The Darkest of Places Part 3: Destination Unknown
Is there a doctor in the house? That’s a corny line from old movies. Someone is sick or injured, and since no one there can help that person, all one can do is call out: “Is there a doctor in the house?” In the Sylvia Likens trial, there were lots of doctors in the house. But I think it is important to focus on one doctor in particular. He is often overlooked as a major player in the Great Saga. I too didn’t think much about him, but now I think that he might just be the most important character of all.
Name game time! That never gets old. And although I can not top Disisit Carpet Cleaning, this one isn’t bad. What? A name game riddle! “If you were Gertrude’s doctor, and you were Paul D Lindenborg, who would you be? Remember! Names are never easy in the Sylvia Likens’ world. What did he say?
PAUL D. LINDENBORG , a witness called on behalf of defendant Gertrude Baniszewski,
being duly sworn by the court, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION,
QUESTIONS BY MR. WILLIAM ERBECKER, ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT,
GERTRUDE BANISZEWSKI
Q. State your name, sir.
A. Paul D. Lindenborg.
Q. What is your business or profession?
A. Physician.
Q. Lindenborg?
A. That is right.
Q. Where is your office, Doctor?
A. 3016 North Arlington.
Q. How long have you been a physician?
A. Since 1947.
Q. What school did you graduate from, Doctor?
A. Indiana University.
Q. In 1947?
A. That is right.
So, pretty straight forward. There’s a small problem. Gertrude’s doctor wasn’t Paul D. Lindenborg; he was Paul G. Lindenborg. What’s in a name? A rose by….Yeah, yeah. Now it seems to me, just thinking out loud as it were, that a witness at a murder trial would be introduced correctly, and would identify himself correctly. A minor thing? Not if the following information matters. Paul Gustav Lindenborg was born August 4, 1914 in Indianapolis, and died May 25, 1993. His parents were John and Clara (Erickson).
We find that John A Lindenborg was born in Sweden, and at the time of the 1930 census, he was living at 1038 West 35th Street in Indianapolis. The members of the household were Carl Lindenborg (26); Ruth Lindenborg (21); George Lindenborg (20); Paul Lindenborg (16); and Robert Lindenborg (13). Ruth became Ruth L Hood, and her death certificate calls her father Ahlgren (it goes on and on and on). Paul’s father was deceased prior to 1940. In that year, the Lindenborg family appears as
Clara A Lindenborg 1038 West 35th Widow of John
Carl F Lindenborg 1038 West 35th No occupation/No wife’s name
Eric R Lindenborg 1005 N Penn; apt. 116 Salesman, Brentlinger & Hosea Inc
Jane Lindenborg 1005 N Penn; apt. 116 Wife of Eric; bookkeeper for Hurt Bros
George C Lindenborg 1038 West 35th Laboratoryman, CM&M Co
Paul G Lindenborg 1038 West 35th Clerk
So the names Clara (mother), and George, Paul and Carl (brothers) are readily recognizable. Eric R Lindenborg is probably Eric Robert Lindenborg (01/24/1917 – 06/11/1987). He married Clara Jane Anderson on 09/03/1938. So that’s the family living in Indianapolis.
In 1934, Paul Lindenborg is called “Paul A Lindenborg.” So the name game just keeps on going. But all the Lindenborgs are given that middle initial in 1934, so it doesn’t mean too much; or so I think. In 1945, Paul is living at 1038 West 35th Street with his mother, his brother Eric and his wife, and his occupation is listed as “student.” As the good doctor told the court, after giving the wrong name, he graduated with a medical degree in 1947.
So why the name game? I’m not sure. But what I did find interesting is that in 1949, Paul appears as a physician, living at the address noted above, with the odd mistake whereby his mother is listed as his wife. That’s obviously just a mistake. But the house has another occupant; i.e. Paul Lindenborg Jr, listed as a student. In 1952, Clara is gone, but Paul G and Paul G Jr still live at the same address, having been joined by George and his wife Blanche. In 1954, Paul Lindenborg Jr is gone. Maybe. In 1957, a Paul Lindenborg, born around 1937, is attending Indiana University in Indianapolis. He then proves elusive. Our doctor died in 1993, but a Paul G Lindenborg continues to live at 8240 Furlong Circle, Indianapolis as late as 1999. The Indianapolis Star 03/22/95 , lists Paul G Lindenborg MD as living at that address in 1995. Is this Paul G Lindenborg Jr? And was he a doctor too? A Paul Lindenborg appears at 674 PO Box, Arcadia, Indiana, as does an Alice L Lindenborg. She is listed as living there in 1995. But she died in 1997, and was living at the 8240 Furlong Circle address with Lori L. Lindenborg, daughter of Paul (Sr) and Alice Lindenborg.
