from the Lowell Tribune, Aug. 22, 1935, page 1
Also found in the Clipping Files at Lowell Public Library--LH--"Crime and Criminals"
LIFELESS BODIES OF POPULAR COUPLE FOUND EARLY SUNDAY NEAR CAR AT ROADSIDE
Earl Ewer Apparently Shot Miss Geraldine Worley, Then Kills Self. Shots Heard About 11 p.m. Bodies Found by Gary Men, Northeast of Town.
This community was stunned early Sunday morning when it was learned that the lifeless bodies of Earl Ewer and Miss Geraldine Worley had been found along the roadside about a quarter mile south of the old Jones schoolhouse, 3 miles northeast of Lowell.
The bodies were found by Homer Smull, 1808 Cleveland Ave., Whiting, and Allan Hosane, 570 Buchanan street, Gary, who were going on a fishing trip about 5 a.m. that morning. They immediately went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Hayden, south of the scene, who called the Sheriff's office, and deputies were soon on the scene, and they called Dr. Franklin Petry, Deputy Coroner.
The men who found the bodies did not recognize them, but as soon as some of our citizens arrived there they recognized who they were.
The bodies were found along side the car which belonged to Ewer, which was parked at the side of the road, and their feet were near the running board of the car. She was lying on her back with two bullet wounds in her breast, and he was lying on his face, with a bullet wound [in] his head. According to the report there was not a sign of a struggle of any kind and both of them were lying peacefully on the ground.
The young couple had been keeping company for some time, and it is understood that Miss Worley told friends that Saturday night was to be her last "date" with Ewer. It is supposed that he was so downcast when he heard this that he shot the young lady and then turned the gun on himself and took his own life.
The young couple were last seen alive at about 11 p.m. Saturday night when she quit work in the Royal Blue store, and he was there to meet her and supposedly take her home. They both seemed to be in a very jovial mood and talked and laughed with their friends as they got in the Ewer car and drove away.
We understand that Walter Seyfarth, who has made the schoolhouse into a summer home, told the authorities he heard shots about 11:30 Saturday night, but it's quite common to hear shots and he paid no further attention to the matter, but this may have been the shots that snuffed out the lives of the two popular young people.
The bodies were brought to the Weaver funeral home in Lowell after Deputy Coroner Petry arrived at the scene.
Earl was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ewer, of northeast of town, and was a fine young man. He was about 25 years of age and graduated from the Lowell schools several years ago and since that time has worked with his father at farming and carpenter work. His funeral was held at the Weaver funeral home Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
Geraldine was daughter of Mrs. Henry Worley and was 19 years of age. She graduated from Lowell High school with the class of 1933. Since that time she has been at home and just recently accepted a part time position at the Royal Blue store. She was of a jovial disposition and a most estimable young lady, and had a host of friends among the younger set of this section. Her funeral was held at the Christian church at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Earl Ewer
Earl Alexander Ewer was born at Lowell, Ind., on January 10, 1909, and died August 17, 1935, at the age of 26 years, 7 months and 7 days. He was the second child in a family of seven boys and four girls. He lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Ewer, at their home east of Lowell, and his passing was a great shock to his many friends who have known him from childhood. Earl was known to his many acquaintances as a kind hearted and most friendly individual, and had a wide circle of friends.
He is the first called in this family of eleven children. Those remaining to mourn his passing are his parents, Fred and Maude Ewer; his sisters, Mrs. Peter Horner, Mrs. Ernest Miller, Ruth and Adelia Ewer; his brothers, Bertrand, William, John, Junior, Robert and Virgil Ewer. In this family circle he cannot be replaced.
Funeral services were held at the Weaver funeral home, Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. R.H. Crowder, pastor of the M.E. church at Lowell, conducted the services. Interment in the family lot in the Orchard Grove cemetery in charge of Weaver & Son.