In the Eyes of the Law

The Cadillac began backing from its parking spot parallel to the curb just inside the entrance to the Meadowbrook Apartment complex. But it kept going. Instead of making a slow backwards turn, stopping and shifting into drive, the white Cadillac continued backwards, picking up speed as it went. The ever-increasing pace took it roaring from the parking lot, across the northbound lane of Meadows Drive, then through three complete backward circles in the divided roadway. The tires slammed the concrete curb outlining the six foot wide grassy median as thousands of pounds of steel jumped violently first up then down with each turn. The sound alternated between a squeal as the tires clawed at the black pavement and a hiss as the rear wheels spun throwing the soft green grass on the underside of car. As its accelerator forced a limitless supply of gasoline to its massive eight-cylinder, four hundred cubic inch engine, the front of the car was whipped uncontrollably, straining against the centrifugal force to break free. The front tires squealed a heart-stopping whine. Neighbors began waking from their deep sleep as the screaming tires disrupted the quiet Thursday night. Out of control and still picking up speed, it finally veered backward over the curb on the other side of Meadows Drive and smashed trunk-first into a metal utility pole.

That was the end of the line for the shiny new car and its sole occupant.

Air conditioning wasn’t unheard of in the 1950’s, some commercial buildings had it, but in residences it was definitely a luxury item. Some commercial air conditioning systems then were simply air forced over large blocks of ice. Even simple window air conditioners were the fare of the wealthy. It would be 20 years before middle class Indianapolis would consider air conditioners a necessity. That hot, July night, the windows in the area homes were left open to stir the stagnant summer night air. The sound of the Cadillac’s final drive awakened close neighbors like Earl Alexander, who leapt from his bed and grabbed the clothes he had worn the day before to investigate.

Walking through the front door of his Meadows bungalow and looking east toward the accident scene, Mr. Alexander saw not only the impressive white Cadillac with surprising little damage given the violent sounds that preceded the crash, but also a blue and white car, a car he believed to be an Oldsmobile, but even he would have said it was hard to tell in the middle of the night. The Cadillac rested against the utility pole that was now leaning away from the Cadillac at about 30 degrees. The street light atop the damaged pole still lit the scene. The Oldsmobile had no apparent damage. Mr. Alexander told police later that as he approached the scene, he saw two men standing beside the damaged Cadillac. But, according to the groggy witness, before he could reach the accident scene, the two men turned, climbed into the Oldsmobile, and drove away.