So the situation is a bit mysterious. Clearly, Paul Lindenborg and Paul Lindenborg Jr were father and son. But Paul Jr falls off the grid, as it were, and may have been a doctor as well. So two things can be said:
- There were two Paul Lindenborgs in Indianapolis; Paul Sr and Paul Jr.
- There were two Paul Lindenborgs in Indianapolis in 1966: specifically: Paul G Lindenborg and a mysterious Paul D Lindenborg.
This is very interesting. So who showed up at the trial? Is Paul D Lindenborg a cover? Probably not. The other thing to note about Paul G Lindenborg is the fact that he said something absolutely critical. Still, who did Gertrude think her doctor was?
Q. Have you been under a doctor's care the last few years?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who?
A. Dr. Paul G. Lindenborg.
Q. Lindenborg?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where is his office?
A. 3000 North Arlington.
So if Gertrude’s doctor is Paul G. Lindenborg, then who is Paul D. Lindenborg?
Q. Did you see Dr. Lindenborg any time in October?
A. Yes, sir, I saw him the 23rd of October and again on the - not - yes it was on - I saw him on Saturday and then I saw him again on the 25th.
Q. Did you go to his office?
A. Yes, sir.
And:
Q. You had been to the doctor's on October 23rd?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What doctor?
A. Dr. Paul D. Lindenborg.
Q. You went to his office?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where?
A. 30th and Arlington.
Q. How did you get there?
A. My son, John, and I went in a cab early that morning.
Q. Was that the first time you had been Dr. Lindenborg in several months?
A. Yes, it was.
Paul D again?
Q. How long did you stay at the doctor's office?
A. I remember the appointment was for 10:00 o'clock. I was supposed to have been the first one he took that morning. I don't remember, it was noon or after when I came home.
Q. Did you see Dr. Lindenborg?
A. Yes, sir, I did.
Please let’s keep the record straight! Paul G…or Paul D? Paul Sr? or Paul Jr?
Q. When you told the jury you did have a specific appointment, you were supposed to be the first one up -
A. That was on Saturday.
Q. Do you recall that?
A. My son reminded me.
Q. When did he do that?
A. Saturday, because he went with me.
Q. Last Saturday?
A. It was the Saturday before the girl died.
Q. My question is - when did your son remind you of the 10:00 o'clock appointment with Dr. Lindenborg on Saturday?
A. He got me up to go.
Q. That recollection is very vivid, is it?
A. The reason that happens to be vivid is because a little baby died in the neighborhood the same morning.
Q. That helps you remember when you had an appointment?
A. Yes, because my son aroused me early because the fire trucks were out in front.
Q. Does it also help remind you took a taxi cab to get there?
A. I did not have any other way to get there. I would have to take a taxi cab.
Q. You don't specifically recall that you did?
A. Yes, I believe my son called the cab, yes, sir.
Q. Is that your recollection?
A. Yes.
And before looking at that statement, I can’t resist quoting something else Gertrude said in this context that rivals even that master of comedy, Officer Dixon:
Q. So you were not having amnesia during the period of time - the last forty-eight hours before Sylvia died - loss of memory?
A. Amnesia, I don't remember any loss of memory.
Hah! I don’t remember having amnesia! Still, why “firetrucks?” Not one firetruck, but more than one. Johnny wakes her up because of the firetrucks. And why firetrucks if a little baby died? In a fire? She doesn’t mention a fire. Ambulance? It’s always possible to harmonize, but I find Gertrude’s statement about the little baby who died on Saturday to be rather cryptic and suggestive. Why? Because this is what Dr. Lindenborg (Paul D!) said:
Q. Doctor Lindenborg, can you look very carefully among the cards and tell the jury if Mrs. Baniszewski did not also come there Saturday, October 23, 1965?
