John M. Erickson, director of the Wanamaker Institute, died at his
work last night. Erickson was a beloved and valuable figure in the
world of science, famous for his recently publicized "time lapse"
theory.
Two strange circumstances surrounded his death. One was the presence
of a German shepherd dog in the laboratory, its head crushed as if
with a sledgehammer. The other was a chain of small metal objects
stretching from one corner of the room to the other, as if intended
to take the place of wire in a circuit.
Police, however, discount this idea, as there was a roll of wire
only a few feet from the body.