The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-01
TWO MEN In CUSTODY
ARRESTS MADE IN CONNECTION
WITH THE GERHARD CASE.
Ridiculous State of Affairs Among the
Wyatt and Dunbar's Statements.

For at least ten hours Mrs. Hannah Geb-
hard, mother of the murdered West Indian
apolis child, has been questioned, quizzed
and cross-examined by policemen, consta-
bles. detectives and the coroner, and not
one word of damaging testimony has been
given by her. Since Mrs. Gerhard arrived
in the city Tuesday afternoon she had not
had one quiet hour She was taken in
charge by Mrs. Parry, wife of the West
Indianapolis marshal, and questioned by
three or four persons at the Parry home.
The same night Chief Splan talked to her.
Yesterday morning she was taken before
Coroner Castor and examined at length.
Yesterday afternoon she was again before
the coroner. West Indianapolis officers and
private detectives called at the home of
a friend where she is stopping. 1t is said
by a few detectives that Mrs. Gerhard.
while before the coroner, became confused
once or twice. Yet at all times she has
apparently told as best she could of her
child's disappearance, and those who ex-
pected to learn from her something which
would direct them in ferreting out the
case are woefully disappointed.
Mrs. Gerhard said at the coroners exam
Ida's disappearance she was busy with
her household duties. Ida was dressed
about Z o'clock. Then the Child helped the
mother in carrying some freshly ironed
clothes to bureau drawer. The mothers
attention was drawn to something else.
She looked out and saw Ida playing in the
street Mrs. Gerhard brought her child in
the house, but she does not remember
having whipped her for running away
Anyway. Ida was missing again in snort
COM
menced. The neighbors were aroused and
the police were notified: The mother spent
cried as any other mother would have
done Mrs. Gerhard was asked how little
Ida was dressed that morning and she
said:
''She had on a light Mother Hubbard. 1t
had some red paint on ii. 1t did not all
wash out There was braid on the dress
hat with blue. band on It; There was a
little flower in the dress. She had on but
ton shoes. The sole on one was torn away
at the toe. She had elastics on the stock
ings to hold them up, and these were butt
toned to her gauze chemse. She had on
drawers of Shaker flannel The drawers
them. She had no skirt or petticoat. There
was little red flower in the dress
Are these the clothes" asked the cor
oner, laying the clothes found in the box
with the body before Mrs. Gerhard. The
latter covered her face with her hands,
wept some and shuddered. Then she said:
am sure these are INC Sioencs she
There was a renewed interest in the
case at West indianapolis yesterday. and
en- persons were alleged to have made
confession during the day. and excitement
ran high. The. private detectives toiied
and dug around in the alleys, wells and
barns. attempting to get clew. AT least
a dozen residents of the town have turned
,Ss and y orsd f wert the sn
rest of the child's murderer.
TWO ARRESTS MADE.
Fank Dunbar, living on WOODBURY. ave.
nue., next door to the Gerhard home. was
arrested yesterday upon warrant sworn
out by officer Hughes alleging him to be
an accessory to crime. The only evil
dence there is against Dunbar is that
he owns a white horse. A man who is
identified by the name Of Mike told the
officers that upon the morning following
the child's disappearance he saw a white
horse hitched to a buggy drive up the ale
body was found. A mans knees could be
seen in the buggy. and they looked IKE
Dunbar's knees. So fine has the descrip-
ton been drawn that the buggy to which
the forse was hitched belonged to officer
Woocs The latter says his stable is
lockea at all times, and II would be impos-
At the time Dunbars horse was supposed
to have been used it was SO lame that 1t
could Is
a blacksmith and Dunbar say. The horse
was also staked on common that night,
and witnesses say 1t was there as late as
i iIs At O'clock Sunday morning Dunbar
says he arose TO go TO milk cows at the Alb
attoir. as he has been grantees that privi-
Robert Wyatt, who is also under arrest.
Last night Dunbar was released on 5000
bond. He has employed an attorney, and
after a hearing he proposes to sue the town
for false arrest and imprisonment Dun
bar has been one of the most active work
ers on the case since the child disappeared;
He searched diligently to find her, and
when the body was found he was on the
ground aiding the officers all he could;
.n Mop I,yes WITH With him He was brought here
from Danville, for which place he depart
ed last Thursday or Friday. He was seen
standing around the corner OF River ana
child disappeared. He was detailed TO
keep the crowd back from the stable at
i esed fm to have eS Me is Of an
nature, and his story does not coincide
exactly with that given by. Dunbar. he
Sunday morning uptil 5 o'clock. Wyatt
says he left indianapolis for Danvile upon
last Friday; while Dunbar thinks II WAS was
ne had work promised him. and he Vas
found working in machine shop. MRS.
Of 't the arrest r of her husband. Last Friday
she became a mother but the arrest mas
caused her to suffer a relapse.
There is danger of a great injustice De-
ing done some one by the zeal OF those al
work upon the case. Each one Is after
the reward and each has clew Each Is
afraid that some other will get ahead or
him. and each is anxious TO get MS sus-
pecfed party in Jail before some one else
catches the clew. The two police forces OF
the town are working against each other,
and neither Will give the other the penent
OF any information. The thought of the re-
ward overshadows any other motive In cap
turing the murderer. The two forces are
working in a cut-throat sort or FASHION,
and because of the zeal no one Is above
suspicion.