The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-19
John II. BOnneII Is sworn i'm as Col
Iector OF Internal Revenue at
the Terre Haute Office.
FIRST PRIZE TO INDIANA MEN
NEW CASTLE FIRM WINS At THE
KANSAS CITY FLOWER SHOW.
Probable Date for the Rathbun Trial
Huge Sale of Lake County Land
De Pauw Defeats wabash.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
EVANSVILLE. Ind, Nov. lS-Wilbur s.
Sherwell, a patroman of the police depart
ment, was arrested this afternoon on war;
rant sworn to by Coroner John p. Walker
as the result of evidence that has been Sc
cured from witnesses examined during the
taking of testimony in the case OF Lena
Renner one of the two women who were
strangled to death on Monday night last
and whose body was found late Tuesday
afternoon in ditch alongside a public
highway more than mile from the city.
The coroner has been on the point of hav-
ing the arrest made for several days, but
did not fully make up his mind until this
afternoon. Patrolman Sherwen
mOned TO the Office Of Prosecuting Attorney
Durre early this morning. and after an
hour with that official he was invited TO
the coroner's office. where he spent several
hours. He was put through what is termed
the sweating" process, but made no ad-
missions. He made several statements.
however, that were later contradicted by
witnesses, and finally the coroner came to
the conclusion that the evidence in hand
was sufficiently strong TO justify him in
taking the action he did
Sherwell was taken before a justice OF the
peace and was committed to jail &c await
a preliminary hearing. The prisoner is
married man and has been on the police
force about three years. The direct charges
against the man and his arrest have caused
a huge sensation.
The arrest OF Sherwell, II is believed, will
clear up at least three murders Identical
in their means of ending the lives of three
women in this city. The policeman. IL is
believed, is responsible for the murders OF
Lena Renner, Mrs. Railey and a mulatto
woman, Fannie Butler. who was found
dead in a stable in the rear of a vacant
house on a fashionable residence street.
1t has developed tnat Sherwell was on
intimate terms with Mrs. Railey, and that
he frequently called at her home and that
she had gone buggy riding with him. IL
also was learned that Sherwen was sta
toned on the beat. during the month OF
May last, on which the mulatto woman
was found dead. All three women were
| strangled.
The theory is that Sherwell on the night
of the murder, in driving about, most like
ly met Mrs. Railey after she had left her
| sisters home and induced her TO take a
| ride. The fact that Mrs. Railey was anx-
! ious TO get home may have provoked
/ row, IN Wnlcn the woman lOSl ncT lie. In
| the case OF Mrs. Railey the autopsy showed
| she had been assaulted, and that there was
/ a struggle, and finger marks on her throat
| which showed she had been strangled-
In the case of the Renner girl the eyi-
! dence before the coroner shows she was ill
| at ease because her policeman lover was
late in keeping his appointment. The last
/ seen of Mrs. Railey was about I o'clock.
Sherwell arrived at the home OF the Rem
| ner girl at $3.50. Sherwell had plenty OF
time to have met Mrs. Railey and TO have
driven to the point where she found.
and TO have returned TO the point where ne
/ met the Renner girl.
This is the theory upon which Coroner
| Walker is now proceeding.