The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-10
MISS HoLLINGswoRTHs ARREST.
Hal Z. Radcliffe Furnished the Clew-
She Tears Up Jackson's Letter.

II
She Tears Up Jackson's Letter.
The first clew to the Bryan murder case
was developed by Marshal William E.
Starr, of Greencastle, last Tuesday night
and yesterday. by shrewd move, he has
brought out what it is thought will be the
closing link so necessary to complete the
chain of evidence in that horrible crime.
On Saturday evening, in the mail reaching
Greencastle at sis, Marshal Starr received
a letter from indianapolis directed TO chief
Of police, Greencastle. Ind 1t was signed
by initials only, but the officers eighteen
years experience with such missives has
led MIN to tell the difference between a
genuine and bogus signature, and he de-
cided the one received was a good tangible
clew which he began working out at once.
Mr.. Starr, in company with Mr.. II. NJ
Smith, Greencastle newspaper man, left
Greencastle at 1:35 yesterday afternoon
over the Vandalia. Arriving here, they
consulted with superintendent Colbert, who
was shown the letter, which, dated Feb. 8.
is as follows:
"Sir-Some information of importance can
oe obtained concerning the murder OF Miss
Pearl Bryan If you will call on or arrest
Miss May Hollingsworth. No. Henry
street, Indianapolis, Ind She is afraid of
her being implicated, and by detectives see
ing her they will find out she knows of
causes of death and medicines used.
If she is used as a witness / will testify
what she has told me, an informant, who
will watch her movements till you see her.
She has been thinking of leaving the city,
so see her at once, the sooner the better.
II. E. r.
"She knows my name by initials and can
tell you where L live
The letter bore the Indianapolis Union
Station stamp of Feb s, 10 a. m Superfh-
tendent Colbert detailed detective Frank
Wilson on the case with Mr.. Starr and the
party went at once TO the house mentioned
in the letter. arriving there about 3:30
o'clock. They were received at the door by
Miss Mary Walters. the iandlady, the place
not urged 10 enter, but they pushed in and
at once inquired for Miss Hollingsworth
After little delay she appeared and was
evidently expecting visit, for she was
rather nervous.
HER FIRST STORY.
Miss Hollingsworth is small in stature, of
good figure ard wore a loose-Atting wrapper
She at once became composed and followed
the officers questions with guarded answers
She was not shown the letter, but was asked
If she knew of the Bryan murder case and
if she was acquainted with Scott jackson.
VIII Wood, Pearl Bryan and Walling She
said she knew all of them except Walling
All this time she eyed the letter closely,
and several times asked to see its contents
These Mr.. Starr refused to show, but exhfb-
tied to the girl the initials of the writer
| She at once said they were those of Hal T.
Radcliffe, and that she had seen Radcliffe
on the street Friday night This was the
evening before the letter was written.
Miss Holingsworth said she had seen Miss
Bryan at the Union station in this city on
Tuesday, Jan. %. When questioned as to
whether she had an appointment with Miss
Bryan. she quickly said she had not, and in
several attempts to catch her on this point
she always gave the same reply. She said
Miss Bryan told her of her condition, and
they talked about it, Miss Hollingsworth
knew Jackson, and was aware of the fact
that Miss Bryan was going to Cincinnati to
meet Jackson: further, that the Greencastle
Miss Hollingsworth further said that she
knew Jackson at Greencastle, and had two
years ago, visited Miss Ida johnson. stu
dent at DePauw, who now lives at Charles
ton, Ill. She remained at Greencastle about
two or three days. She refused to say when
she had seen VIII Wood, but admitted that
1t was within two weeks. She insisted she
would not say anything to impiicate herself.
but had by this time given enough informa-
ton to cause her ! be taken to the police
Wilson. She asked the privilege of going up
stairs TO change her dress, which was grant
ed. the officers following her out into rear
| room, guarding closely the only stairway.
DESTROYS a LETTER.
| Miss Holingsworth wasn't in a hurry to
return and took plenty of time to change
| tearing a letter into bits. She saw her op-
| portunity, and before the officers could in
/ terfere threw the bits into an open stove.
| She laughed and said she was glad to- get
| rid of 'that letter. 1t is thought that she
| thus got rid of damaging letter from Jack
son.
People in the boarding house were oues-
| toned, and they said Miss Hollingsworth n
| kept close at home. not being gone more
| than an hour or two at any time. The girl
| gave her age as twenty-five years, and
| didn't seem much excited over the prospect
| of visit TO police headquarters where she
| was taken a O'Clock.
| Superintendent Colbert was out. but was
| summoned by telephone. and coming in
! shortly afterwards, Immediately subjected
| Miss Hollingsworth to a rigid questioning
| which lasted for over two hours. Superin
| tendent Colbert. in the meantime request
| ing Mr.. Starr to remain over until late
| train, Ii being that officers intention to re
| turn to Greencastle at O'Clock.