The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
MIR. DE RUrTER,s STATEMENT.
Predicted the TraGedy-Dr. De Hass
Remembers the Remark.

Remembers the Remark.
Derk De Ruiter was seen last night at
the home of his daughter. S32 West Tween
ty-seventh street, and questioned regarding
the tragedy. He was reluctant to talk
about it at first, but finally said:
This is a serious matter. when a mans
life is in jeopardy; but I suppose will have
to tell what 1 know to the coroner and
grand jury anyhow. I will say this much:
They have the right man."
Mr.. De Ruiter did not seem inclined to
specify reasons for his belief. He stated
that there had been much disturbance in the
family, and he did not like to talk about
domestic troubles. Speaking Of Moore he
said:
John Moore had very promising start
as a young man. His family lived out east
of the Deaf and Dumb Institute and owned
all that land between the institution and
the Belt road. They were well-to-do and
gave John good education. He was a
highly educated man. He graduated at
Butler and then at Harvard. and began the
practice of law in this city under the most
promising circumstances. And he was prob
ably we'll fitted for the profession; but he
not hold clientage.
"That was twenty-five years ago. OF late
years he has had really no practice. He
appeared to be a sort of Dogberry lawyer,
but he never made a dollar. He was a
hard drinker and was nearly always broke"
From his discourse on Moore, Mr.. De
Ruiter went into some details regarding the
family relations. when Moore was broke,
which was nearly all the time" he con-
tinued, "he would do anything for money
E,.II-v he
would come to my house with the marks
of blows on her body and / would advise
her to leave her husband He would get
sober again and there would be recon
citation, and she, would go TO living with
him. About two years ago predicted that
she would be found murdered some time.
Moore is trying to lay this crime to me,
and | suppose it is natural for man to
try to shift the blame to somebody else
when he finds himself looking into. moose.
Moore was insanely Jealous of his wlte,
whether without or with cause / do not
pretend to know. II was on account or MS
jealousy that he abused her. as much as
on account of his drunken sprees.
MOORE WAS TREATING.
.'I understand that Mrs. Moore had 500
yesterday which she intended to pay for
the care of her sister. Mrs. De Ruiter. The
idea that / should kill her for 500 is ridicu-
lous, and everybody that knows me knows
this. Why there never has been a dollar
me, and this 500 is no exception. 1t was
to go for the care of my wife, as many
a hundred has gone before. have learned
to-day that yesterday Moore was drink
ing heavily and was treating the whole
town. The question IN my mind is, where
did he get the money?
What / dread most about this affair is
the effect it will have on Mrs. De Rutter
Her mind is not clear and 1t is for her
mental condition that she is being treated
II Ix ffYnir n fN To-
thing. 1t would drive her a raving maniac
would kill her. 1 dread to think of 1T.
And it will be next to impossible to keep
1t from her. Her sister was in the habit
of calling at the sanitafium every day, and
Mrs. De Ruiter will miss her. 1t will be
hard to satisfy her short of the truth, and
the truth will have terrible effect. And
there is the poor old father of the two
women What shock it must be to him.
Mr. De Ruiter said that the first intima-
ton he had of the murder he received from
the bulletin of an afternoon paper. which
street. had killed his wife. The number was
not that of his house and he did not at
once connect the case with his wife's rela-
the case to his partner, P. G. Trusler. Mr..
Trusler informed him that it was his sis
ter-in-law who was killed. He rode, up near
the house on his wheel and had the story
verified by nelghbor ~
The murder was committed at Mr. De
Ruiter's home. He and Mrs De Ruiter
lived there for many years until they had
trouble and separated. Then the Moores
went there to live with Mrs. De Ruiter, and
continued in possession of the house after
Mrs. De Ruiter was taken to the SAM
tariuna. The weapon with which Mrs.
Moore was killed was a branding iron be-
longing to De Ruiter & Truser. 1t is a
piece of iron about an inch and half
square. Mr.. De Ruiter said he left it in
an upper room of the house.
WHAT DIR. DE- HA3S REMEMBERS.
DR.. De Hass was asked last night if he
remembered hearing Mr.. De Ruiter predict
that Mrs. Moore would be murdered. He
said: Yes. 1t was about two years ago,
after Mrs. Moore had been terribly abused
by her husband. She went to Mr.. De
Ruiter's house. She had a cut across the
forehead, and there were other cuts about
the body and lower limbs. 1 was called at
Mr.. De Ruiter said then that Moore would
I'LL 1nnp~ ffran