The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-13
WHO MURDERED EN-!
Mystery of the Death of Foster
and CimpIe Lawrence.
DISBROW IN BAD TROUBLE
Had Heen Clearly Overheard
to Make Threats.

Good Ground. I. I. July Ibid Loui,
a Disbrow murder Miss Sarah Lawrenc,
and Clarence Foster in a fit Of Jealousy
and throw their bodies in Tiana bays,
Opinions differ. At any rate, the author.
tiles felt warranted in arresting Disbrow
and he is undergoing his preliminary
hearing. which win be resumed Monday
morning.
The death Of Foster and ''Dimple'
Lawrence is shrouded in mystery. which
has become denser because of the con-
ficting statements Of persons who knew
them and saw or heard them about the
time Of the tragedy. The three young
persons We're stopping ct Ternelrs hotel.
and were on friendly terms.
Disbrow had been attentive to Miss
Lawrence for many months, and spoke
of her as his girl" He introduced his
friend Foster 10 her. and she and Foster
looked on each other with favor, although
! Foster was a married man. Disbrow,
whose home was on Staten Island, had
! ben divorced from his wife.
On the night Of June the trio left Ter
nell's hotel, engaged horse and carriage
and drove to neighboring resort Ap
| parently they spent a large part of the
night in dissipating, but they returned
TO Ternells about o'clock in the morn
| ing. There the young men entered a
room and were overheard talking by a
young woman in an adjoining room. She
heard Disbrow use angry language and
make remarks which might be construed
into threats against his companion. She
| also heard Miss Lawrence from the out
side of the building call to Foster. Their
conversation gave the impression that
they were going for a boat ride. and that
Disbrow had promised to go with them.
So far as is known Miss Lawrence and
Foster were not seen alive by any one
except Disbrow after that hour and he
has refused TO throw any light on what
happened after the party left the hotel
about 3 o'clock in the morning.
At Q o'clock in the morningDisbrow
appeared at the livery stable and paid
the bill, which included damages to the
vehicle. He gave a check that proved 10
be WORTHLESS. Then he disappeared.
When Foster and Miss Lawrence fail
ed to put in an appearance in Inc morn
ing search was begun for them. but it
was unsuccessful until their bodies We're
found afoat several days later in Tiana
bay. Search was made for Disbrow to
throw light upon the affair. but he kept
in hiding.
Two rowboats were found adrift in the
bay on Inc morning OF the tragedy II
was supposed Miss Lawrence were under
4ho f-ra-... Of Iforrrr @ba,- t,oa
gone out in one Of the boats. and that
they had capsized and been drownerd.
one of the boats was leaky. which may
have had an important bearing on thei;
fate. The coroner's jury found no suspi.
cious circumstances and rendered a YER
dict Of accidental death.
That might have been the end OF the
case but for the newspapers. which I'M
earthed evidence of a quarrel between the
two young men After some delay q
postmortem examination was held which
disclosed an abrasion over Fosters eye.
One young man was found who asserted
that Disbrow had told him Of having had
a fight on the beach just before Foster
and Miss Lawrence went out in a row.
boat A Chinaman was quoted as saying
Foster had displayed in his laundry a
roll Of bills supposed TO aggregate s.. but
no money vas found in the pockets Of the
dead man.
Disbrow continued in hiding notwith-
standing the appeals Of the authorities
and the newspapers came forth 10 clear
up the mystery. This state Of affairs
continued for three weeks. when the
prosecuting attorney decided TO have
warrant issued for the arrest OF Disbrow
Then the young man came forth from his
concealment and surrendered himself
The newspapers lent a fictitious interest
to the case by describing Foster as q
yachtsman so expert he was not permit
ted TO enter local contests. and by pic /
turing Miss Lawrence as beautiful heir
oss Miss Lawrence was not extraordi- /
narily beautiful nor an heiress. her Wild F..
owed mother being a woman o. very
moderate means. Foster was not the I
rich yachtsman that some people i'm I
agined. but a young waterman who /
hired out at moderate wages 70 help r1n I
yachts owned BIZ other persons Disurow 4
s. a good looking young fellow and said I
10 be Of unsteady habits.
While many persons thought Disbrows 4
hiding was q confession a guilt others 4
pointed out he had good reasons for bis /
seclusion. Hs had cashed several worth /
less checks and he naturally feared pros I
ecution on that score Then there was 4
the probability or his arrest II he appear
&c here which would involve The employ /
nent q lawyer at considerable expense I
ana might result in his Incarceration IN /
jail
At the hearing this week the prescott
ing attorney has strivfn 20 bring cut thar
Disbr0w and Foster had quarreled. BE
also has attempted % make e appear TIRE
abrasion on Foster forehead may have
been made with the Eat side q an car
The coroner. who vas called for the pros
acution testified however. that whsle
there was some blood on TIE faces - the
.Eo unfortunate. there was no wound
81. any kind on Posters face.
Several ether witnesses testified there
sas a slight scratch over Foster right
sye. ard one ~ them said ~ had seen
DO blood OF The face 30 ere e1farsnfiy
znew q any wound on Miss Lawrence
-rtH the coroner testified he hsd roticsd
sHght abrasion "a her face The coy
1ncr. therefere. srrsaz tzo F-rrlsss.
re eFsiderce shaTe5 that TIE wounds
.ere 81 siisht thev uizat easiy es-ane
ietlce- Dlstrovs atterueT znoss-i thaf
he dostora - tae Tisra bsy uas sfre~a
zsfh oystfr afeus uhlr1 rrirht have
-used che seratehrs on ne f7FsEes8s -
he tFo ilafartf,netes
Tne ranst 1arraEtnr Testimony - DIS
nov .has far 3 fhaf - Mlss Hliea =
7earssil who hard the anZry TAX 81 ths