The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-02
Talks with Members Of the Families
in Which Each Makes In-inustions
Against the other.
SOME ARRESTS PROMISED
ALLEGED cLEws SAID TO ne IN POS
SESSION OF THE SHERIFF..
Absconder Lamont. Of Washington,
OvcrhnuIcd i'm Fort Wayne aud Let
Go Agsin-ssate News.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
BLOOMI<GDALE. Ind. Aug. The
Journal correspondent has just spent two
3 days on the scene OF the Clara Shanks
murder at Wolf creek falls, has inter-
viewed the principals and leaders OF tie
two factions. and has obtained an insight
into the causes which led TO the special
court OF inquiry last Tuesday. with its
attending results.
First. the court OF inquiry. which lasted
all day. and which had before it all the
principals Of the Shanks and Keller fam
lilies. failed in every sense 70 bring out
any self-convicting evidence. as was told
in yesterdays Journal. Its one result. ap-
parent in every ones mind. was 20 sink
this strange murder Of Clara Shsnks.
which in most ways rivals anything OF the
two counties. still deeper and deeper into
mystery. Many had expressed themselves
of the belief that II the Keller women ever
came on 10 the witness stand. under the
cross-examination OF shrewd attorneys.
they would tell story that would give
clew TO the criminal. on the contrary.
their estimony was so straightforward that
there was but one result in the public
mind. and that was to thicken the plot.
While this is the case. there is un-
abating cry for justice throughout all the
Mill creek valley. And one very startling
development brought out by this public
hearing was the statement OF the keilers
that in their opinion Clara shanks was
murdered, but by whom they did not know.
In an interview with the Journal cor
respondent, to-day. this statement was re-
iterated Daniel Keller. his wife, Miss
Emma Cox, Margaret Keller and w. A.
Cox. father Of Mrs. Keller and Miss Cox.
are all staying at the home OF George Kei-
Ter. two miles northwest OF the shanks
home. They have been there ever since the
tragedy, and have never left the neigh
borhood, as reputed in some papers. Iney
taik freely or the tragedy, OF the su<pf-
cion that has rested upon tnem, ana OK
their testimony before the court OF IN
quiry. r, ss.ux.
leave her home that Saturday, said Mrs.
attention of my sister and husband 10 ~.
as IL seemed little unusual TO see ner
going down the lane bareneadeo ans ,.s, psrss
at the time, and we watched ner so,nx
from a crack in the Misunderstanding NY
husband nsssr sn,r. lets Clara ae sSsnss WAS MUIR
dered do you know any evidenceF wal
asked. -. 49,. ~.sr
unon the shanks famly-especially upon
Young Don Shanl<s. from the number OF
Zines which he was seen 10 cross 10 tne
Wolf creek thieket thai ,nsarsns altern1v actions
of the Shanks family on that nlgn,; 1870 sho
even the next morning. Not single heisn-
bor was called in TO help hunt Clara. X
they thought she was in distress. ana
went 10 bed as usual. a.
The Shanks support which II ieu py y,s. 49,
or in IFS belief that Clara met neI Ia,e ~
The hands of those who charged ner NIL mi,n
improper sondgss Tas ns Brought aea out in the in
oulry. vet they think the tessinony
ss,re11,rthsned their cause. Mr.. Thomas
sAiI 1.-THE testimony OF Daniel Keller was so
r,rbiine that YOU could get neither neau
nor tail to it. He could not explain ~ 20 ssfe sne
court satisfactorily where he was on ss ss,d
ordav' Iuiv 6. between the hours OF ~ ana
, There were two hours OF that aay rn.Sn III,
he cannot account for nimseu- re sa, ~ ssS,
know when he ate dinner. nor on wnat sue
M no he table he sat- nor whether he saw
Clara shanks going down the road peIors
or after dinner. we ,,a ha' Ksi,er home that
Sav at noon and seeing the two women az
dinner. with Daniel not there. IL Is our
opinion wa ana absent S nofr FROM his home between
| the hours OF II and 2, nave nsrsr os ~,
lieved that Clara shanks was a,sh, muraerea ,.. y
think Il was done in the WOLF creek
'n'SHf What will be the next step takenr
ssntu N, viii viii he legal arrest on evidence
vhich we are slowly collecting. cannot
say nov ,,,i surely come. Possibly II viii be
given the grand jury and let the regular
process take its course
.srhan Won think there Is evidenceF
"f do: and just yesterday purse OF -
was made up to aid the Investigation OF the
blood. Sheriff Moore Is now on ms way 20
nolis to have the blood found on me
logs in Wolf creek hollow auaiyzed .so he siso
has chips from the floor OF Dan Keller :
house. taken from his sitting room ssnr.r nn,sr
has q pair OF Kellers pants which have
spots on them resembling blood. Above all:
N Kaller's house quantity OF ashes Which
was made from burnt clothes of, some kind.
The ibers OF the cloth are very plan ls., ~ tne
and we have a witness who VIII testify 70
passing the Keller home on sunday july
| Z. the day Clara Shankss oooy wa iou.,;
and of smelling wooden goods burning All
these things are going to come up before
| this case is ended
These are the two opinions as tney exist
there to-day. Both are entitled to eonstd-
Grafton. because neither has been proven ny
court of Justice az being In the wrong:
fSst Sotn the case cannot stop where ii is Both
ioin the one unanimous cry from the puo-
for J,ce Sd and nnrseTeS an ssess,en sSe seon o.
seventeen-year-old daughter OF Frecenck
! ShsnkF.
mystery a few OF the best minds have re-
| ver;ed 10 the old suicide theory as the only
solution But they must DO so against me
s,cians who said I'VE believe Clara
Shsnks met her death by violence un-
known" John Teegarden. one OF the best
known men In southern Fountain county.
expressed himself thus TO the Journal cor
respondent 81 believe there is more evil
| derce and in fact. the only evidence shows
! that Clare shanks met her death bv drown
ing in Wolf creek falls. but the people or
/ the neiehborhood will never believe It."
The realistic dream of Mrs shanks. In
which she saw Clara struggling In the pool
! ali night is being used capital against
the Shank= family. IL being claimed that
| they located their daughter too easily. Mrs.
sharks has become prostrated under the
| excitement and strain attending these three