The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
Her Husband, a Harvard Graduate
and Lawyer, Under Arrest for the
Crime, Denies His Guilt.
DERk DE RUITER, QUESTIONED by
POLICE, PROVES AN ALfBI.
branding Iron the Weapon-Mrs.
MOore's 800 Observation-Disclosures
Explains His Movements.

pelrated Within the confines OF Indiana in
recent years is now in the hands of the po-
lice of this city. The circumstances sur
rounding it are in spite of all efforts on
the part of the detective force, hazy with
mystery
Yesterday morning at o'clock Coroner
Brayton received a call from Henry Post
an aged resident, of 2122 North Meridian
street, who, with much excitement, an
! nounced that his daughter Mrs John O.
Moore, living with her husband and son at
1865 Ludlow avenue, had been murdered in
his house in u most brutal manner. The
coroner, with DIR. DE Hass, at once repaired
TO the scene of the crime, where a revolving
sight presented itself to their gaze
Stretched upon d bed, which was stripped
OF all sheets and coverings, in a room which
was never used except as storeroom, was
the body of a middle-aged woman, who had
evidently been dead some time. The body
rigid in death, had remained in the con-
torted position it had assumed when the
woman, in her last paroxysms of pain had
yielded up her life. Lying on the right
side, as it did, with limbs crossed and
drawn up, the death wound was plainly per-
ceptible. In the stiffened fingers was
clutched, in a death grip one of the pill
lows, in which the face was partially
buried.
THE DETECTIVES SUMMONED.
The murderous blow which caused her
death was cash two inches long above the
left temple, evidently the work of "a blunt
instrument with corner on it, and had
brought with it a hemorrhage from the
nose which saturated the pillow. After a
cursory examination the coroner telephoned
directly to Chief of Detectives Colbert, who.
wit Dofo
to the house where every effort was made
to solve the mystery. From the neighbors
it was learned that Mrs. Moore, the muir
dered woman, had had frequent and violent
quarrels with her husband for years past,
and 1T at once became the duty of the po-
lice to find John Moore. Diligent search
brought him to Chief Colbert's sight while
walking on Court street The de-
I tective at once accosted him. saying
Have you heard that your wife has been
killed. John"' Moore did not betray SO
much surprise as excitement at the ques-
ton, and replied, mo! You don't mean it!'
Without more ado they boarded a street car
and went to the house on North Meridian
street. Moore was then taken into a sitting
room, where he turned 10 Chief Colbert and
said: ".fonl, you don't suspect me of this,
do you?'' -
II haven't said any such thing, have To-
said Colbert
Finding that Moore betrayed no anxiety
to view his dead wife's body the detective
suddenly turned on him and charged him
point blank with the deed. Moore at once
coolly and calmly denied the charge He
was then taken to the death chamber, whe.
at the sight of the body he became appar-
emily convused with grief and buried his
fare In IN h1 Of
failed to note any trace of tears. He was
then taken to police headquarters for ex-
animation
EVENTS PRECEDING THE TRAGEDY.
In the meanwhile Coroner Brayton, by
judicious interrogation, had learned the his
tory of the grewsome affair up to the hour
of 1870 p. m. on Friday. The house is the
property of Dirk De Ruiter, a well-known
contractor, and his wife, the latter of whom
is Mrs. Moore's sister and daughter of Mr..
Post, whose home is in Cincinnati.
Last September during divorce proceed
ings brought by De Ruiter against his wife
the latter became so afflicted as to cause
her removal to a sanatorium, where she
now Is. AT that time her father. Mr.. Post,
came on to see her, and after she had been
taken to a sanatorium he continued to re-
side at the De Ruiter home, although Mr.
Lie moved. 10 S3O west IWentV-
seventh street, North Indianapolis
Mrs. Moore has made it a practice since
MRS. De Ruiters sickness to attend to the
housekeeping of both De Ruiters house and
her own. She has continued to do so since
her father took up his solitary abode there
On thursday night Mr., Post, Mr.. and Mrs.
Moore and their son all slept at the Merid-
lan-Street house and took breakfast and din
ner together on Friday.
at eft an fpr the Business boy call down
cnauge a. book at the Public Library de-
parted about 1880 leaving Mr. and Mrs.
moore .siI IN the Kitchen, where the latter was
:, Happening to need a handkerchief, the
boy returned to the house and, going up
Stars. round his mother lying the bed.
She directed him to where he would find the
handkerchief he desired and he passed down
purchase Of a new suit of clothes for Eas
ter. He then left the house and never again
saw his mother alive.
HUSBAND AND WIFE ALONE.
Up to this point the stories of all con-
cerned tailed exactly, but from then on no
two of them agree. Moore claimed, when
questioned in the. sweat box by Superin-
tendent Quigley and Chief Colbert that his
wife then came downstairs and, though
complaining of headache, said she was
going. down town to attend to some BUSH
ness. They discussed together. he said. va
rious bills they had to pay, and in a few
moments he kissed her goodbye and left the
house, with her the sole occupant.
He claims he boarded an IlinoiS-street
car at 2:30 o'clock and on reaching town
went at once TO Weisss saloon, where he
was at s O'Clock. After taking drink. he
saws re met a woman he knew and with
her walked about for some time. After TAX
ing a few more drinks in places he cannot
remember he claims he visited the law Of
flee of Harmon Everitt, after which he inn
bibed a few more drinks and then went
home to Ludlow avenue. Here he was
ioiued by his boy. and they cooked and ate
their supper together and afterward retired
TO rest
In the morning at breakfast he asked the
hoy what he supposed could have kept his
mother away all night. but they both de-
cided that she probably had something TO
do for her father which prevented her from
coming From that point to the time OF
his arrest his movements are easily ex-
nIained The boy corrobqrates SUBSTANTIALLY
iii his father says. but his evidence is not
vital as he was not in u position TO Know
mnch excent as to the frequent quarrels
between his parents
MOORE QUESTIONED
,rha noIice version of the affair is one that
looks decidedly unfavorslble to Moore. After
chief Colbert had allowed Moore to tell
his own story Of the affair, superintendent
ouigley took him in hand and questioned
him regarding his relations with his wife.
This seemed to give Moore an inspiration,
for he at once began TRADE OF abuse
avainst re Rtifer. claiming that he was