The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-15
Postmaster Boyce, of Mt. Vernon, Ar
rested, Charged with Being 81 ZOO
Short in His Accounts.
END OF CLARK MURDER TRIAL
PRISONER PLEADS GUILTY AFTER
STATES EVIDENCE is IN.
Fort Wayne's New Population Claims
Meeting of the Junior Order of
Mechanics at Portland.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
PORTLAND, Ind, June 1.-THE shooting
of Attorney Frederick G.. Rocker, of Gin
cinnati, by himself, yesterday morning,
has created much comment here by reason
of his connection with the estate of Eliza
Stoltz as attorney for the heirs who reside
in Germany. Eliza Stoltz was a wealthy
German woman, who lived alone in the
north part of this city. One Saturday aft
ernoon the city marshal received a printed
and purposely misspeled postal card ap-
prising him that a crime had been COM
mitted at the Stotz home. He went there,
found nothing wrong and returned. Later
in the day two young men went to the
house, found the door unlocked and en-
tered In the sitting room the dead body
of Mrs. Stoltz was found the floor. She
was tied hand and foot, a chair tidy had
been forced down her throat and her head
then wrapped in handkerchiefs. The house
had been thoroughly ransacked and rob-
bed, a large amount of money, 1T is sup
posed, having been taken. The crime
aroused intense Indignation. but it was
months before any tangible clew could be
obtained. although ultimately all con-
cerned were run down by Pinkerton and
local detectives. Through the talk of a
paper-miIl worker, Samuel H. Marshall
was arrested at Monmouth, H., and Albert
Musser, at East St. Louis. Marshall was
tried for the crime at Winchester, the case
going there on change of venue, and was
acquitted. He is now said to be serving
a. term at Frankfort KY, for forgery.
Musser was tried at Hartford City found
guilty and sentenced to the penitentiary
for life. He is now in the Michigan City
prison, but has an appeal pending in the
Supreme Court.
Mrs Stoltz whose husband had left her
quite fortune, was intensely frugal and
amassed money in every possible way.
After her death it was discovered that she
was the heaviest individual depositor in
one of the local banks Heirs to the es-
tate began to be heard from. and among
these were some in Germany, Nicholas
Vert, Henry Freyer, Susannah Mueller and
John Mueller being among them Power
of attorney was granted TO Mr.. Rocker by
those mentioned, and on March % he re-
ceipted, in the county clerks office, for
the sum of $500 as attorney for John
Nicholson, Henry Freyer and Susannan
Mueller. On May II, 1899, another receipt
was given in Mr.. Rockers name, this be-
ing an order to the court clerk to pay to
James ]. Moran, the master commissioner,
the sum of $265.' On Dec II, 1899. third
receipt is in evidence, this being also signed
by Frederick G.. Rocker, in which he ac-
knowiedges having been paid the sum OF
s. 124. 40 as attorney for the German heirs.
There was no knowledge of any COM
plaint here until Court Clerk L. f. Fitz-
patrick received a letter from Consul Pol
lier of the imperial consulate at Cincin-
natl, calling his attention To the Stoltz es-
tate and saying that the heirs in Germany
had made complaint of not receiving their
shares in the distribution. To the best of
the recollection of Mr.. Fitzpatrick this let
ter stated that but 5000 200 had been
paid over TO them. This left a very consid-
cradle sum, according TO the receipts on
file here, bearing Mr.. Rockers signature,
unaccOunted for. Another letter was re-
ceived from Consul Pollier early in June,
postmarked at Cincinnati on June l, which
again made reference TO the Stoltz estate.
This led to a belief among the court Off
GERS and attorneys acquainted with the
situation that something was wrong, and
when the news of Attorney Rockers act
reached here they were pretty firmly con-
vinced that something out OF the way had
happened. If the figures, as given on both
sides, are correct, and no misStatements
have been made, there is a difference of
from S4,42445 to S. 124.4 45 in the accounts
with the German heirs with whom Mr..
Rocker had his dealings.