A. I have no record of it, sir.
So Gertrude says that on the day the little baby died, she and Johnny went to see Doctor Lindenborg. So who’s telling the truth? Just ask Ulysses J Pack, the cab driver:
Q. For the 6th entry you got a call from someplace?
A. Yes.
Q. Where?
A. 3850 East New York Street.
Q. Indianapolis, Indiana?
A. Yes.
Q. You went there, did you?
A. Yes.
Q. How do you know you did?
A. Because it is not marked out.
Speaking of his sixth fare of the day:
Q. The 6th was from where to where?
A. 3850 East New York to 3028 Arlington.
Q. Arlington?
A. Yes.
There is no 3028 North Arlington. Lindenborg’s office was at 3016 North Arlington. So Dr. Whoever-he-is lied, right? The cabbie proves this, right? Maybe not. Leroy New asked this question:
Q. This particular run was to the 3000 block South Arlington?
A. I would have to look at the card again to see if it was North or South. That I could not say for sure.
Q. You don't recall of your own knowledge?
A. No.
Q. Would thirteen units be approximately right for the 3000 block South Arlington?
A. It would be about the same distance.
Q. How close is that to Beech Grove?
A. I think Southern Avenue is 2600 south. That would be four blocks south of that, sir.
Q. Close?
A. Yes.
What was at the 3000 block of South Arlington? Well, there was no 3028 to start with. And the addresses 3102 – 3905 South Arlington are residences, and I don’t recognize the names: Hassel Brinegar (3102); Charles L Kinhead (3112); Robert Beach (3204); Donald Vernick (3219); Wilburn Owens (3221); Venis Lewis (3225); David Perdue (3301); Art Donovan (3305); and Jason Borders (3315); 3901 and 3905 apparently vacant.
So it’s back to enigmatic numbers! And directions. What are units? Well, units are “dimes.” So the trip from 3850 East New York cost $1.30, plus the start off charge of $0.45. Importantly, the cab driver doesn’t know if he took Gertrude to North Arlington or South Arlington. Erbecker:
Q. Mr. Pack, is it a fact that the address you took these passengers to was right in front of a doctor's office?
A. I don't recall and I can't remember.
This is important. The cab driver’s record doesn’t state which Arlington he went to, north or south. There was no doctor’s office at the 3000 block of South Arlington, so it would help Gertrude immensely if the cab driver could say that he dropped her off in front of a doctor’s office. But he can’t. So Lindenborg states that he did not see Gertrude on Saturday. Gertrude identified his office as at 3000 North Arlington, i.e. the 3000 block. From Gertrude’s house to 3000 S. Arlington is 4.5 miles, but 5 miles to 3000 N. Arlington. If the difference is one-half of a mile, would it be possible that Gertrude was in fact taken to 3000 South Arlington? If so, then Lindenborg is right, he never saw Gertrude on Saturday. Then who did Gertrude go to see? It should be noted that Leroy New refers specifically to Beech Grove. 2011 Main Street is where Violet Manley lived in 1965. Where did John live? The directory says 2008 Main. My problem is that I can’t find this address, which if it existed, would have been across the street from Violet’s house.
What is perhaps most interesting is that the cab driver’s record only indicates that there were two passengers; not who they were. So did Johnny go with Gertrude to South Arlington, or did someone else? How did Gertrude and her companion get home? I feel safe assuming that Gertie Wright didn’t walk 5 miles, or 4.5 miles for that matter. Apparently, Mr. Pack gave Gertrude a one way ride. I would like to know how she got home. Did she catch another cab? Maybe she got a ride back. Maybe, from a not-cab. Of course, if that were the case, then whoever drove her and a certain young person back to the strange black hole known as 3850 East New York Street, he or she probably stopped a little way down the street. I suspect that the driver did not want to be seen dropping off Gertrude and… in front of her house. That way, a witness couldn’t testify in court that he or she saw the driver or the car. In fact, there was considerable subterfuge relative to the cab ride to Beech Grove. Gertrude gave the cabbie a non-existent address. “Gee, sorry ma’am, there doesn’t seem to be a 3028 South Arlington. Where exactly are you headed today?” “Oh, don’t worry about it. Just let me off here.” This, if it indeed happened, would have been very clever. Normally, the cabdriver would have a record of the fare, and he would be able to testify as to where he took Mrs. What’s-her-name. But! By giving a false address, the cabbie wouldn’t be able to say in court exactly where he took her. Was it a medical building? That would be hard for Mr. Pack to remember, and the false address would make it impossible to know for sure. But you never know what somebody might remember! So there is no indication whatsoever where Gertrude went that day. She said that she went to see Dr. Lindenborg, whether Paul D Lindenborg, Paul G Lindenborg Sr, Paul G Lindenborg Jr, or even Dr. Lockenwood. More on him later.
