The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-26
REV. w. A. VESTS CRIME
ARREST OF THE ALLEGED MURDER
Err OF A CHEsTERTON, IND, GIRL.
j. G. Williams, Who Is I'm Custody at
Mani. Il. TayIor's story.


says: THE police at ST Louis and Seguin.
Tex, appear to be fully satisfied that the
man under arrest at the latter place is
Rev. William Abbott West who murdered
Susie Beck in St Louis ten years ago.
Late Wednesday night Chief Harrigan
cured a warrant fer the alleged murderer
and sent an application by mail to Gov
ernor Stephens, at Jefferson City for extra
dition papers. ]. G. Williams, the proprie-
tor of the Grand Central Hotel at Seguin,
Tex, is the man who is supposed by the
authorities TO be West He was arrested
Wednesday night on receipt of the follow
ing telegram from Chief Harrigan to Sheriff
S. Eidman: Hold Thomas West, alias
Thomas Abbott, charge of murder. Do not
allow him TO escape. Am preparing requi-
sition papers and will send them to you
with an officer as soon as get them. Will
liams retained counsel, and one of his at
torneys has gone to Floresville, Tex, where
court is in session, to sue out d writ of
habeas corpus.
Ten years work many changes in physical
appearance, and this probably accounts for
the delay in Identifying West at once. Upon
receipt of the information that man
supposed to be West was at Seguin. Chief
Harrigan telegraphed a description of West
as he appeared ten years ago. 1t was but
natural that the authorities there should
answer that the description did not fit.
West was said to be a man who was then
about thirty-five years old; the man at
Seguin appeared no older In addition, he
was said to have blended his hair and that
had changed his appearance. At the same
time that Chief Harrigah telegraphed a de-
scription, he mailed to the authorities at
Seguin a photograph of West. This ma
terially assisted in the Identification the
resemblance being pronounced striking
even after the lapse of so many years. The
Seguin officials decided that they had the
right man. and notified Chief Harrigan.
The issuance of the warrant and the appIi-
cation for extradition papers were the re-
suit of that notification.
Although the coroner's jury returned a
verdict holding West responsible for the
girls death, no indictment was ever found
against him. 1t is usual in such cases for
some one, either the chief of police, the cor
oner or the prosecuting attorney to so far
interest himself as to secure warrant for
the arrest of a man so charged. Search
through the records of all these depart
mentS, however, failed to discover that such
had been done. This seems all the more
strange from the fact that. under Captain
Hueblers direction, detectives secured the
United States and Canada in search of the
alleged murderer. A warrant issued at that
time, however, would have lapsed long ago
but an indictment would have stood until
it was satisfied, either by conviction or dis
charge OF the accused
AN INDIANA MANS STORY
John T. Taylor of Guthrie, o. T., who
was resident of Chesterton, Ind, at the
time of the murder, was a caller at police
headquarters yesterday. He told Secretary
hot la
Cleveland, o., and, having seen in the
newspapers that West was under arrest in
Texas, supposed he had been brought to
ST. Louis, and called to identify him.
Il knew Sadie Beck and her family" said
Mr.. Taylor to a reporter, as he sat in the
chiefs office, awaiting the return of Major
Harrigan from lunch Il remember her
when she was beginning to walk and |
followed her career because she and l were
both members of the same church-the one
to whose spiritual wants Mr.. West minis
tered during his stay in Chesterton. My
wife was member Of the church, and so
was SusieS mother, = a most estimable
woman who was the more respected be-
cause her husband was dissipated.
The little Methodist church at Chester
ton" continued Mr. Taylor, was a badly
dilapidated structure and the congIagatio
about as badly run down a dozen years ago
The walls were cracked, the plastering had
fallen in spots, exposing the unsightly lath-
ing or the ceiling, and there was nothing in
viring about the house of worship. A move
ment was started to raise the necessary
funds wherewith to make repairs. Several
prominent citizens who were not members
said they would subscribe and attend the
services If a good preacher could be Sc
cured. Then we sought another pastor. Aft
er three had been tried West came along.
He was young, bright, eloquent and up to
date. His preaching was a revelation, and
crowded audiences greeted him. So pleased
was his flock that it built him a parson-
age and gave him a horse and buggy Some
hnr iTal limo 70
think the new parson a little sensational,
but he prayed longer and louder and shed
ously stood behind the sacred desk, and
when these facts were commented on dis
trust of his piety vanished
AT this time West was a young man. He
did not appear to be over twenty-five years
old, but he had family of seven children,
and, think must have been at least thir-
and Susie Beck went to the parsonage.
one day the pastor disappeared. Two or
three days after Susie also disappeared.
She went toward Valparaiso in a buggy
with Mrs. Let's, of that place. There
was evidently some misunderstanding be-
tween West and the girl for the former
several days. 1'he day Susie disappeared
West started ba TX to Chesterton. The two
had been called suddenly to Chicago on
business but was hurrying back to learn
how his wife was. Upon being treasured
by Susie as to Mrs Vests condition. ne
said he thought he would go back to Chi
cago and complete the business he had left
unfinished. Susie got into his buggy, and
that was the last any one in Chesterton
saw of her alive.
A PROPHETIC SERMON.
Pastor Vests first sermon at Chesterton
was from the text, BE sure your sins will
find you out L remember the sermon to
this day. 1t was thrilling effort, and if
there was any one in that congregation
with crime on his mind he must have felt
as West probably feels to-day. Vivid and
eloquent as was the sermon. however, it
was not as effective an Illustration OF its
central truth as the apprehension of this
clerical murderer, shielded as he was be-
hind the sacred cloth and protected by the
lapse of many years.
1.-THE story of the crimes unraveling is
one of the most interesting phases of this
fascinating criminal mystery. Some weeks
after his disappearance West wrote to his
wife The letter was rambling and aroused
fears for his mental condition. His Wife was
alarmed. She showed it to friends and they
made up a purse and sent him money to
come home on. The crime had indeed
wrought a change in the eloquent pastor
He was a nervous wreck. A look sufficed to
convince any one that he was i'll, and while
many maryeled at his sudden disappear
ance all accepted the al-~arent evidence
that it was the result or mind unbalanced
by oyerwork.
.'One day something happened. A Mr.
Beck, the presiding cider at South Bend,
Ind, saw telegram from st. Louis in a
Chicago paper telling the story of the crime
He sent the clipping with a letter to our