EARLE missing son sees DR WYNEKOOP at prison - 3 30 * 3 7 WYNEKOOP - DR suffering Tuberculosis in Prison 5 25 N 13 4 WYNEKOOP - RHETA - Dillinger grave in cemetery with R WYNEKOOP 7 24 N 6 2 WYNEKOOP - DR. files appeal 9 8 S 1 6 No. SUBJECT YEAR Mon. Day Edt Page Col. WYNEKOOP'S DR ALICE L license suspended - Ill. 10 11 FF 1 6 WYNEKOOP - Settlement made in suit over WYNEKOOP insurance 11 7 N 7 1 WYNEKOOP - DR ALICE find box of human bones near Wynekoop cottage - 11 14 F 23 3
1935
WYNEKOOP - DR A L loses in Ill supreme court 2 13 N 30 3 WYNEKOOP - DR to appeal 4 6 E 3 1

Created April 27, 1999; Revised October 27, 2002
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