Joan Winters

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Joan Winters (December 8, 1909 - October 1933) was a Broadway dancer who was arrested as a spy in Istanbul, Turkey in 1933. She was murdered and her body was found near the Garden of Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem.[1]

Her real name was Carol von Niedergesaess. The family name had been changed to Godfrey during World War I. She was born in Seattle, Washington where she resided with her family until 1928.[2]

Contents

[edit] Dancer

Winters appeared on Broadway in 1930, as Sue in the drama Bad Girl.[3] She left for Europe on April 13, 1932. She planned to return to New York City in time to celebrate her birthday on December 8, 1933.

[edit] Murder victim

Winters' corpse was discovered along with the body of an Indian civil service employee, Mohammad Karamini,[1] from Madras,[2] in November 1933. The latter had been Winters' guide and was found shot to death.[1] One source said Winters met Karamani in Athens, Greece and the two arrived in Haifa on October 29th. The couple encountered Arabs outside of Jerusalem who were rioting in protest against increased Jewish immigration into Palestine. While walking Winters and Karamani were shot by the Arabs. She died from head injuries and he succumbed from a gunshot wound. Authorities admitted that they were puzzled by the murders.[2]

[edit] Family reaction

Her father, Bert Godfrey, a Brooklyn, New York marine engineer, met reporters in his home at the Hotel St. George.[1] He was the head of Godfrey Propeller Adjusting Corporation of Brooklyn.[2] He revealed a letter from his 24-year-old daughter, addressed to her mother. It was received two weeks earlier. Winters wrote that she arrived in Istanbul in early October and was arrested as a spy. She was searched by female police officers who took from her letters which were in her possession. She was questioned and released several hours later.

Two months before Winters' body was located a letter was received by her parents stating that she had met a young Serbian business man. He had fallen in love with her but his affection was not returned by Winters. The letter was written from Bucharest, Romania. Godfrey said that he sent several letters to the United States State Department, neither of which were answered.[1] Her mother contended Winters intended to write a book about Palestine.[2]

An East Indian Moslem, Mohamed Ikram, was released as a suspect in the death inquiry in early November 1933.[4]

[edit] Burial

Winters was buried in American Cemetery in Jerusalem.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Dancer's Parents Ask Death Inquiry, New York Times, November 6, 1933, pg. 9.
  2. ^ a b c d e Girl Slain in Gethsemane In Love Plot, Police Hint, Oakland Tribune, November 4, 1933, pg. 2.
  3. ^ Joan Winters Internet Broadway Database, Retrieved 1-10-08.
  4. ^ Suspect Freed In Dancer's Death, New York Times, November 7, 1933, pg. 28.