Many students of the Likens Murder Trial know Saturday all too well. We think instantly of the slogan and the branding. But that’s not all! Of course, Stephanie slept all day and into the evening, having been slipped a Mickey Finn. Jenny was hungry when Ricky supposedly began carving on her sister, so she went to get lunchmeat. So just what happened on Saturday?
- Gertrude and one of the kids got up around 10:00 am
- A little baby died in the neighborhood, Johnny having been awaken by the commotion
- A wasted Stephanie sleeps blissfully on the mattress in the dining room
- Ricky appears around noon
- Gertrude is supposedly complaining about having difficulty breathing as she sits and smokes at the kitchen table
- Gertrude initiates the carving of the slogan, but turns it over to Ricky after only doing part of one letter
- Jenny leaves to get lunchmeat for sandwiches
- All Marie wants is her rake and leaf basket
- Randy Leppar arrives, and Gertrude orders that Sylvia be taken downstairs so Randy can’t see Sylvia naked
- Ricky and Shirley decide to brand Sylvia, and blunder around in the basement looking for something until they find the IRON FURNACE POKER STEEL EYE-HOOK.
- For some reason, Randy is now allowed to gaze upon Sylvia, after this was refused earlier
- According to Jenny, Sylvia is forced to defile herself with a soda bottle
- According to Jenny, the Gang of Boys note was written 3 or 4 days before Sylvia died. It couldn’t have been 4 days, since that would be Friday, and the slogan doesn’t appear until Saturday. So, following Jenny, the Gang of Boys note was written on Saturday
- According to Jenny, a staff meeting about killing Sylvia and dumping her body took place on Saturday; or possibly Sunday
- And! This is the day that John says he brought over the large, friendly German Shepherd (the one who shrunk from 3 feet tall to 2 feet tall)
- Stephanie finally shakes off her drug stupor, and speaks with Sylvia that evening. Sylvia seemed fine to her.
That is one busy day! The action was non-stop. This picture is obviously false, but there does seem to be a concerted effort to load up events and dropped them into the Saturday time-slot. Why? Why not, Sunday? The slogan could have been done after school on Friday. The branding too. We could even have the whole we-can’t-decide-what-Randy-saw-or-didn’t-see thing on Friday, or even Thursday. Wait, I must apologize for my poor grammar. I should have said, “what Randy seen or didn’t seen on Friday.” According to Ellis, the slogan was done over weeks, just not “over many, many weeks”(this probably being the truth). Ricky’s account of how he did the slogan flies in the face of that, so maybe the whole slogan thing could have started some time before Saturday. And the note! Don’t forget, the Gang of Boys note leaves out something important…it says nothing about the Gang of Boys branding a number 3 on the girl. It mentions the sores and the slogan, but strangely, not the enigmatic Number 3! It seems that if Sylvia wrote the note on the same day she was branded, that would have been included in the letter, since if the Gang of Boys didn’t do it, then who did? It seems to me that Saturday became a black hole too, and it slowly began sucking everything into it. This can be taken to indicate that Saturday was the day that a very important event took place; one that forced Sylvia into a descent into the darkest of places. If Saturday is inherently connected with Sylvia’s ultimate fate, and Gertrude attempted to cover her tracks on Saturday by giving Mr. Pack a false address at the 3000 block of South Arlington, then it seems that one possible reconstruction of that Saturday would suggest that it was not Johnny who accompanied Gertrude to Beech Grove; no, it was Sylvia. And rather than admit why this was and what this was all about, Gertrude would lie about where she went, even though some manifestation of Dr. Lindenborg would say that she didn’t visit him. Then to further cover up the real events of Saturday, the decision was made to toss in all kinds of other important events, thereby burying what really happened, which appears to have occurred in Beech Grove. But! The evening of October 23rd is equally important. That evening Mrs. Leppar came to Gertrude’s house to speak with her. Gertrude’s description of her own condition that evening will form the basis for understanding an equally important event, one that results in a strange, new manifestation of Gertrude Vanfossan Baniszewski Guthrie Baniszewski Wright Baniszewski. What manifestation is that? Obviously, Sylvia’s doppelganger.