The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-03
Annie McAfee Told the Secret to Mrs.
Mary Head, Who Afterwards Became
Angry and Gave the Police a Clew.
M'AFEE Is UNDER ARREST
He and the Coles, 1t Is Claimed,
Were on a FOraging Trip.
Merchant Policeman Pursued the Rob-
bers and Was Killed-COle Denies
knowledge of the Crime.

dianapolis this morning with John McAfee,
who is to be charged with completely in
the murder of Merchant policeman Waiter
son. Cole. the first Of the suspected trio
arrested, was bound over to the grand jury
yesterday without bail and sent to Jail.
He was not locked in the murderers' row,
but was given quarters in the colored de-
partment OF the prison, on the west side.
Detective Thornton found McAfee late yes
terday afternoon in Chicago, and immedi-
ately wired superintendent Powell of his
success. McAfee was living in South Chi
with wife and daughter. He was To-
Gated through a strategy employed by the
colored patrolmen, Harris, Hart and Spears,
and which was put in operation two days
ago. These officers feel confident that they
have the right men. Cole was arrested on
a warrant sworn out by Harris and Nc
Afee was arrested on the information filed
by Hart. William Cole, the son Of the
arrested Wednesday, is not yet under
arrest, but the police nave a warrant for
him, which was sworn out by patrolman
Spears. The younger Cole is said to be in
Springfield. Ill. His father says that he had
a letter from him a month ago. but has
heard nothing from him lately.
AS has been the history of other murder
III lulS Vicinity, HI dllcBSu NdllCI-
son murderers were betrayed by the gar
rulity of a woman Day after day the three
colored policemen have watched the vary
ing moods and caprices of Mary Head and
Annie McAfee. dreading lest they should
decide to go back on the whole story
which was CLEANED piece-meal and at in
tervals. Patrolman Harris, who by his
staid bearing and fatherly manners was
able to ingratiate himself into the conf
dences Of the two women, worked the
story from them something after the m:.n-
Of a fisherman landing a wary bass. The
conviction of the three men, it seems, will
depend largely upon the evidence of these
women. Mary Head is a middle-aged col
ored woman, who lives in a little cottage
on Yandes street. Annie McAfee is distant
ly related to John McAfee, and at the time
OF the Watterson murder lived with Nc
Afee's mother. The old lady now resides
on New man street.
1t was on account of a fuss with Mrs.
Head that patrolmen Ward and Spears
were Handicapped in their efforts to get a
strong piece Of evidence in the case several
months ago. A colored man Of the north
east quarter of the city one day assured
patrolman Ward that he could lay his
hands upon the murderers of Watterson,
and omised the patrolman that in due
season he would be ready to talk. An I'M
fortunate occurrence a week later spoiled
the case and Ward was compelled to retire
party at her Yandes-street home, and the
man who was TO furnish the new evidence
and Spears, happening along, were at
tracted TO the unusual sound of levity en-
%enfering the house found the guests sHs in
the enjoyment of a large keg of beer. The
ofhcers were compelled to quiet the house.
hold. and thereby gained the enmity of
Harris, with Hart and Spears, then took
ent proportions. Annie McAfee, the young
woman through whom the first story of
the murder was learned, cam. TO live with
was killed. She grew sS'e eSceedingly fond of
the old lady and finally told her that she
possessed a secret of great moment; Mrs;
the girl. it is claimed. related what she
knew OF the Watterson murder. She told
how John McAfee.. old man Cole and his
killed the Merchant policeman while out on
secrecy. and the facts would not PERHAPS
nave leaked out had not the women in
dulged in a quarrel. The McAfee girl left
Mrs. Head and returned TO live with Mrs.
McAfee. the mother of John. To the latter
Annie incidentally mentioned the fact that
and Mrs McAfee advised her to seek re-
Venge. She proposed that the girl pro-
woke Mrs, Head to renew the quarrel and
get her TO strike her. Then she would
ages. When Mrs. Head learned of the
conspiracy against her she grew indignant
and. with wrathful emphasis. remarked:
oh, that's the game, is it? Well, L will
just tell all l know about Mrs. McAfee's
son killing James Watterson."
Mrs. Head took no pains, it seems, to con-
ceal her i'll feeling for the McAfees, and the
story was passed from house to house until
it came to the ears of the police. Both the
McAfee girl and Mrs. Head 2 badly
frightened, it is said, and the latte. Iivulged
the information to- the officers on the prom
Use that she should not be mentioned in con-
Eection with the case.
William Cole, ST.. protests that he was IN
CaStleton on the night of the murder. With
one of his younger sons and a citizen of
Castleton, he says that he was rabbit hunt
ing on Christmas day. They set out very
early in the morning. He admits that he
bought a wagon of John McAfee a few
weeks after Watterson was killed. McAfee
loafed about Castleton for several days,
telling Cole that he was wanted for steal
ing coal from the Lake Erie & Western
railway. He was anxious to sell the wagon
and team to cole; ana nnaiIy the latter
son is a bad boy, and that he left here with
considerable money in his possession that
really belonged to his father.
Merchant policeman Wheatley. who has
interested himself in the Watterson case,
knew the elder Cole, and went with the po-
lice TO arrest him. He said yesterday that
Cole had told how Taylor McAfee. a brother
Of John, had come out to Castleton with two
revolvers. and. handing them TO John, had
said:
Take these and don't let them take you
alive"
The police say that Abe McAfee, the elder
brother of John. is now wanted for murder.
Many years ago. il is claimed, he killed a
man in Harrodsburg, KY. but got out of
the trouble. He came here with his brothers
and started a policy shop" on Indiana av-
enue. Two or three years ago he was COM
PEELED to leave Indianapolis and went to
Louisville. In that city the police say that
he committed another murder and is now a
fugitive.
The Arrest of McAfee.
Special TO The Indianapolis Journal.