Riddle Woman Stars In River Death Case
A Mystery Novel In Herself - That Ione Orde
Evening Tribune - Providence, RI - Nov 24, 1929
Pointe a la Hache, LA. (AP)
Of women who lately have risen from obscurity to pique the public curiosity, none has kept herself within a shroud of secrecy with more success than this ultra-modern product, central figure in the investigation of Jack Kraft's death.
This black-haired, green-eyed girl has baffled experts on feminine psychology, shrewd detectives and even her own mother.
She landed here Oct. 11, a riddle woman. A month later she still was that; as the curtain slowly lifted on her past, the enigma deepened.
She has clung to spoken lines with the skill of a trained actress. She withstood immovable, the rigors of a third degree, the pleadings of a priest of her church and of her distraught mother, and not once did she falter in those lines. Her prosecutors, who tried to break down her story, she drove to exasperation by bodily enacting her role on the witness stand with a threat of perjury dangling before her.
From the witness stand she openly smiled at John McGouldrick, ship's officer, man about town type, indicted on a murder charge in connection with the death of young Kraft in what the prosecution contends was a fight over the girl. She was determined to defend him, then she said, to marry him.
That might well be the picture of a woman of the world, but in her antics out of court, she has presented herself in quite another light.
She has been viewed romping in glee as "tag" with youngsters in the jail-yard and chasing baby chicks to the disgust of a ruffled hen.
"What is your name?" bellowed the District Attorney in court.
"Ione Marie Gloria Gay Powell Rouzer Orde," she replied sweetly
She explained her maiden name was Marie Glorie Rouzer; that she became Gay Powell on her marriage to a British actor in France and used Ione Orde on sketches she made.
Twenty-one years old now, Ione was reared in France.
She left New York early in October with Jack Kraft, a press room employe (sic) with other ambitions and a bent for travel. Aboard the steamship Creole, they found their total capital was less than $25.
They planned to tarry a while in new Orleans, then hitch-hike to the Pacific coast, sketching and writing. It was an idea they had.
Aboard the ship they met John McGoulrick, suave second officer.
The night of Oct. 11 a drama, full details of which have not been established, was enacted on the boat. The climax came when the lookout called:
"Man overboard."
Rescue failed.
When the Creole reached New Orleans the log told of Jack Kraft committing suicide. The story was accepted by authorities. A few days later Kraft's body was washed ashore. A bullet hole through his heart was found.
The girl was arrested with Sommy Epstein, second steward. Epstein entered the jail here as its first occupant since last spring.
Both he and the girl maintained Kraft had jumped overboard.
Then, the day the Creole started on the return voyage, the girl scribbled a note to McGouldrick expressing her love for him.
McGouldrick was arrested when the boat reached New York and taken to the Point a la Heche jail. He said he had no intention of marrying the girl.
For weeks Ione's identity was sought. She insisted her true name was Ione Orde. Then someone found an athletic medal among her effects with "Gloria" scratched on it.
Finally her mother, Mrs Gloria M. Rouzera (sic), recognised her daughter from newspaper photographs.
Mrs. Rouzer hurried to Louisiana with Miss Dolly Frooks, a lawyer. Even after Mrs. Rouzer arrived, the girl denied she was her mother. Finally though, she rushed into her mother's arms, weeping.
She explained she wished to protect the family name.
"This is the first time my daughter has deceived me," she said. "I cannot understand her."
And neither can others.
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