The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-10
SHE Is CHARGED WITH MURDER.
Mrs. Mary Castor Arrested for Killing
Her Babe.

Mrs. Mary Castor. aged thirty-fve
years, was arrested yesterday at noon by
Captains Campbell and Quigley on a charge
of murder, sworn out by Martha Holt.
Mrs. Castor, when arrested, was found in a
house on Elizabeth street, near White riv-
er. where she had been living since a
short time after the death of the child,
which occurred on March 1. 1T that time
Mrs. Castor was residing with her four
children at No. 3O1 West Pearl street,
amid wretched surroundings.
About 10 o'clock Thursday morning,
March 1. patrolmen Dilts and Asche. who
patrol the district In the vicinity Of the
above number, were approached by a wom-
an named Martha Bonbrake. The woman
was on her way to the Union Station to
gave a hurried account of the death Of a
girl infant of Mrs. Castor. born Wednes-
day morning previous, and which had died
stances. The woman said that she was
Of the opinion that the child had been
murdered. The officers went TO Mrs. Cas-
tors home and found her in bed. She at
first denied having given birth to a child.
The officers searched the premises. but
found nothing. They questioned a Mrs.
King. a ~neighbor, who was in the kitchen.
and she told the officers that the child had
been found in a basket behind a stove by
a neighbor, one OF her friends, Mrs. Cas-
tor then admitted that the child, which
was hers, had died from natural causes,
and told the officers where to find IL. 1t
was produced, but no marks of violence
were found on il, yet the unusual dark
coloring of the face led them to believe
that violence had been used. Coroner
Beck was summoned, and he decided that
the child had been murdered and rendered
his verdict.
Mrs. Castor was removed TO the City
Hospital, while her four children were
taken to the Board of Children's Guardi-
ans. During Mrs. Casters stay at the City
Hospital Martha Holt, who was an init
mate friend of Mrs. Castor. and who had
administered TO her during her Illness.
called at the coroner's office a number of
times and gave weighty evidence concern
ing the mysterious death of the child.
Yesterday morning she called at the Cor
oner's office and stated that she was posi-
tive that Mrs. Caster had killed her child.
She said that Mrs. Castor was released
from the City Hospital Saturday. April
IL. and that she had brought her from the
hospital. Later in the day the two went
TO the Home to see Mrs. Castor's chill
dren. but they were not allowed 10 do so.
Mrs. Castor was very much down-hearted
and, after much ~heSitancy, she told Mar
tina Holt that she had killed her child by
choking 1t. Martha Holt further stated
TO the Coroner that Mrs. Castor had adj
mitted that she had killed two other chill
was taken before Prosecuting Attorney
Hoffman, and she swore out an affidavit
upon which Mrs. Castor was arrested.
Captain Quigley served the warrant, and
on arriving at the house found Mrs. Castor
washing. He took her to Coroner Beck's
Mrs. Castor instantly broke out in a
TRADE of abuse against her accuser. Mrs.
| Castor was then taken TO the police station.
She denied having killed the child.