The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-24

hatchet in the stable confirmed this idea.
The bruise on the head just fits the ham,
mer end Of the hatchet. The body also had
the appearance of having been placed in
the box before life was entirely extinct, as
the left knee, which was bent, appeared as
though it had been rubbed back and forth
on the lid OF the box, scraping on
the skin The body was so badly de-
composed that one glance at it was almost
too much for even the stronge est men, and
the stencil which arose was so nauseating
that people were driven completely from
the yard.
Immediately after the finding of the body
/ telephone message was sent to the city
police station and TO the coroner. Deputy
Coroner Bigger answered the message, ar
irving about the same time as Captain
Campbell and Chief Of Detectives Splann.
The officials Immediately made complete
investigation and every possible clew was
noted and will be used in ferreting out the
perpetrator OF the crime. DR.. Bigger took
the statements OF those who had discov-
cred the body and those who had seen it
Immediately afterward. He then had it re-
moved to the morgue of Charles I. whitsett.
where a post mortem examination will be
made this morning.
The word that the body of the missing
child had been found spread over the suburb
like wild fire and in a very short time there
were hundreds of men, women and chill
dren around the corner of Woodburn and
River avenues. The majority of them gath
cred in the yard and the alley in the rear
of the house where the body was found.
AS soon as 1t was limited that the baby
had been outraged and murdered in cold
blood the excitement was quickly at
fever heat. Threats of lynching were made
openly, and one great buriy man announced
that If the villain could be caught he would
gladly light the match which would burn
the guilty wretch at the stake. And their
threats were in earnest, as evidenced by
their hard faces as they thought of the
sufferings which the innocent babe must
have endured. The crowd was restless. and
would shift. from one location to another,
always with the same vengeful mutterings.
Anyone who might possibly have been sus-
pected would have Jared badly. for the
mob would not have hesitated for a single
moments investigation. Late into the night
a large crowd of men was standing on the
corner. as though waiting for some devel-
opments which would give them the oppor-
tunity to compel the worse than murderer
to partially make redress with his life
blood.
SLIGHT CLEw FOUND.
After the body had been removed, officers
made an exhaustive search of the stable.
in the hopes of discovering some clew to
the murderer. William 10y. one of the
West indianapolis policemen, made a valu-
able find when he discovered small hatchet
with the blade covered with blood 1t had
been partially concealed behind cross
BEAM 1t had the appearance of having
been thrust into the ground. perhaps for
the purpose of removing the blood stains.
although the process had not been entirely
successful. 1t was supposed that this was
the weapon with which the murderer ac-
complished his crime. The hatchet was a
small one, such as those used by children,
and had been in the barn with other tools
for some time. Last night, before any COM
plete examination of the body had been
made. no other wounds except those on the
head and mouth were apparent, although
others may be found when the post mortem
is held this morning.
The general suspicion was directed
toward an old man, named j. r. Linson,
although there were dozen theories afioat
as to how the child met her death. The
man Linson is a great-uncle of young Mr..
| Silvers, and is a man said to be not just
right in his mind. Mr.. Silvers stated that
Linson is an opium fiend, and that he
becomes so under the influence the drug
| at times that he is not re-
| sponsible for his actions He is an
| irresponsible sort OF person at any rate,
| the story relates, and has no particular
home Sunday he came to the Williams
home and stopped there with them until
Monday evening. Monday evening he be-
| came intoxicated and was so boisterous on
the street that he was arrested and jailed
by policemen Buchanan and Stoddard. On
his way to the jail he declared that he
would commit suicide. and in his mutter-
ings stated that he had killed his sister,
| and wanted to die also. He had pocket
knife, and when it was taken from him he
begged for its return. Yesterday morning
he was given a hearing before Magistrate
Herig and was given two hours to leave
town, which he promised to do.
The discriminating circumstances, however
| lies In the fact that Lins6n was seen Satur
day by Squire Hcrig at the house where
the body was finally found. while at tn,
same time Mr. and Mrs. Williams and Mrs
Silvers were away attending a picnic.
was on Saturday morning that the baby
disappeared so suddenly. The house whers
the body was found Is but few doors
| from the corner OF River and woodburr
avenues, where little Ida was last seen, ant
| it would have been an easy matter for hel
| to be enticed to the place, and after being
| assaulted in the stable. murdered anc
placed in the box where found. When re
| leased, Linson stated that he was going t.
| Brightwood, and as this fact wa,
| learned last night, officers were sent ther,
| to apprehend him. as it was thought tha
whether he was the guilty party or not h,
might at least give some valuable informa
| tion officers at Brightwood found tina
| Linson had been there, but had left on
| car for the city just before the arrival of tn,
| officers. A lookout was then set on all car
| running to and from the city. and 1t wa,
| thought the man would be captured befor,
| morning. 1t was decided that should he b,
caught, he would be placed in the Count,
| Jail, as it was believed that it would b.
! virtually delivering up the man to be tor
| tured if he were returned to the suburb.
ANOTHER MAN SUSPECTED.
| Another man was also suspected. al.
| though the grounds for suspicion were not
! so strong as in the case OF Linson. One
| of the West Indianapolis officers had dis.
covered a man on the show grounds at the
| time that Barnums circus was here, max.
| ing improper advances to very young girls
| He had been watched for some time. wher
! he was taken into custody by the officer
| but as the girl whom he insulted refused